South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-22

BERLIN. Dec. 22.-CVia Amster-
dam. Withdrawal of Russian forces
from their positions before Piotrokow
TO OpOcZnO, a distance of "A miles. is
the chief news OF Importance received
from the eastern theater of war to-
day. OpocznO being east of the Pilica
river the German military experts be-
heve that the Russians intend to make
another stand behind that stream as
they have farther north behind the
Bzura.
OpOcznO is on a branch OF the rail-
road running from IvangOrOd through
southern Poland. This is the only line
still held by the Russians and if the
Germans succeed in cutting it they
will trap the great forces that have
been operating against CracOw north
OF the upper Vistula and against the
Germans entrenched from CracOw to
CzestochOwa-
The military experts believe that the
next sanguinary battle in Poland will
be in the neighborhoOd of OpOczno,
but their interest centers today in the
western theater Of war, though the sit
uatiOn there is in the guarded fashion.
That the allies would take the Of
fensiye in the west as soon as they
thought the Germans were having a
difficult time in the east was generally
recognized here.
when the allies got started il was
too late for them to press their at
tacks to "a successful conclusion says
the Tageblatt. I'VE had already won
our victory in Poland removing any
further menace there and were able to
take the proper steps to defend our
positions in the west. 1t will be noted
that the French claim TO have taken
many trenches. If their statements
are true they have suffered losses in
proportion TO the advantages they
have gained"
a large increase in the numbers of
prisoners taken by the Germans has
compelled the opening OF two new
prison camps, Chemnitz. Saxony, and
F,bersdorf. Silesia. ON Saturday alQSS
1000 French and Russian prisOnG-s
arrived at Chemnitz- The barracks
there have been turned into a prison.
PETROGRAD. Dec. p. - Russia's $
hosts are moving forward again. They
nave taken the offensive west of War
saw and have driven the Germans
back over the BzuTa river. once
more they have Strengthened their line
and despite hard counter attacks 10y
the Germans. are slowly but surely
rolling back the kaiser's legiOns.
Almost daily for three weeks there
has been terrific lighting along the
Bzura river from kamiOn. where it
hows into the Nistula. southwark to
LowiCz. The lighting has been no less
fierce along the Bzura tributaries
There have been occasional lulls in the
lighting but these have been only
brief. At one stage the right flank
Of the Russians swung back from
Kamion along the Nistula To Kazun-
polski, only rs miles from Warsaw
bat this was only until reinforcements
were brought up Then il swung back
again IKE a huge pendulum. striking
the Germans that had crossed the
BzuTa and dealing them smashing
blows until they had To withdraw TO
their original positions west OF the
stream.
For - hours Russians and Germans
fought a hand-to-hand battle for the
possession of the ruins of Teresin. be-
tween the Utrata and the Pisa. This
was a hcurishing little town until the
Germans made their first attempt to
take Warsaw Since then it has been
captured and recaptured six times. 1t
has been wrecked by the shells OF the
opposing armies who have fought for
~ wreckage as dogs ught for bone.
The 12-hOur fight resulted in "a re-
verse for the Germans. They had 20
withdraw and the crazed inha bitants
OF Teresin emerged once more from
their burrows. In giving up Teresin
the Germans also abandoned sly
manow. another little town a few
miles 20 the south. This town also
is wreck More than 100 civilians
were killed there when the church in
which they had taken refuge was lit
orally blown Ca pieces hy artillery.
Farther 90 the south the Russians
have swung ont their lire in broad
curve running through Opoczno. and
thence shooting out toward CZestO-
choNa. in wedge-shapcd position 20
the south side OF which lies along the
upper Nistula. In this formation they
ore well placed 10 repulse amy attempt