Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-09-30
Expert Finds Nothing in News
to Justify Claims Of Ger
man Retreat
DISPATCHES SHOW
GERMANS ADVANCE
Cold Weather viii Soon Stop
Russian Advance and Free
Northern Armies
(By j. w. T. Mason, former London cor.
respondent of the United Press.)

respondent of the United Press,)
New York, Sept, 30.-There was no
official information today which could
in any way be interpreted as furnishing
as basis for reports of the retreat of the
German right in northeastern France.
On the contrary, the allies new battle
lines, announced by the French govern.
ment with unusual franlness, indicated
considerable gains by the Germans.
Last week Peronne and Lassigny We're
in the allies possession. They repre-.
sented the points closest to the Ger.
mans main defenses that the Franco.
British forces had taken since the be.
ginning of the battle of the Aisne.
The new disposition Of the battle
front restores Iiassigny to the Germans
and moves the allies ten miles back Of
Peronne, between Combles and Albert,
Germans Are Strong.
This rearrangement shows that the
Germans still retain considerable power,
and If it Is only sporadic, it has been
proven that the allies offensive abili.
ties are sporadic, too.
The German wing could only be routed
at this time by the appearance Of
strong Franco.British reinforcements,
and such reinforcements probably would
have to be supplied by the British.
Most of the British troops sent to
France after the arrival Of the first
expeditionary force must have been used
to make up losses and keep the original
corps up to their full strength.
1t is not likely that the second army
has yet crossed the channel. This second
army, consisting of trained coonials
and home tcrritorials, corresponding to
our national guard should, however,
soon be ready for the field.
It's sudden arrival at the battle front
might force the German right TO retire
as hastily as the present unconfirmed
French rumors suggest.
Despite the optimisism Of Russian
statements concerning the ears oper.
ations against Geimany's East Prussian
army, the situation certainly is by no
means satisfactory from the slav stand.
point.
The Germans have penetrated into
Russia toward the Nieman river 50
miles, maintaining themselves in force
on the Russian side Of the entire Russo.
German frontier.
Under these circumstances General
Rcpnenkampf's IS reported promise to his
Russian soldiers that they should spend
Christmas in Berlin was somewhat pre-
mature.
The approach of winter will serve
German purposes excellently in the east
ern campaign.
Intense cold is almost constant, the
thermometer frequently dropping below
zero, in the district through which the
Russians must pass TO reach Berlin
Snowstorms and fog are sure to con
stitute further obstacles.
Russians Must Hurry
In short, march, in the dead OF
winter, across eastern Germany would
be a feat so difficult as to call for al
most superhuman qualities on the sol
diers part.
Just as speed is Of the utmost i'm
portance 10 Germany in its western
operations, so is rapid action necessary
/ to the Russians In the east II the czai
is to realize his ambition to parade as {
conqueror through the streets Of Berlin
Every week that the Muscovite force
are delayed means that weather Is I
week nearer which will ally itself will
the Germans in the latters defense.
For this reason Austria's desperate re
sistance. In Galicia is Of the creates
value to the kaiser, even though II ma,
fail TO Save the province TO the Aus
trihns themselves