The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-12-07


land, are beginning to reach here
from Petrograd, and all dispatches
indicate the heaviest fighting in that
region during the past two days has
occurred in the course of maneuver-
ing for the possession of Lask, fifteen
miles southwest of Lodz.
The latest Russian official state
ment indicates, fighting continues in
this region without a decision, and it
Is apparent to British observers that
conditions in the north of Poland are
virtually the same as they were one
week ago, after the German army had
been saved from overwhelming defeat
by the brilliant operations of General
Mackensen.
The most tragic moment Of the bat
tie about Lodz thus far, it is report
ed in Petrograd, occurred between
Tuszyn and Brzeziny, southeast OF
Lodz. Heavy German forces which
had penetrated to Tuszyn, it appears,
were surrounded and obliged to fight
their way out to Brzeziny to unite
with the main body. The Russians
essayed counter attack after counter
attack to prevent the junction, but the
Germans cut a passage at the point OF
the bayonet, for fifteen miles.
BIoodiest Battle of War.
This battle is called the bloodiest
and most pitiless of the war. Petro-
grad reports assert 80 per cent OF the
German officers were put out of ac-
ton, and many regiments had less
than one hundred men left. The
fighting lasted for thirty-six hours.
The Germans are said to have fallen
in rows, but their comrades pushed
forward over the bodies and hurled
themselves against the Russians,
whose losses also were great. The
Germans, after joining their main
body, were able to reform their lines,
and German official statements assert
they have now assumed the offensive
along considerable portion of the
front. e... sz>...s ,-...-.s.-
On the SZczercoW line, which Is
fifteen to twenty miles long, in re-
gion east Of the Warta river, the
fighting, according to Petrograd ad-
vices, appears to indicate that the
Germans have been reinforced heav-
lily and that they are filling in the
gap between their right wing and the
isolated body which has been trying
to turn the Russian left wing.
Berlin claims heavy captures OF
prisoners in the struggle in North Po-
land, while from Kiev comes the an
nouncement that the Russian fortress
there is crowded with German pris.
Oners.
In the Western Arena of War.
The French statement says to the
north of the Lys the allies made per-
ceptible progress, the infantry making
an attack at daybreak, succeeding in
advancing 500 yards and holding two
lines of German trenches.
The statement says the Germans,
with violent attacks by heavy artil-
lery, attempted without success to re-
gain ground conquered by the French.
The Germans. however, report they
repulsed French attacks in Flanders
and to the south of Aleta, along the
Mosele river. The German state
ment also claims progress at La
Basse, in the Argonne forest and in
the region southwest of Altkrich.
The French report intermittent can
nonading by the Germans in the re-
gion of Arras and in Champagne and
add that Rheims has been bombarded
with particular severity. The French
say they destroyed some Of the earth
Notifications of the Germans. Ac-
cording to the French statement, the
contests in the Argonne continues to
be waged hotly, and the French say
they have reoccupied several Ger
man trenches and repulsed all coun-
ter attacks. The French say the sit.
uation in Lorraine and Alsace Is un-
changed. ,,