Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-07
EFFORT TO TURN
RUSSIAN FLANK
MADE NEAR LODz
Germans, Failing to Crush Center,
Send Men Around Ends of
Fighting Line.
NEITHER SIDE TALKING MUCH
Fierce Fighting Reported at Towns
Situated to North and South
of Lodz.
TAKE ADVANCE POST PRzEMYsL
Russians Leave Fortress to Besieg-
ing Army and Push on Into
Hungary.
FUG1TIvEs POUR INTO BUDAPEST
Teutons Give Way in Flanders for
Tactical Reasons.
ROADS TO METZ THREATENED
French Seriously Interfere with
German Communications Running
Between that city and the
wOevre District.

LONDON, Dec. 6.-The battle or
series of battles for the possession of
Lodz and the railways leading
through northern Poland to Warsaw
continues without abatement, but the
reticence of the German and Russian
headquarters staffs and the meager-
ness of telegraphic communication,
which is interrupted by storms, pre-
vent clear view being obtained of
the progress of the fighting.
The German official report tonight dis
missed the struggle in a single sentence:
''The battles of Lodz are developing ac-
cording to our expectations" while the
last Russian report, sent from Petro-
grad Friday. simply records that the bat
tie was in progress.
From unofficial sources, however, It
is gathered that on Thursday last the
Germans. having failed in their attempt
to pierce the Russian center, commenced
with the aid Of reinforcements. another
attempt to envelope the Russians on both
flanks.
Move to Turn FIanlxs.
This is indicated by the fact that there
Is fighting near Iiow. to the north Of
Lodz, and at Piotrkow, to the south.
Both of these places are in advance of
the positions at which the Germans pre-
viously have been reported in their sec
ond invasion of Poland, and, like LODI.
they are situated on the main roads to
the Polish capital.
There is no news from South Poland,
beyond a German denial OF success re-
ported to have been achieved by the Rus
SLAMS at Czenstachowa.
The capture of on eof the advance posi-
tions at Przemysl is regarded as con-
ferring a valuable advantage TO the Rus
slams IN their attack on the fortress.
Invading Hungary.
Leaving this city to the attentions OF
the besieging armies. the Russians are
pushing in small bodies steadily across
the plains OF Hungary. and fugitives are
said to be pouring toward Budapest.
In the face of the Austrian advance in
Servia. there has been talk of the removal
of the capital from Nish to Mitrovitza
but Servia denies that this step actually
has been taken.
The allies continue to push forward in
Flanders and in northern France. but the
Germans explain that they are giving
ground for tactical and strategical pur-
poses. The adyance. as far as Flanders
is concerned. seems to have been checked
on the outskirts of Langemarck.
There has been recrudescenee of hard
fighting in the Argonne district, where
the French claim they are making prog
ress. On the whole, however. in these
siege operations these successes and re-
verses snly mean a gain or loss of few
hurdred yards and a slight readjustment
OF positions.
Lines 90 Metz Threatened.
Seemingly more important is the unof-
ficial statement that the French have
seriously interfered with the German com
munications between Metz and the
Woevre district in France. for here ,as
elsewhere. command of the roads IS OF
the greatest Importance to the armies.
II was officially announced tonight that
during his visit to France King George
conferred the Order OF Merit on Field
Marshal Sir John French and also pinned
the Victoria cross on the first Indian
soldier to win that decoration.