RUSSIANS EVACUATE IVANGOEOD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2535, 9 August 1915, Page 5

RUSSIANS EVACUATE IVANGOEOD

BRICK DEFENCE WORKS BLOWN UP heavy fighting on northern flank ■ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Petrograd, 'August 6. Official.—"The forts at Ivangorod were constructed practically entirely of brick, and not filled with the materials necessary for modern fortifications. In view of tlie impossibility of sustaining a siege, all the stores .were methodically withdrawn in time. Our rearguards stopped the enemy's progress for a few days on a few lines of fieldworks, without sanguinary combats. On August 4, in conformity with the general plan, we blew up several concrete bases on which the brick casemates rested, and retreated. (Rec. August'B, 1 p.m.) Petrograd, August 7. Official.—"We victoriously, repulsed the Germans between the Divina and the Niemen. "Desperate fighting occurred on Wednesday night and Thursday on the left bank of the Narew. On the Rozan-Ostrdlenka-Ostrow Toads, our counterattacks held up the enemy on an extended front. Violent fighting continues. "All has been quiet on the middle Vistula since our crossing, "Wo evacuated Warsaw to save the city from bombardment-. The enemy's fruitless attempts to extend his occupation of this zone continue only in tha Macievitze region. "After stubborn battles east of the Traumki-Vlodava Road, the enemy concentrated the fire of his massed artillery, and we retired a little northwards.".GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, Amsterdam, August 6. A German communique states: "W 0 fought successful.cavalry battles at Popel, 40 miles north of Pomevash, and near Komarsk Kourkle, north-west of Vilkomier. "Despite stubborn resistance on the Narew, we made further progress. "Between the north of the Bug and Nasiolsk a detachment of the troops investing Novogeorgievsk broke through a position at Blendostwo', and advanced further. "Our airship squadron threw bombs on the railway buildings at Bielostok. "The Russians, after being oxpolled from the Warsaw fortifications without damage to tho city, retreated to Praga (the suburb on th© east side of the Vistula). "Von Mackensen's armies continue to pursue the enemy. "Our Allies (the Austrians) expelled tho Russians from positions north, east of Novo Aloxandria.'"AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL' COMMUNIQUE, , ■ , Amsterdam, August 6 'An official Vienna telegram states that Ivangorod has been occupied, .VON WOYRSCH'S TACTICS. (Rec. 'August 8, 4.15 p.m.) „ , . Condon,'August 7!A: wireless message from Berlin claims that General von Woyrsch at Ivangorod adroitly assailed the Russians by massing "his troops, pontoon material" and trains opposite Novo Alexandria, causing the Russians to throw their best troops and reserves at Novo Alexandria. At night, however, twenty pontoon trains, hidden undor straw, with troops, moved down-stream. Tho eii"incers quickly threw four bridges, heavily fortified, the Vistula. In a few hours tlio Germans crosscd and surprised tho Russians by encircling Ivangorod on the north, cutting off its connection with Warsaw. THE RUSSIAN RETIREMENT FROM WARSAW I .' EVACUATION INFLUENCED BY GERMAN MENACE ON RIGHT FLANK. Petrograd, August 6. The newspapers are unanimous in declaring that tho evacuation of Warsaw strengthens Russia's determination to pursue tho war to a victorious end. A letter from Warsaw, datod Tuesday, stated that provisions were at famino prices. A party of Uhlan scouts crosscd tho Vistula, and wero takesi prisoner. During tho advance from t'ho Vistula the Germans encountered innumerable fires. They consequently wero preceded by military firemen. Ostradorff, Grod/.isk, and Blonio wero in flamos when occupied by tlio ojiomy. The last of tho Russian troops left Warsaw at 5 o'clock on Thursday morning. The evacuation was carried out in perfect order. Even tho street lctter-boxos wero taken to Moscow, and most of tho shops were closed. Enemy aeroplanes to the last moment dropped bombs on tlio city. The decision to abandon tho city seems to havo been precipitated by tho advance of great German forces on tho left of the Narew, in the direction of Ostrof. JUBILATION IN VIENNA. (Rec. 'August 7, 3.30 p.m.) Zurich, August 7, Tho jubilation in Vienna was tlie greatest since .the commencement of the war. Demonstrations in tho streets lasted until early morning. German manufacturers oppose, the calling up of the untrained town Lantlstrum. Sovcral have conferred with tho military authorities. Two Hungarian Army Corps from Eastern Galicia, in an extremely exhausted condition, arc withdrawing to the Austrian frontier, and ura bnjnp re; placed l>y liowly-traincd German Landsturincr.s from tha German districts ol -ttalicmia.

VIVID PICTURE OF THE EVACUATION

GREAT CITY LITERALLY. STRIPPED CLEAN, (Rec. August 8, 3.10 p.m.) Stockholm, August 7. Tho special correspondent of tho Chicago "Daily News" lias arrived hero from Warsaw. The first intimation of the evacuation of tho city was on July 13, when tlio authorities inquired how many passes wore required for tho British colony at Wawsaw. Tho evacuation began oil July 15. Thousands of goods-wagons had already accumulated, and goods, men, women, and children were hurried eastward as fast as they could ho taken. Fully half tho population went, and also hundreds and thousands of peasants from the villages, whose homes were burnt and crops gathered or destroyed. Everything of value in Warsaw —telegraph and telephone wires, horses, vehicles, every scrap of metal —even church bells, were removed. The factories were destroyed after the machinery had been either taken or smashed. All art and antiquarian treasures, and also Chopin's Heart from the Church of tho Holy Cross, were sent to Moscow. Calm, Paniclcss Methods, The systematio evacuation of Warsaw, extending over a fortnight, formed a fine tribute to tho calm and panieloss method of the Russian authorities. Tho Allied Consuls, with their archives, have reached Moscow. The American Consul will remain at Warsaw. Tho refugees also include officials of tho Law Courts, with t'hroe million sterling in court funds. When tho evacuation was announced the Warsaw police visited every house and soupht to indueo the inhabitants to leave Poland and go to Russia. While 350,000 citizens were thus departing, almost another 350,000 trooped in from tho neighbouring districts. These wore chiefly peasants, though in somo cases thero were men who wero worth £200,000 a month ago, and aro now penniless. Endless lines of tired, dust-whitoiied peasants, with cattle and portables, thronged the roads and bridges converging oil Warsaw. Mcanwhilo the factories wero being i feverishly stripped, their owners being granted free transport for the machinery plants eastward by road, aud the authorities dynamited plants which wore embedded in concrete—tho noise could bo heard day and night in all parts of tho city. Every fragment of dynamited metal was immediately railed eastward. The newspapers made their final appearances, and then the linotypes wero rooted up and cartod away. Tho police visited every printing office, dismantled the presses, and took the type. Hardly a toil of copper fittings was left in Warsaw. Gangs of soldiers stripped tho telegraph wires and poles for leagues, and even tho machinery of the public water supply was removed, making a typhoid opideinic probable. The huge bronze hells of tile churches were nnsluug, lost thoy should be converted into Krupp cannon. ' Tlio jewellers buried their stocks, and joined in the endless columns of laden carts and lorries which were crowding tho eastward roads. Only a group of soldiers, with legs dangling from_ tho sacks, distinguished the peasants' belongings from tho banks', with millions of roubles of paper money, hastily thrust into potato sacks. Two thousand hacknoy carriages, driven by thoir owners, traversed the thousand miles' journey to Moscow. Throughout, the churches wero kopt open, and wero crowded with weeping Polos and Russians putting up their filial prayers. All the crops were destroyed where no troops could bo spared to gather them. "AU REVOIR, BUT NOT GOOD-BYE." (Rcc. August 8, 3 p.m.) Petrograd, August 7. At the opening of the Council of Empire, M. Bobrinski said that the greater Russia's misfortunes tho more intense grows her invincible resolution to wage war to the end. "The day of victory will sound. Russia does not say good-bvo to Warsaw, but au revoir." M. Chcbeko, a Polish member, said that the Poles would not forgot Russia's sympathy in their time of grief, and would struggle oil with Russia to their last breath. They would never betray the Slav lag. •"FLAUNTING AN EMPTY VICTORY."(Rec. August 8, 3.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, 'August 7. Berlin is one continued orgioof flag-waving, and revelling crowds at Vienna paraded effigies of tho King of Italy, inscribed: "Ho brought his enemies luck, and his friends ill-luck." Better-informed circles realiso tliatthe people are flaunting an empty triumph, irritating, bccause they expected the fall of Warsaw a week ago. It is known that they have missed the real aim—destruction of tho Russian armies. Tho "Cologne Gazette" states that the Russians have left Ivangorod. Thero were eonsideiablo stocks of flour at Radoma, and the undamaged factories immediately, recommenced work. Novo Alexandria was seriously damaged by fire. REJOICINGS ON INTERNED SHIPS. (Rec. August 8, 4.30 p.m.) ■ Lisbon, August 7. Thirty-seven German vessels which are detained hero hoisted their flags in honour of the capture of Warsaw. WHAT WILL" THEY DO WITH POLAND 2 (Rec. August 7, 3.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 7. The "Tyd's" Cologne correspondent states that Austio-Gormany will make an announcement, synchronsing with tho meeting of the Reichstag,, creating au independent Poland, whereby they expect to secure the sympathies of the Poles. They will make Poland a buffer State. No King is to be appointed for the present, but there is to bo a Polish Government with a Council .wherein Germans, Austrians, and Poles will sit. READY TO EVACUATE KOVNO. Copenhagen, 'August 0. The German newspaper "Vossische Zietung" states .that the Russians liave completed preparations for the evacuation of Kovno. Tlio Governor and the civil officers, with tho archives, have gone to Novo Alexandrovsk. Half tiie civilians have gone, and the wounded have been sent to Central Russia. THE GERMAN PLAN OP OFFENSIVE 'HUGE ENVELOPING MOVEMENT AIMED AT. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Sorvices.) (Rec. August 7, 6.15 p.m.) London, 'August 6. Tlio "Daily Mail's" Petrograd correspondent says: "The German plan was to force tho Russians to fight, and failing that, to surround them. Von Hindenburg's hope was that by a drive of tlio Russian Narcw army southwards, and of the Russian troops in south northwards, ho would catch both-by joining the Gorman-Austrian armies eastward of them. That plan, we my now hope, has failed, but German strategy has another lingo enveloping movement proceeding, which is planned to envelop tho new line further eastward. By occupying Riga the Germans would place themselves in a favourable position for working south along tlio Dwina, and at the samo tirno the other half of the pincers would begin to enclose tho Russians from tho south."GERMAN VIEW OF THE PLAN OF ATTACK. (Rec. August 8, 4.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, 'August 7. Tho German newspaper "Vossische Zeitung" deprecates the excessive reioicing over Warsaw, and points out that the principal object of the campaign is'the'destniction of tho Russian arniios, not the capture of Polish cities. "Wo have now reached the result of a long-prepared Austro-German plan for a great offensive on both banks of the Vistula, rolling up tho Russian front. From a military viewpoint it was important to shorten our front, and wo aro now able to form several strong lines in rear and secure an east front against all Russian attempts, freeing important troops for action elsowhcre." -• RUSSIANS FULLY ALIVE TO THE DANGER, (Rec. 'August 8, 4 p.m.) Petrograd, August 7. 'Although Russia hopes that tho German attempt to squcezo the Russians between tho forces advancing from tho Narew and from the Cholm-Lublin front have definitely failed, German strategy has a much mores ambitious scheme of tho samo kind, and in view of this has planned an advance. In the event of the Russians reaching the Niemonburg line, the Germans, by occupyin" Riga will bo favourably placed for working down the Dwina, taking the new Russian position in the rear. Tho movement will require enormous troops for manoeuvring over such a vast area, and these may be liable to many mishaps, but tho best military opinion in Petrograd refuses to regard the danger lightly. Much depends on the lighting on the extreme German left. The Germans are employing 350,000 troops between Kovno and the Dwina, and if thev break through there before the Russians clear the Narew-Vistula-Bug area a different situation will arise. GREAT EXODUS FROM RIGA. (Rec. August 8, 4 p.m.) Petrograd, August 7. There is an exodus from Riga of ton thousand daily. Tho British Consulate has been left to American protection. It is anticipated that the Russians will defend Novo Georgievsc to .the last. THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE TRENCH FIGHTING AND AIR BOMBARDMENTS Tho High" Commissioner reports London, August 6. 5.50 p.m. "Paris reports that three German attacks wero repulsed. "German airmen bombed the Valley of tho Meurlhc, killing two women and ono soldier/' _ ; The High Commissioner reports:— London, August S, 1.50 a.m. "In tho Argon no the German attacks were redoubled at llill 213, where they entered a trench by means of mines, but were ejected by a French counter- | "At SchratxmJimii'll.i (iii the Vosges), tlja enemy were driven beck with a,ad grsjiide^"

FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE.. By Tolegraph—Presß Ctssociation-Copjright Paris, 'August 6, : A communique states: In tho Argonne there was grenade and petard! fighting, supported by artillery, of great intensity through the night. Tlio enemy near Fontaine-aus-Charmes attempted to leave tho trenches. Our fire stopped him. On tho heights of tho Metise, at BoiTiaut, two enemy, attacks were re-" ' pulsed with grenades and artillery. _ German aeroplanes throw ten bombs on Fraize, in the Meurtke .Valley, and killed two women and a soldier. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, 'August Gv A German communique states: "Fighting at Lingekopf continues. "Our anti-aircraft guns compelled four enemy aeroplanes to descend. One was burned, and another shot to pieces. "On the coast a French seaplane with its occupants fell into our hands," PREPARING FOR ANOTHER WINTER CAMPAIGN. (Rec. August 8, 4.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 7. The Germans in Flanders, sre constructing hundreds of huts to accommodate the troops in the winter. THE WAR ON GALLIPOLI PENINSULA ARTILLERY DUELS AND AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY By Telegraph.—Press Aswciation—Copyright Paris, 'August 6. 'A' Dardanelles communique states: There have been no striking facts since the beginning of August, though thero have been intermittent artillery duels and much aircraft activity. NEW FRENCH COMMANDER APPOINTED. Paris, 'August 6. Offioiol (via Router's 'Agent).—General Sarrail will replace General Gourand (who was wounded) as Commander of tho French Expeditionary Forco at tho Dardanelles.' (Rec. 'August 8, 3 p.m.) Parle, 'August 7. General Sarrail is aged fifty-eight. He commanded the Eighth French Army Corps on the outbreak of war, and replaced General Ruffoy, Commander of the Third Army, after tho Crown Princo had defeated the latter neaT .Sedan. General Sarrail's brilliant defence of Fort Tyron against the Grown Prince's furious attacks with superior forces was one of the decisive contributions to the Allies' victory at tlio Battlo of the Marne. Ho has sinco operated in the Verdun sector with great skill. He is reputed to ho a keen, cool, aud tenacious fighter, and a master of modern warfare. TURCO-ITALIAN TENSION INCREASING ("Times" aud Sydney "Sun" Services.) r ~ , Rome, August 6. Signer Garrom, Italian Ambassador in Turkey, has energetically protested against the vexatious measures the Turks are imposing on Italians recalled to the Mother Country. A condition of anarchy exists at tho Porte Signor Garroni, it is alleged, lias decided to leave Constantinople. ' AN ENTENTE BETWEEN THE ALLIES AND THE BALKANS t, Wish, August G. .Representatives of the Quadruple Entente!, with a view to reaching a settlement of tho question hi dispute" in the Balkans, have made a collective representation to M. Pashitch (Serbian Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs), pointing out their desire to establish an entente with the Balkan"States and the avoidance of friction, thus bringing nearer tho, Allies' final success in the war. THE DIPLOMATIC BATTLE IN RUMANIA BRITISH INFLUENCE GAINING THE DAY. (Rec. August 8, 3 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 7. Though attempting to belittle the importance of Rumania's, attitude, in view of recent events, tho German newspapers show greater irritation, declaring that England's influence is beginnine to bear tho desired fruit. Count Reventlow, writing to the "Tages Zeitung," says that Rumania's embargo on the transport of munitions to Turkey is of less significance now, as Turkey is able to make what is necessary. GERMAN LOAN TO BULGARIA. (Rec. August 8, 3 p.m.) . Athens, August 7. Out of the Bulgarian Loan, of two hundred and fifty million francs, over which the German Bank Coalition had secured an optiou, sixty millions will be devoted to paying off previous bonds, and sixty millions represents indebtedness to France, which lias been taken over by the bank, but tlio German Government is pacing an embargo against tho payment. Bulgaria will receive the remainder in cash. It was reported oil August 3 last, that the German Bank Coalition had secured an option of two hundred and fifty million francs of the Bulgarian State loan. The Coalition was also assured the right of an option, until August,. 1917, of a further two hundred and fifty million francs, and the right of railway and harbour construction works in Bulgaria.