The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-04
With Emperor William
and King George on
the Battle Fields. Cen
sorship Tightens
THE DOMINATING
ISSUE is POLAND
Result of the Great Clash Of Arms in
the Eastern Arena Expected to Go
Far Toward Determining the Dura-
ton of the War

London, Dec. 4, 12.47 P. MA few
Indirect differences. in the shape of pic.
turesque sketches of the visits of En-
peror William and King George to the
respective battle fronts and the activi-
ties of the Prince of Wales in the
trenches, constitute virtually the entire
budget of war news which has reached
the British public in the past twenty
four hours, apart, of course, from the
unilluminating reports given out at the
French, Russian and German headauar-
tiers. OF the details of the fighting,
with its enormous tolls of killed and
wounded, the public hears nothing.
For the moment the dominating issue
remains in the eastern arena of the war,
where the result of the great clash of
millions of men in Poland will go far
toward determining the duration of the
war, as well as its character during the
next few months, but those more or
less behind the scenes believe they see
signs that the deceptive interim of
relative calm which has marked the
operations in Flanders for the past few
days has about reached its limit.
Predict German Onslaught
The present activity of the German
artillery is believed to be a prelude to
another formidable and concentrated
onslaught somewhere on the allies line
This line, however, is believed bv both
British and French experts to have been
made impregnable since the last Ger
man effort was so nearly successful in
hammering its way through. =.
However this may be, it appears to
be established that in these recent ar.
tillery duels the allies have found their
heavy guns capable of overbearing the
artillery of the enemy. This has been
emphasized in many of the recent dis
patches of General Joffre. commander
in-ehief of the French forces.
Should the new German assault meet
with the same fate as have previous
attempts TO reach the coast of the chan
mel, observers in London expect that it
will be followed by general advance
on the part of the allies.
Signs Of Activity in Alsace
There are signs Of approaching ac.
tivity in Alsace, where the French re-
Gently have been improving their posi-
tions. At the same time the Germans
are said to have been heavily reinforced
in this section. General Joffre's re.
cent declaration to the Alsatians that
eve are back here to stay" may soon
be put to test.
The fighting in Russian Poland. in
the opinion of British observers, ap-
pears TO have had no effect on the Rus
sian operations against Cracow, to
stop which has been the main object
of the Germans. In the possession of
heights within three or four miles of
the outer forts of the former capital
of Poland, the Russions appear to have
the Cracow fortress at their mercy.
The very fact that the Museovites have
been able to get to such close quarters
seems to indicate that the guns of era
cow are not so formidable as has COM
monty been reported.
If this city falls it is anticipated
that it will have an immediate effect
on the campaign in Poland. it being
argued here that the Germans would
then be forced to double back to stem
the invasion of Silesia, which would be
the immediate sequel to the Russian
capture of Crae6w.
The first story of the loss of Brit
ish superdreadnaught, copied from
American news, is published here to-
day with the omission of the name of
the ship and the locality where the mis-
hap occurred.
The British superdreadnaught re-.
ferred to is the Audacious. which went
down off the northern coast of Ireland
October %.