GERMANS CROSS THE VISTULA AT SEVERAL POINTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2529, 2 August 1915, Page 5

GERMANS CROSS THE VISTULA AT SEVERAL POINTS.

• . ; . . London, July 30. A Berlin.communique states: The general situation, in the east is unchanged, General von Woyrsch's army, early on the morning of the 28th (Wednesday), forced a crossing at several points on the Vistula, between the Pilica and Kozienice. Fighting is proceeding on the east bank; we have already taken prisoner BCM men, with five machine-guns. General von Mackensen has resumed the offensive .westward of the Vieprz. By the evening he reached the line Piaski-Biskupice (north-west of Krasnostaf), and the railway eastward of it. Wo took prisoner many thousands, and captured three heavy guns. This success, together with tho Austro-German advance east of , the Vistula, and the advance of the Prussian Guard of Krupe, north-east of Krasnostaf, and of other German troops to the Wojstawice district has shaken the Russian front between the Vistula and the Bug. The Russians, on the morning of the 30th, evacuated positions on the entire line, and arg now only resisting north of Grabieszof.AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT,'OF THE FIGHTING NEAR THE ' VISTULA, (Reo. 'August 1, 3,30 p.m.) Petrograd, July 31'. Official.—The fighting on the Narew is principally artillery actions, and wo repulsed several attacks. The enemy crossed the Vistula at Radamka, and wo attacked the detachments which crossed. Our heavy artillery destroyed the enemy's bridge on tho Kobylnitza..- Largo forces attacked on Thursday on both hanks of the Viprz. We repulsed the enemy on the Khmiel-Piaski sector, inflicting heavy losses, hut the enemy advanced on' the left bank of the Viprz after a stubborn fight/ One division captured Trauniki and crossed to the right bank. We repulsed all enemy attacks between Vieprz and the Bug, and repulsed the enemy at Sokal, and made prisoners of a thousand. iWe • repulsed ..the Austrians at <Kamionka on tho Bug. THE ENEMY REPULSED AND FORCED TO WITHDRAWS I (Rec. August 1, 3.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 31. 'An Austrian official .confirms tho report that the Russians aro retreatingon the Vistula-Bug front, and are devastating farm crops. The pursuit is proceeding. Superior Russia'; forces compelled tho defenders at the Sokal briagcJiead to withdraw on their southern front. GERMANS ADVANCING EASTWARD DESPITE RESISTANCE, ; (Rec. August 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, 'July 31. Berlin Official— Our attack is progressing north-west of Lomza, and on the railway north of Toworowo and east ofßozan. General Von Woyrsch crossed to the right bank of the. Vistula, advancing eastwards, despite stubborn resistance. Russian reinforcements counter-attackcd unsuccessfully. Tho enemy also resisted General Mackensen's pursuit on the line of Novoulexacdroja and tho heights of the Vistula north' of Lublin, which wo,occupied yesterday, to the south of Cholm. We are attacking the enemy everywhere. NO DEFINITE NEWS OF THE EVACUATION OF WARSAW iR«c. August 1, 3.40 p.m.) ; Petrograd, July 31. There is no definite news of the evacuation of Warsaw. The successes of the Russians during the past few days at the Narew and between Vieprz and the Bug Rivers are regarded as a guarantee that they are withdrawing with deliberation throughout, and strictly, according to programme.. 'LUBLIN OCCUPIED BY AUSTRIAN CAVALRY, (Rec. August 1, 3.40 p.m.) London, July 31. Austrian cavalry have entered Lublin. Rec. August 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 31. A 1 .Vienna official message confirms the report that Austrian cavalry entered Lublin on Friday afternoon, THE SITUATION SUMMED UP, BY| '£ RUSSIAN OFFICER, London, July 30. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent, quoting a Russian Officer, Colonel Shunisky, writes that when tho Germans constructed their threo lines of fortifications on tho west front, they • guaranteed, fchcmec]von against * general AHglo-Frem* advMf* tfbil.B they, \ve.v? (i;U| (fair grandiose gjosratkma eft Last ■ —' - .

The position n-ili now bo reversed, the Austro-Germans guarding the Vistula, Niemen, and J3ug, while a spccial ell'ort is made oil tlio West front, flnt. there arc essential differences. While tlio Russians can tranquilly check the pressure and fall hack as faras tlicy like, tlio Anglo-French retreat has limits. Therefore, a critical juncture is arriving; for the Anglo-French, because the Germans will liurl themselves with freshly-assembled masses towards France, forcing a decisive battlo, ' which will settle tho issue on-the West frcnt, and simultaneously conclude tlio war. Other experts, says the correspondent, declare that Russia. would he imperilling final success' if sho accepted a light to a finish. The present conditions will much ibbroviato her front, rendering it easier to withstand the Gorman assaults till she herself is ready to assume the offensive. Local superiority of numbers due to a network of .railways, has not been the principal German advantage, hut lier enormous preponderance of gunpower. Russia is industrially the least developed of the Allies. It is small wonder rm ' s miablo to keep pace with the fearful wastage of weapons. The necessary steps have now been taken to organise and supplement the output. llussia hopes that someone will now beat the Germans at their own game. RUSSIAN STRATEGY' TAKES THE BROADEST .VIEW OP THE WAR. mi ,m ~ - London, July 30. iJie Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent states that the recent Austre-German onslaughts have demonstrated that tho Russian strategy takes the broadest possible .view of the war, and that Russia is actuated by the single purpose of obtaining a complete and crushing victory. Russia is prepared .therefore to make all necessary temporary sacrifices. The Grand Duko Nicholas had earlier indicated that he would not allow himself to be hampered by a sentimental desire to hold a particular town or district and to imperil armies. Hence everybody is prepared for the evacuation of Warsaw. Tho Germans will only get a city inhabited by greybeards, women, and children. Destruction anil removal liavo robbed the Gannons of everything likely to be serviceable to them. The Germans liavo to thank their industry, not their military science or valour, for this success. Vhero never was. a war ] in. which man power, which is Russia's strongest factor, could do so iittle. RUSSIANS COPING WITH FORMIDABLE AUSTRO-GERMAf FORCES. ' " V ' .("Times" aJid Sydney. "Sun"- Services.) (Rec. July 31, 7.30 p.m.) : London,. July 30. Tho "Times" correspondent at Petrograd points out that Russian strategy as far back as 1910 decidetl on the assumption that the Austro-Germans would hurl their weight on AVarsaw, and contemplated the entire abandonment of tho advanced theatre. At present further efforts to cling to the Vistula and the Narew would be attended with grave danger to Russia, who is now coping with almost all the Austrian army and nearly half the Gorman, equipped with such powerful artillery that nothing is able to live in the zone of fire. It is paramount to preserve tho army no matter at what sacrifice of territory. THE IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL .VON BULOW'S ADVANCE. (Rec. 'August 1, 3.45 p.m.) . London, July 31. ColflNel Morah, writing in the "Berliner Tageblatt," attaches great importance to General yon Bulow's advance towards Dvinsk, to which the Russians are offering small opposition. Wo will soon control tho Warsaw-Petro-grad railway, anil thereafter the only Russian line of retirement would bo via Brestlatovijjv, Minsk, and Moscow, but General Mackensen is only threo days' march from Brestlatvosk. Thero is likely, to be no lack of dramatic events.

THE GERMANS MAY BE BROUGHT; TO A STANDSTILL. • (Rec. 'August 1, 3.50 p.m.) Petrograd, July 31. The "Novoo Vremya" critic points out that not until tlio appearance of General von Billow's army on tlio Niomen-Dwina and Gallwitzs-Narew fronts wore the enemy's operations on the north-west frontier closely linked with tho German movements west of the Vistula and between the Vistula and tho Bug. Tho llussian armies with the inner position were enabled to manoeuvre on three fronts, north, south,- and west, but this was offset by tho restricted area. Tho Novoegeorgievsk-Ivangarod-Grodno-Brestlatovsk quadrilateral is in tho entire advanced'tlieatre, and including the Vistula, and Warsaw must he regarded as the region of severe rearguard actions in relation to the principle defensives lines of Brestlatovsk-Grodno-ijfcovno, but it would be premature to conclude that TVarsaw and the Vistula aro irretrievably lost._ _ It is possible that the Germans may be brought to <i standstill in these positions. BRITISH NEWSPAPERS ON THE RUSSIAN RETIREMENT. (Rec. 'August 1, 3.50 p.m.) London, July 31.Tk'o newspapers unanimously accept the wisdom' of the Russian retirement and sympathise witli Russia in her hour of trial. They pay a tribute to Russia's iievok; service and sacrifices for tho common cause, the proven value of the Grand Duke Nicholas's strategy and tho superior fighting qualities of tho Russian troops over the German. The newspapers genorally do not disguise the seriousness of tho blow. Ill© "Times" military correspondent says it is impossible to question the wisdom of the retirement, tho only doubtful point is whether it can ho successfully carried out. It was the time to retire, but retirement is difficult as the security of the whole line depends upon wliother_ General von Billow .can be prevented from forcing Sventa, and marching on Vilna, thus establishing himself astride the Russian communication. Tho Russians have a fair chance of a successful retirement, but directly that begins tho Germans will go full steam ahead and throw themselves on the Russian rearguards like a pack of wolves, but tho rearguards can be relied on to give a good account of themselves. It is natural that some Russians should ask: ''What are the Western Allies doing?" Our answer is:.Wo aro holding up two-millions of the best German troops, besides relaxing the pressure on tlia Caucasus by hammering the Turks.