elve months trying frontal attacks against
Warsaw on a comparatively narrow front and in vain. What chance had
they, he added, "of success by dividing their forces against the
united strength of Russia." This sort of argument is typical of the
endeavor to sustain the hopes of Russia's friends during these days.
Doubts, however, began to creep in more strongly as to the possibility
of holding Warsaw.

In Berlin the announcement of the Teutonic victories that began with
the successful assault at Przasnysz was received with general
rejoicing, and the appearance of flags all over the city. The Russian
retreat toward the Narew River in particular was regarded by the
military critics as threatening momentarily to crumble up the right
flank of the positions of the Russians before the capital of Poland.

[Illustration: German Attempts to reach Warsaw in 1914.]

Cholm and Lublin on the southern line of communication of the Russian
armies were now in imminent danger. On July 19, 1915, came the
announcement that the troops under Field Marshal von Mackensen, which
had pierced the Russian line in the region of Pilaskowice and
Krasnostav, had increased their successes, and that the Russians were
making the most desperate effort to prevent complete defeat. All day
the battle had swayed in a fierce struggle for mastery. The Russians
threw a fresh division of the Guards into the fight, but this too had
to yield to the overwhelming force of the Teuton onslaught. Farther to
the east as far as the neighborhood of Grabowiec, Austro-Hungarian and
German troops forced the crossing of the Wolica, and near Sokal in
Galicia Austro-Hungarian troops crossed the Bug. (See Austro-Russian
Campaign.) In consequence of these Teuton successes the Russians on
the night of the 18th to the 19th of July retreated along the whole
front between the Vistula and the Bug--practically the last line of
defense, for the Warsaw-Kiev railway had been broken down. The German
troops and the corps under the command of Field Marshal von Arz alone
from the 15th to the 18th of July, 1915, took 16,250 prisoners and 23
machine guns.

It was announced by the Germans that according to written orders
captured during this action the Russian leaders had resolved to hold
the positions here conquered by the Germans to the utmost, regardless
of losses.

The same day that brought the report of this Russian retreat on the
south brought the news that in the adjoining sector to th