THE GREAT STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 5

THE GREAT STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW

DIFFICULTIES OF THE .SITUATION FOR THE GERMANS. (Reo, July 23, 11.30 p.m.) London, July 23. i The public is absorbed in the struggle for Warsaw. The communiques show that the Russians are holding all the vital points on the front, and the essential railways are still intact. ' Though the communiques mention fighting .at the Rejowiec village, half a mile from tho Cholm-Ivangorod railway, critics point out that the Germans have not yet reached tlie point west of tlm Vistula which they reached' before the.v were, driven back at the end of 1914. The Geraians claim to ho investing Ivangorod, but an Austrian official uiessago admits that they are still westward of tho Vistula and north of tho fortress of Blonie. The lino mentioned in tho l'etrograd official coinmuniquo is about twenty miles west of tho Vistula. General Mackensen's advance has been arrested twenty miles south-west and thirteen miles south-east of Lublin. while Mackenseu's centre, butting towards tho railway, is eight miles west of Cholm. Unless his success is speedy, General Mackensen is bound to be troubled with shortage of supplies. A singlo German army corps consumes 250 tons daily, apart from ammunition, and fourteen army corps require 700 motor lorries, assuming a double journey of 120 miles, .can be performed daily. General Mackensen formed large magazines during the pause in the fighting at Krasnostaw early in July, but ho has only one good Toad. Tho "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says if tho previous occasions furnish a precedent the stoppage of the enemy at Chodel-Piaski line is likely to continue. Similarly the Russians will contrive to keep the enemy at a distance on the Narow front. There is still no indication of the Grand Duke Nicholas's intentions, but everything points to tho plan of holding up the enemy on one front and smashing him on tho other. , The "Morning Post's" correspondent adds, it is generally felt in Petrograd that .the situatiou is serious,' one indication of which is the curtness of the bulletins, but tlio public is confident of a successful issue.. Berlin telegrams show that the battle for Warsaw is being followed witli feverish' anxiety in Germany, where the fear of a winter, campaign lias become a nightmare to the commercial classes. The general belief is that a crushing defeat of the Russians, will enable Germany to dictate peace soon. It is announced tliat tlio Russians set Windaii afire before evacuating tlie place. Little of the town, remains, and the harbour has been destroyed. The Geneva correspondent of the "Tribune" states that the Russians north of Voletza compelled the Austnans to retreat on a front of eight kilometres. Tlie Germans were also defeated north of Krasnotstaw, losing.thirteen thousand.