THE RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4009, 16 August 1915, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN CRISIS.

FURY OF THE STORM ABATED. WARSAW HOW SAFE. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT REPORTED. \ ONE GERMAN ARMY’S COMMUNICATIONS CUT. STORY OF THE RUSSIAN RETREAT. A MASTERPIECE OF ACHIEVEMENT, DISASTER NARROWLY ESCA RED. (Received: Ang. 15, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Petrograd correspondent- says the worst, fury of ■the. storm is over and fears for the garrison of Warsaw are superfluous. It is authoritively announced that the evacuation was carried out with astonishing fidelity to programme. Tho retired troops arc now eastward of the Mcribram-Loniza line, arid their position, strategically, is daily growing stronger and more favorable. There4s a most interesting development between the Dwina and the Niemen. By capturing the village of Toviany, the Russians cut the German line separating General Pouievtch’s arid General Nilkomir’s troops. Tho latter is dangerously situated, and is believed to be hurriedly retreating, either to roeonmet with Genera! Ponicvteh or to join the troops against Kovno.

The right flank of General Domovieh’s troops 'is exposed. The operations against Komo are extending. Many Poles are employed in constructing siege lines and preparing platforms for 42-inch and other heavy guns, Kovno is still not. surrounded, and the Russian armies are intact ana: free to manoeuvre. Amsterdam telegrams say it is reported that- the Germans liberated all political prisoners at Warsaw at the request of a committee ot citizens. A telegram from Berlin says that “Herr Liehkneeht,” writing from the eastern front, gives notice to ask in the Reichstag whether the Government is disposed to abandon the idea of any annexation whatever and enter into immediate pourparlers ii other belligerents are similarly inclined.

Tbe “Spectator” says the German left flank is only 300 miles i ro:n Pctrograd, and it now appears possible that the operations in the north do not form part- of a vast enveloping movement, but arc the beginning ei an attempt to seize Pelrograd by a sudden dash on the coast roads, to which movement the fleet would contribute by its local command of the sea.

The paper says the plan is formidable enough, but the Germans are mistaken if they suppose the seizure of Pelrograd would paralyse Russ',a. Moreover, tho Germans are already two months late, and Riga and Kovno are not captured. Tho "Daily Mail’s” Petrograd correspondent says it transpires that General Mackcnsen’s cflort to break the Russian line on the Bug nearly succeeded in cutting off large Russian forces. General Maekenson forced his way to Vlodava- regardless of cost, and the Russian position was precarious, but General Alckcff realised the situation and nishecl forward all available troops and guns. with, orders that Vlodava must bo re-taken. The troops obeyed magnificently and re-took the, town and drove back the enemy ‘2O miles in three days, and are still holding him. This irresistible wave ot Russian bravery must bo accounted one of the most glorious episodes of tho tvar. The. “Morning Post’s” Petrograd correspondent says the Germans appear to he definitely held in check and the Russians are in full command of tho situation. The management of the Russian retreat from tho Warsaw salient will probably provide a model for future text books on the art or war. It is daily becoming plainer that the Germans are finding themselves short of men for attempting victory fifty or a hundred miles deeper into Russia’s vast spaces. The Russian line now runs roughly from Lomza to Vlodava, with a convex face towards the enemy. The enemy ■is astride the railway from Warsaw, near Malkin, but is steadily held off further from the railway the further north it runs. On the, whole, the German progress suggests the possibility that they will findi the Russian winter before they succeed in reaching a. satisfactory defensive line to free their real fighting forces for the. western front. A Russian official message says: In. the Kovno district the enemy temporarily abandoned attacks. In tho Middle Vistula region, in conformity with the exigencies of the general situation, ire evacuated Sokoloff. Sieldce, and Lukoff.

THROUGH ENEMY EYES. OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Received A lie. 15, 3.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 15. A Turkish official message, says : We captured eight machine gnus at Ari Burau. Our artillery hit a. hostile ironelar. off Ari Burmi v We- took a hund red'yards oi trenches near Setld ul Bahr. An Austrian official message says: Wo successfully bombarded ari Italian camp near Gonnous. Our armoured train drove out the enemy’s guards from the village of Ohizzola in the Etscli Valley.

Our submarine No. 12 has not returned from a cruise in the Northern Adriatic. . An Austrian official vers imp oi tho bombardment of the Adriatic coast says: We heavily bom hurdled four factories, igniting one, and shattered a tramway viaduct at Molfetta and burned to the ground several depots at San Spirito. We bombed a signal station and live factories, igniting one, and- causing, a panic among the population of Cario. We badly damaged a railway viadtnet at San Giorio.

• A German official 1 message says:—A new 1 battle is developing, in which General Hindenbnrg’s armies are engaged nortlh of tiro Nienien district-, and l Generals AlesofE, Kapisehky, Westell inty, and Kowarsk before. Kovno. We took the fortified forest of Domikanka, with. 350 prisoners. Between the Nn.rew and the Bug we reached Slina, •where the enemy were resisting. We storme<li a strong a'u!vanced position north of Novo Geor-. gievsk, capturing 1800 prisoners and four machine guns.