The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-23
ANOTHER FOE AGAINST GERMANY
RUSSIA

| United Press Leased Wire Service.
PETRoGRAD, Dec. 23.-Two thous-
and Germans, part Of column Of the
advance on Warsaw, were annihlIated
in a single ensa cement along the
Bzura river.
Details Of the fighting reaching
here today showed that the Russians
west Of Warsaw masked their artillery
and did not open fire on tho closely
massed ranks Of the enemy until
they were in mid-strear. The do
struction Of life was friahtfui. Hun
dreds Of wounded were swept off
their feet by the current and weighted
down by their heavy equipment, were
drowned.
The advance was completely check
ed. The Germans withdrew and took
cover to escape the Russian fire.
At other points, mines we're expIod-
ed along the banks where the
Germans endeavored to force cross
ing. Such explosions invariably re-
suited in heavy losses to the enemy
and threw their ranks into great con-
fusion.
The steady advance Of the Russian
forces north Of tho vistula 10 now
threatening the German flank. Tho
Germans, retiring on thirty mile
front on line from Neidenburg to
Lautenburg are endeavorlng to pro-
tect the system Of east Prussian rail
roads upon which the enemy depends
for the transportation Of troops. The
Russians are swinging southwark to-
ward Thorn and the Germans have
been forced to hurry troops In that
direction. The forces Of the enemy
which Withdrew toward Neidenburg
are contesting the advance Of the Rus
SLAMS along that line, who are aiming
toward giving support to the forces
engaged In the Mazurlan lake region.
Southwest OF Warsaw, along the
Pliica, extenslve engagements are In
pronress, but the Germans are decIar-
ed 70 be held In check.
In GaiIcia the fighting now extends
on a lire from cracow through the
Donajec valley and 70 the carpathian
region where the Austrians are valnIy
endeavorIng to relieve Przemysl. !.
FIGHT ON RIVER BANK.
LONDON, Dec. 23.-The main line
Of the Russian defense before Warsaw
has been withdrawn to within twenty
miles Of the Polish capital.
This was Indicated in reports from
Petrograd today Of the desperate
fighting which is in progress west
and southwest Of the city. The Rus
SLAMS are stubbornIy opposing the at
tempts Of the Germans to cross the
Bzura and Rawa rivers, but the forces
of Field Marshal Won HIndenburg have
succeeded in establishing themselves
in strong positions on the Bzura north
Of Sochaweza. Previous reports from
Petrograd have intimated that Skier.
niewice, 40 miles southwest Of War
sew on the railroad line leading to
the fortress, would be abandoned and
that this place was not defended, is
evident from the fact that the fore
most German position Is east Of the
town.
From the Vietuia through POLAND
ana SaIiCtd tHe anu AUS
trians are now operating on front OF
about 22O miles.
The front along which the opera.
tions against Warsaw are being con.
ducted extends about sixty miles from
the vistuIa to the river PiIica. The
Austrians present a,seventy mile front
to Sanok, thirty miles from PrzemysI
where fighting is In progress in an at
tempt to raise the Russian siege. The
south Poland front is along ninety
mile line.
The killing Of two German aviators
In the east by their own troops Is re.
ported today. German troops near
kutno mistaking an aeror!ane which
passed over their lines for one of the
enemy's. shot it down.
Snow and ice, together with es
treme cold has made the operations Of
both Russians and Germans difficult
In some sections heavy sledges are
beinai usedEfn Transportation work.
Z