Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-12-12


en- on the battlefield but declares
that the Noateuegr.s= viii continue
70 defend their country.
At last the Russians have approach
ed within firing distance Of Cracow,
their rapid advance from Przemysi
having proceeded without any real
check. They are reported now to be
mounting heavy batteries around the
town OF Wieliczka, which they oc-
cupied Thursday and from which the
outer forts of CracOw can be reached
Important as this is-for the fall
Of Cracow would lay open the roads
TO Vienna, Breslau and Berlin-the
main interest in the east continues
TO rest with the operations on the
irregular front from CzenstochOwa
through LODI and LowicZ TO the East
Prussian border. Official pronounce
ments as TO the progress there are
guarded and indefinite and it is thus
difficult 10 arrive at conclusion with
regard to the course of events.
There has been no news for some
days of the fighting in the Caucasus
or in Egypt, but throughout the whole
of Africa more liveliness is antici-
pated, now that General Christian De
Wet has been captured, and General
Louis Botha can carry out his origi-
nal plans Of moving against German
Southwest Africa. The first Austria
liam and New Zealand contingents
have been landed in Egypt for opera
tons against the Turks and Portu-
guese achievements have reached
Angola to take the offensive against
the Germans on their African borders.
Nineteen thousand Servian prison
ers are said to have been taken by
the Austrians since they began the
present offensive movement, and Ser
Was casualties since the beginning of
the war are estimated at 100000.
Italy will maintain an attitude of
loyal but watchful and armed neu-
trality," if she follows the advice of
Premier Salandra.
The premier in a statement made
at the opening of the Italian parlia-
ment, in the course of which he fire.
quently was applauded, declared a
careful study of her treaty obligations
and the causes of the present war had
convinced the government that Italy
was not called upon to participate.
Italy, he added, has vital interests
to protect and justly aspires to main
tain her position as a great power
and must, therefore, be ready for any
eventualities. Thus the supreme task
of the government was to bring the
army and navy to state Of prepared
ness.
Regarding the progress of the war
the French official statement reports
violent bombardment of Lamper-
nisse, to the west of Dixmude, an &C
ton to the northwest of the forest of
La Grurie, and in Alsace the capture
of the towns of Aspach-le-Haut and
Aspach-le-Bas by the French troops.
The French cabinet is to return to
Paris from Bordeaux and the French
parliament will meet in extraordinary
session in Paris Dec. %. The an
nouncement of the return of the gov
eminent to the capital is taken as an
indication that the allies are con.
WINGED they now have in Northern
France forces of sufficient strength
to check any further advance the Ger
mans may attempt.
Belgrade has been occupied by the
Austrians, after evacuation by Servian
troops, and indications are that the
Servian army is being hard pressed.
Italy awaits with some anxiety the
reopening of the Italian parliament, at
which Premier Salandra will outline
the governments attitude in the war
and the reasons which have actuated
the policy of maintaining armed and
watchful neutrality"
General Christian De Wet, the IA
nous Boer leader in the South African
war, who turned rebel shortly after
the commencement of the present con-
flict, has been captured by the Union
of South Africa forces, according to
an official dispatch from Pretoria.
The possibility of a German inva-
sion of England has been revived by
the warning issued by the Earl OF
Warwick. lord lieutenant of Essex.
who abjures the people in such event
not to take part in the fighting as
civilians, as such action would only
result in reprisals and possibly in a
repetition of the horrors that have
taken place in Belgium"
King George and President Poincare
have visited the British lines. where
they received an ovation from the
. troops.