LAND ANI> WA'J'EB 
September 25, 1915. 
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words, he was beginning to try to envelop the 
Russian armies within the sector of Vilna. Let 
ns see by what steps he proceeded towards the 
accomplishment of this task. 
On Friday, September 10, and all through 
Saturday, September 11, large bodies of the 
enemy began to exercise peculiar pressure 
against that part of the railway from Vilna to 
t)vinfik which comes just beyond the crossing of 
the River Vilia. Meanwhile a similar heavy nght 
was being fought for the possession of Skidel, 
which changed hands more than once during the 
day and to which the Russians clung with great 
persistence. At the same time an attack of some 
.violence, accompanied by the use of poisonous gas, 
.Was taking place against the defile of Novo Troiki, 
between the two lakes which stand a few miles 
.■west of VUna itself. German forces were fighting 
to obtain, but had not yet entered, Orany. To the 
•outh, the Austro- Germans had not yet reached 
ikhe Zelvianka River. 
The reader will perceive bv following, upon 
Bketch II., the points mentioned, that the Austro- 
.German forces as a whole at this moment swept in 
a great quadrant round the salient of Vilna, 
following roughly the line of dots shown upon 
Ihat sketch, from A, in the north-east, to B, in 
the south-west. But the heavy work was being 
idone at the points where arrows are marked dis- 
tributed along that quadrant. 
Upon Sunday, the 12th, and Monday, the 
13th (that is, a week ago), two things happened 
which modified the salient for the worse from the 
point of view of the Russians. First, our Ally 
withdrew from Skidel, and the whole Austro- 
German line came some miles further eastward, 
passing in front of the railway junction and 
bridge over the Niemen at Mosty, following the 
Zelvianka River, and in places establishing pon- 
toon bridges across that stream. Secondly, on the 
north, the railway from Vilna to Dvinsk was 
reached by the Austro- Germans in several places 
beyond the stream of the Vilia, notably at the 
station of New Svenziany. The Russians at this 
point fell back on to the station of Podbrozie, and, 
in general, lined the banks of the Vilia. 
It was upon this day, Monday, the 13th, that 
the shape of the salient must have convinced the 
Russian command that the moment for the full 
evacuation of Vilna had come, and it will prob- 
ably be found, when the details of the retreat are 
obtainable, that while, of course, the stores, 
materials, machinery, &o., of Vilna had long ago 
been removed, upon this Monday, the 13th. began 
