Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-21
General, Connected With Staff
Of Grand Duke, Says Ger
man Operations Are Not
Meeting With Success,
CARS TROOPS HOLD
STRONG POSITIONS
Aim of Invaders Not to Pro-
ceed Further Into Country
Than Warsaw and Then Be-
gin Defensive Warfare,

tay MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL tuAsrn wlRrl
Petrograd tvia London. Dec. 20.
6:20 y. MIA general attached ia
the Russian general staff who recent
ly returned to Petrograd from the
front. reviewed the present military
situation today in an optimistic man
ner.
We are now at the close OF the
first period of the war" he said. X
has ended, TO be sure, with the battle
front shifted to the eastward, but
without marked advantage for the
Germans.
The German Advance.
The German offensive was begun
with the center extending from Posen
to Kalicz. The armies OF Generals
Mackenzen and Francois advanced TO
the river Bzura, occupying positions
in almost a straight line from Plock
through Domitz and Lodz to Piotr-
kow, where they fortified themselves.
The northern division which pro.
ceeded to Ciechanow and Makow was
forced back to the frontier. The
Austro-German troops from Silesla
advanced toward Olkusz and Noyo
Radomsk, while farther to the south
the Austrians proceeded to the river
Danajec, aiming to free Cracow.
Austro- Hungarian Army.
ITO the southwest of Przemysl an
Austro-Hungarian army attempted to
cross the Carpathians striving to re-
lieye Przemysl and free Galicia. The
centers Of intense operations develop
ed in the order above mentioned.
The strategic position of the rail-
road lines enabled the Austro-Ger-
mans to maneuver their forces north
and south, east and west. and vice
versa. The total number of Austro-
Germans opposing Russia is estlmat-
ed at more than 40 army corps (about
! 600, 900 men.)
strategic Policy Outlined.
The present aim of the enemy evil
IDENTITY is to take the Lithuanian fort
resses Of Koyno, Dvinsk and Grodno,
and occupy western Poland. as far as
Warsaw. while the Austrians are at
tempting to free Galicla. push north
ward TO Lubln and occupy southern
Poland. If the enemy were success
full In thus freeing its own territory
and fortifying the lines mentioned, no
effort would be made to go farther.
The enemy would content himself
with remaining on the defensive along
this front, so that 30 army corps
might be transferred to the western
theater of war
Russians Strongly Fortified
These aspirations cannot he real
ized. because the Russians are being
reinforced continually and are now
occupying positions which may be
defended much more effeetually than
their previous ones.
THE Sochaczew country. which is
cellent facilities for defense. The
rainy weather also favors the Rus
slams in their trench digging, while
at the same time it ruins the roads
used by the German forces OF inva-
sion.
Next Large Engagement.
During the temporary lull in this
region, the next large battle is ex-
pected around Cracow and Przemysl,
with the probability also of German
demonstrations in force around
Mlawa, SuwallSi and Wirlballen.
''The situation on the Caucasian
front lms not changed materially. |
The Russians there are remaining on
the defensive on account Of the rigor-
GUS weather The Turks with great
~ increased forces. are attempting an
invasion along route which leads !
from Urumiah. in northwestern Per-
sia, to the shore of the Caspian sea
at Baku, thence to Ellzabethpol and !
on to Tiflis
Turkish Operations.
"Between Kars and Erzerum, where
hostilities were begun, operations are
now at standstill The previous in
tention Of the Turks to make de- |
scent on the Crimea and elsewhere |
along the Black sea, has either been
abandoned or delayed.
Meanwhile Russia is preparing a
coast line defense. The Turkish fleet !
after It's temperance at Batum,
again has disappeared.
Il regard the net results OF this
first period of the war as a source
Of general satisfaction.
LEGION TO AID
N INIGHrINf. GERM |