The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-12-22
GREATEST BATTLE
WORLDS HISTORY
BERLIN SENDS OFFICIAL WORD
OF DEFEAT TO ENEMY BY
USTRO-GERMANS.
TEUT0NS IN HOT PURSUIT
City Goes Wild With Joy as War Of
flee Tells of Disaster to
Enemy, All Schools
Closing.

Berlin, Dec. 18.-Wireless via Lon
don't is officially announced that
the Russian armies in Poland are in
full retreat, pursued by the German
and Austro-Hungarian armies along
the whole front
Berlin, Dec. 18.-The people of Ber-
lin were aroused to enthusiasm today
by great AustroGerman victory over
the Russians in Poland An official
bulletin was issued shortly after noon
and within half an hour extra editions
of the papers appeared, and the whole
city literally flashed into bunting AM
erican visitors who a few days ago
commented upon the obscure display
of flags, scarcely recognized the
streets which everywhere were gay
with the German black, white and red,
and the Austrian orange and black, at
many places intertwined.
Wars Biggest Victory.
At the reichstag, where a Red Cross
meeting was in session, word was re-
ceiyed from the palace that the great
est victory of the war had been won.
The schools will close tomorrow SO
that the children may assemble to Gel
citrate the event
The first intimatfon of the nature
and extent of he Russian defeat was
received last evening, but circulated
only in official quarters Later tidings
seemed to confirm the first bulletins.
News was then given out and Berlin
went wild with joy.
Russians Pushed Back.
1t is understood the Russians are in
precarlous position, but it is not
claimed that decisive battle has been
fought. The Russian army center has
been pushed back, but not crushed or
pierced.
The Lokal Anzeiger commenting on
the news of German victory in Po-
land, says:
Never since this old earth has had
history has such a gigantic battle
been fought. Seldom in centuries has
there been such an event of such de-
cisive Importance
"The battle of Poland will be class
ed in history among the victories of
the first rank. 1t will be mentioned
in the same breath with the battles of
Salamis and Leipsic.
Russia Taxed Power.
The Tageblatt says: "This victory,
with the defeat of the Russians, is
particularly significant because the
Russians threw all their forces into
the scale. From the most distant por-
lions OF the empire, Siberia and the
Caucasus, the last reinforcements
were brought up.
THE victory will have a widespread
Importance, especially with the Bal
kan states.
with this victory in the West Po-
land theater, the campaign in the
eastern theater of the war is for the
greater part decided"
Three British Ships Sunk.
London, Dec. 18.-The steamer FL
terwater struck a mine and was sunk
vi ii vi Sudy Oh L ldmDOTOuSn HEAD.
Six of the vessels crew are missing.
Two other vessels, as yet unidentified.
also struck mine and went down
nearby. The passengers and crews
escaped.
Marlborough Head is fifteen miles
south of Scarborough, one of the Eng
lish coast towns bombarded by the
Germans on Wednesday, The freight
steamer Princess Olga was sunk dur
ing the night after striking a mine six
miles off Hartlepool. Members of the
crew of this vessel, who were res
cued, reported that they saw a Ger
man steamer laying mines near the
point where the Princess Olga went
down
Admiralty Issues Warning.
The admiralty has issued a warn
ing that traffic between Marlborough
Head and Newcastle was now endan-
gered by mines and all traffic has been
abandoned until further notice
A vigorous search is being made in
Scarborough for spies. Reports of
mysterious f1ashlight signalling seen
Tuesday night before the lombard
ment by the German Warships have