_From Berlin on July 20 came this report from the German War Office:_
Eastern theatre of war: In Courland the Russians were repulsed near
Grosschmarden, east of Tukum, and near Gruendorf and Usingen. East of
Kurshany the enemy also is retreating before our attack.
North of Novgorod, on the Narew, German troops captured enemy
positions north of the confluence of the Skroda and Pissa rivers.
Fresh Landsturm troops who were under fire for the first time
especially distinguished themselves. North of the mouth of the Skwa we
reached the Narew. The permanent fortifications of Ostrolenka, on the
northwest bank of the river, were captured.
South of the Vistula our troops advanced into hostile positions to
Blonie and Grojec. (Blonie is seventeen miles west of Warsaw, and
Grojec twenty-six miles south of the city.) In rearguard fighting the
Russians lost 560 prisoners and two machine guns.
Southeastern theatre of war: German Landwehr and reserve troops of the
army of General von Woyrich repulsed superior forces of the enemy from
their position at Ilzanka. All counter attacks made by Russian
reserves, which were brought up quickly, were repulsed. We captured
more than 5,000 prisoners. Our troops are closely pursuing the enemy.
Our cavalry already has reached the railway line from Radom to
Ivangorod.
Between the upper Vistula and the Bug we are following the retreating
enemy.
_A bulletin, issued early on July 20, had announced the capture of the
Baltic port of Windau, thus bringing the Germans within a few miles of
Riga, seat of the Governor General of the Baltic Provinces. It read:_
German troops occupied Tukum and captured Windau. (Windau is a seaport
in Courland on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Windau River, 100
miles northwest of Mitau.) Pursuing the enemy, who was defeated on the
Aa River at Alt Autz, our troops yesterday undiminished energy, and
at some points report that progress has been made.
They are operating, however, through country which the retiring troops
have laid waste and in which what roads there are, are little suited
for the movement of the heavy artillery which is necessary for the
bombardment of the great fortresses that bar their way.
It is not expected, therefore, that decisive actions on any of the
fronts will be fought for a few days yet, although the battle between
the Vistula and the Bug Rivers, where the German Field Marshal von
Mackensen's army is advancing toward the Lublin-Chelm Railroad, has
about reached a climax. Here, according to the German official
communication issued this afternoon, the Germans have succeeded in
breaking the obstinate resistance of the Russians at several points
and forced them to retreat.