The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-29
RUSSIANS IN
RETREAT BEFORE .
AUSTRIAN ARMY
Slav Forces Continue to Show
: Careless Weakness at Crit
ical Points
GERMAN FORCES MENACE
MOIDAVIA AND FOKSHANI
Fighting Shows Abatement in
French and Belgian Theaters
Of War
lEV Associated Press


While Russian leaders are debating
at Moscow with divided opinion as
Cto the best steps to save the coun-
try from tho threatened disaster with
in and without. the Russian armies
continue to show careless weakness
Vat critical points
In Disorder.
The latest break in the lines
! through dissatisfaction among the
! troops occurred on the southern Rou-
'manian front, where the Austro-G Ger
mans are mcnacing Moldavia with the
fate Of WalIachia overrun in the
great Teutonic Bulgarian drive last
year.
In the Fckeahani region, a Russian
division abandoned its position and
! fled in disorder
This facilitated a TeutOnis advance
that continued all day yesterday on
the southern Roumanian front, the
Austro-Gcrnlan troops pushing north
eastward toward the Cckna-Pantzian
, railway.
The fighting fronts, except in the
Austro-llaIan theater and in eastern
| BukoWina and southern MoIdavia,
show a remarkable Abatement in the
violence Of the hghting that has been
,, going on for several weeks
Along the fronts in FLANDERS and
northern France held by the British
bad weather again has set in and
aside from reciprocal bOmbardments
which at some points have reached
the stage Of drumiire, and minor in
fantry operations on the part of tho
1 British, little is being done by either
side.
In the Verdun sector the Germans
have ceased their countcr-attacks
! against the newly won French posi-
tons, evidently baving found that the
task Of trying to rehabilitate them
selves was useless 49,
Artillery Activity.
Only on the western bank of the
Meusc has there been even artillery
i activity.
On the Bainsizza plateau, north of
Gorilla, the Italians and Austrians
are still engaged in furious battle,
with the Italians the aggressOrs, but
with the Austrians strongly on the de
Tense. New positions have been won
by General Cadorna's force and heav,
Austrian attacks to retrieve lost
ground have been successfully re-
pulsed. Silence is still maintained by
the Rome war office concerning the
operations on the Carso plateau. An
Austrian official communication dateo
Sunday the first received from Wen
ma for several days acknowledges the
capture by the Italians of Monte San
to, but says the position was evacuat
ed by the Austrans Friday night
without fighting
Army Poorly Equipped.
General Alexioneff, former COM
mander-inchief, recounted the history
of the Russian military setback and
their causes. He drew contrasts of
the army of the old regime, poorly
equipped with mechanical resources.
but strong in warlike spirit, and the
present army well equipped in food
and arms, but completely poisoned
and enfeebled by interpreted and i'll
applied doctrines. These doctrines, he
declared. have split the army into two
opposite camps, officers and solc,ers,
which have become almost frreconcil
liable Speaking of the committees
elected by the esoldiers of the various
units, General Alexioneff said they
were useful to the army from an eco
nomic standpoint. but fatal to the
disposition Of troops
The general maintained that after
the publication of the rights of sol
diers, all respect toward leaders dis
appeared the officers becoming mar
tyrs and having paid dearly for the Of
fenses of August /. which resulted in
the subsequent retreat.
Transportation Disorganized.
At the third general sitting of the
national conference of railway repre-
sentatives, including NJ. Froloff, Of
the Engineers Alliance reported
that there existed state of utter dis
organization Of transportation, which.
unless improved, would cease COM
petcly by November. The represen-
tatives have warning that the conse-
quences would be terrible both at
home and at the front. and that the
army might turn on the country and
commit uneXampled eXCeSses,
The extreme demands Of the rail
way workers, the speaker said, played
an important part in this disorganiza-
fioO