Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1914 — CZAR LEADS HIS ARMIES IN CAMPAIGN [ARTICLE]

CZAR LEADS HIS ARMIES IN CAMPAIGN

Nicholas Goes to Headquarters and His Forces Take Offensive. 60 FAR INTO GERMANY Russians Said to Hold Fifty Miles of Kaiser’s Territory Now Face Strongly Fortified Cities. London, Aug. 25.—The Central News has given out a message from Its Rome correspondent saying that a dispatch received in the Italian capital from St. Petersburg declares that Emperor Nicholas has gone to the headquarters of the Russian army, which has now taken the offensive in full strength. Advance Fifty Miles. The following official announcement was made in Paris: “The Russians occupy territory 50 miles wide on the German frohtier. The Russian line on the German frontier extends from Tilsit to Inverburg and Arys. The German population Is evacuating Willenberg, 91 miles southeast of Koenigsberg, because of the arrival of Russian forces from Poland, which already have penetrated a considerable distance toward Soldau.” A Times dispatch from St. Petersburg says that military observers there have made careful compilation of the distribution of the German forces on both frontiers, from which they gain the belief that it is not possible for the Germans to overcome the allied forces on the western frontier at vital joints. The Russians believe there are no Austrian corps in the west. Austrians on Boeder. Regarding the Austrian forces opposed to the Russian advance they may be said to comprise the whole army, except the units engaged on the Servian and Montenegrin borders. The incursion of large bodies of Russian troops into the German provinces of east and west Prussia, and their capture of the important positions of Gumbinnen and Insterburg, bring them in front of a series of more or less strongly fortified German cities, placed strategically to the east of the River Vistula and between it and the frontier. Among these fortresses one of the first in importance is Koenigsberg, on the Gulf of Danzig, a fortress of the first class. The city contains about tw’o hundred thousand inhabitants and was formerly a Polish possession. Thorn is another first-class fortress guarded by a large number of outlying works. Allenstein is, if anything, stronger even than Thorn. British Capture 8,000 Germans. London, Aug. 25.—A Brussels dispatch tells of the capture on Sunday of 8,000 German cavalrymen, who were lured into a trap by the British artillery. The Germans are still enmeshed so far as known, as no account of the fighting has been officially received. Italy Mobilizes 800,000. Paris, Aug. 25.—Dispatches received from Geneva report that the Italian army has been raised to 800,000 men and that Italian troops are concentrating on the Austrian frontier. Italy has replied to Austria’s importAities repeatedly that she will insist upon maintaining her neutrality even to the point of using force against her ally. , The French frontier of Switzerland virtually has been stripped of its garrisons, owing to partial mobilization by individual summons>and not by public orders.