GERMANS OCCUPY VILNA.

Evening Star, Issue 15913, 20 September 1915, Page 6

GERMANS OCCUPY VILNA.

LONDON, September 19. (Received 'September 20, at 9.50 a.m.) _The Germans claim to have captured Vilna. BERLIN, September 19. (Received September 20, at 9.45 a.m.) , Official: Vilna has been occupied by us. ENVELOPING MOVES AND DIRECT ATTACK. AMSTERDAM, September 19. (Received September 20, at 10.10 a.m.) A German communique states: Von Eichorn's sweeping attack against Vilna led to /complete success. The Russians have beer, compelled since yesterday to hastily retreat along their entire front, owing to Von Scholtz'3 and Von Gallwitz's encircling movements and a simultaneous sharp attack on Vilna. The town, although strongly fortified, has fallen into uur hands. CAVALRY ENGAGEMENTS IN VILNA AREA. PARIS, September 19. (Received September 20, at 10.10 a.m.) M Naudean, telegraphing from Russian Headquarters, reports that the cavalry ot the Russian armies of tho north was rapidly grouped, and participated against the enemy's cavalry. Flashing combats between these mobile masses are now taking place throughout the whole of the Lacustie region, extending from the east and north-east of Vilna between the two main parallel railways—the Warsaw-Petro-grad line and the Seidlitz-Bologo line. DVINSK AND SLONIM ALSO IN DANGER. LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 8.5 a.m.) , Petrograd reports as follows: The Russians repulsed attacks north of IlUikst (north of Dvinsk). We buried many Germans, who wa:e lying in heaps in front of our entanglements. We inllicted great Josses on the enemy at the railway station at Yelgoka, west of Ulukst. The Germans, during their attacks in the region of the lakes south of Dvinsk, resorted to sapping, _ owing to the deadly nature of the Russian 'fire. The Germans seized the station at Villeyka (south-east of Vilna). There is intense fighting on the middle Vilia, near Vilna, where the enemy are obstinately endeavoring to break in on the town. There was serious fighting in tho Orany sector (south-west of Vilna). The Germans, under cover of fog, captured our river Schara pontoons, south of Slonim (west of Bialystok). , THE SOUTHERN FLANK. RUSSIANS SIAINTAIN OFFENSIVE. . LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 9.50 a.m.) A Petrograd communique states: A Rus■>ian general attack on September 17 in the direction of Rovno and Kovel drove back the enemy,, who retreated in disorder, leaving numerous prisoners, of whom over 600 were taken at Goroditchi and 1,800 in the forest south, of Thonman. We inflicted considerable defeats on the enemy on the light bank of the Sereth. ENEMY IN TROUBLE. GENEVA, September 19. (Received September 20, at 8.5 a.m.) Telegrams from Lemberg confirm the report that the Ausfcrians are retreating in disorder on the Volhynia front,' and it is considered that a great Austrian defeat is inevitable. . The Russians on the right side of the Strypa continue the pursuit, and their ■artillery is causing teiriblo Austrian losses. AUSTRIAN ADMISSION. LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 8.20 a.m.) A Vienna communique claims that the Russian offensive ou the Strypa. has broken down. Ifc admits, however, that the Austrians are fighting superior forces, operating within, the Volhynia triangle of fortresses, and theAuctrians are withdrawing portions of their front to positions further west.