Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-12-11
jAPS AID CZAR IN
RUSSIAN POLAND
Germany Says They Are Man.
Ming The EIg Guns.
SIEGE CT C1kC0V BEGUN
Russian Forces, Eight Miles From
GaIicisn Fortress, Begin Bom5srd-
ment-Gcrman Resistance Stub
born.

born.
According to German dispatches
from the eastern thcater of war tae
reports that japanese troops are now
fighting with the Russians have b-ea
confirmed.
Expert Japanese artillerymen are
manning some of the big guns in the
Russian artillery sections. More JAP
nnese troops are reported to be on
their way to the Russian front by way
of the Trans. Siberian railway.
A press telegram from Vienna
states that Servian officers captured
by the Austrians say that M. Sinitch,
a former Servian cabinet minister,
has been sent to Petrograd in orcer
to ask Russia's permission to con.
clude peace with Austria in the event
that Servias second line of defense
Is smashed by the Austrian army of
Invasion.
The following official statement was
Issued:
an the eastern theater of war the
enemy's attacks east of the plain of
the MaZurian lakes were repulsed
with heavy losses to the Russians.
"Our offensive in Poland is taking
its normal course.
"His majesty, the emperor, arrived
in Perrin for short stay"
Although no Official statement was
issued in Pctrograd it leaked out IL
military circles that the Russians
have begun the bombardment. of Cra-
cow, the Austrian fortress in Galicia.
From the heights of Wieliczka,
eight miles from the city, the Rus
SLAMS are po~ring rain of shells on
the outer forts of Cracow with their
long siege guns.
The Russians are rushing all avail
able troops in the attempt to capture
Cracow. The taking of this fortress
would prove Of great advantage t.
the Russians 1t would open the roads
to Vienna, Breslau and Berlin.
The battle of LodZ was mastery
effort of Field Marshal Won Hinden
burg to stop the Russian advance to
ward Cracow, but the Russians have
low brought up so many men before
odz tlat they have been able to
start turning movement against tie
German flank north of Lodz. This,
unless stopped, must compel the en-
tire German battle line to fall back.
Reinforced with troops brou ht
rom Bel rum and France, the Ger
mar armies west Of Lowicz and so tn
west CT Petrokow again are attempt
ing to advance toward the Vistula.
The Russians have retaken Strykow
and LowicZ. They now hold every
thing from this point of the Lodz-War-
saw railroad to the Vistula river west
of Ploci-, and the turning movement
against the German front proceeds.
An oiicial, statement makes no
claim OF Russian victory, save In
the fighting beyond the Carpath1an
oasses. The statement follows:
"Fighting continues in certain dis
t-icts along the front in the region Of
Lowicz. Important forces of the Ger
mans, chiefly the troops transported
\ November from the German west
scnt, opened an offensive on Dec. 2
the region of Lioutomersk and
sczerzow, in the Lodz district.
"On the rest of the front on the
eft bank of the Vistula there is no
particular modification in the situa.
ton.
Beyond the Carpathians our troops
have taken Bartfeld, capturing eight
officers, 1900 men and six machine
guns"
Emperor Nicholas left the front, re
urning to various towns In central
and southern Russia to visit tbs
wounded in the hospitals.