The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-02
Berlin and Vienna Deny Teuton
Fronts Have Been Penetrated
at Amy Point
RIDICULE RUMOR OF
LEMBERG EVACUATION
Would Mean Loss of Prestige
and erritory Not to Be
Thought of-Great Teutou
Counter-Stroke Preparing

London, Aug. lin battles now
raging before the gates Of Kovea.
in Nolhynia, south of Brody. In
northeastern Galicta, and before
stanislau, in the southeast OF the
Austrian crownland, Russians and
Tcutons are locked In a life and
death grapple, the outcome Of
wfach h to spell success or failure
to General Br,rsiloff's mighty of
fensive ON a 250-mtle battle NnO ~
in the cast.
A mass of reports and runlors pour.
ed In today from Russian sources all
heralding the fall OF Kovel, some an-
nouncing the evacuation OF LENDERS
and others predicting a Teaiton retreat
on the whole front of attack within
the next few days. A Copenhagen
dispatch quoted the Vienna NeuN
Freie Presse as saying many tnhabi.
tants of the Galician capital are ftee-
ing and goods are being removed from
the city An anticipation OF It's cap
ture. dispatch received via Rome
went so far as TO say the AuStro.
! German commanders did not intend
TO defend Kovel or the Galician cities
now menaced
Indicates Tcuton Counter-StrOAo.
In direct contrast with these ro~s
ports are the Official easements H.
sued tonight at Petrograd and vienne.
| The Russian War once reports "
rush attack by German infantry On
the Muscovite forces occupying the
western bank of the Stokhod River,
northwest of Kovel, asserts that the
assault was repulsed but adds 'tho
battle Is proceeding" This indicates
a great counter-offensive aimed at
! outfiAnking the Russian Kovei army
Vienna on the other hand says on
ctally that the Russians have paused
| in their attacks southwest and west
of Lutsk. Berlin dispatches state this
pause has been forced on the attackers
by the tremendous losses suffered II
the last few days.
Supreme Test at Hand
| Military critics agree that the 81.
prene test is at hand in the east
Some point out frankly that there q
room for scepticism regarding the
next few days operations from the al. /
, lied viewpoint
They emphasize that nowhere on the
whole 25o-mile line which has been
under unrelenting attack. has the Aus.
tro-German front been broken. Tbs
Teuton claim of armies 10 everywhera
intact. The line has been bent back
at points and the Russians have OVER
run the Bukowtna. but they have not
the piercing OF their opponents front.
Before this is done some military ex.
perts argue. Kovel and Lemberg are
safe.
That the Teutons should abanden
Kovel and Observation-Disclosures. Lem.
berg and Stanislau, without defense.
| Is secuted and even rtdicuied by some
observers. who point out this would
mean that the Austro-German forces
would have to retreat on the whole
line from the Baltic to the CarpA-
| thians and risk the loss Of the whole
| enormous territory they gained In thu
Hindenburg- Mackensen drive Of last
fall
Both Kovel and Stanislau are the
converging points OF Ave important
railways. the control OF which the
Teutons are expected to night for 70
the last In the battles now under way.
Moreover the fall OF Lemberg would
be a moral blow to Austria's army and
civil population. IT IL pointed out. such
as the defenders will not take except
at the cost of rivers OF blood on both
sides.
There are indications Of a great
counter-drive by the Teutons to b
launched within the next few days.
No moment would be better suited
| for such a counter offensive than the
present. Berlin and Vienna dispatches
that the impetus Of the Russian drive
will shortly be spent AZ will be the
stores of ammunition accumulated To-
the great drive.
| Russian Lose Also Heavy.
| That the Austrian counter attacks
have inflicted serious losses on the
Russians during the last month u
shown by the statement contained IN
tonight's oficial Vienna report that
south OF the Pripet ninety Russian Of
ficers and $4,000 men were taken pria-
oners in July. while seventy machine
guns were captured. The statement
follows:
Near Molodylow, northwest Of Ko-s
| lomea. Stanislau front. enemy attacks
failed. 81
Southwest and west Lutsi< the Co.
| cmy paused In his attacks III
'On the northeastern front. soutM
of the Pripet. ninety oficsrs and H.
600 men. A. well ~ seventy maeAtAm
guns were captured during July.
The Russian war once statement III
~ follows: III d
I'm the region Of the villaGoo
stobychwa and SmoliAry 0ern fl
} tack vast q thA otekhsl - Q|