Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-13

London, Dec. 12.-There have been
no very marked developments in the
last "a hours in situations of the east
ern and western battles, so far as or
ficial reports disclose, although fight
ing has more or less been violent in
character proceeding along the two
fronts.
In this, opposing headquarters
claim the advantage fell to their res
pective armies. Offsetting the Rus
sian claim of having checked the ad-
vance of three of five German col
umns invading their territory, the
Germans state their cavalry repulsed
the Russian horsemen on the East
Prussian frontier, and that in North
Poland, German operations are de-
veloping, and in South Poland, the
Russian attacks were unsuccessful.
Admits Resistance.
However, Berlin admits the Rus
sian resistance by no means broken,
although according to German esti-
mate in battles preceding the evacu-
alton of LodZ, the Russians lost 150,-
900 men, including $4,000 previously
reported captured while the German
losses, it is stated, were light. The,
town of Lodz suffered little damage.
There is the same disparity be-
tween the French and German &C.
counts of the battles in Flanders and
France.
Allies Assume Offensive.
1t is apparent, however, the Allies
assumed the offensive. The 'Servians
continue to announce successes by
their troops, who, it is said, have
been led by King Peter and his two
sons. The pope's plea for Christmas
truce has failed, for, while major
| ity of powers received it sympatheti-
cally, others declined to support It.
Persistent rumors are to the effect
that the cruiser, Dresden, one Of the
German squadron defeated by the
British squadron in South Atlantic,
either has been sunk or sought ref.
uge in a neutral port
In battles around LODI, in Russian
Poland, the Russians suffered great
er losses than they did in the defeat
at Tannenberg, East Prussia, accord
ing to a statement by the German
official press bureau today, announ-
cling the evacuation by Russians OF
the city of Lodz.
Germans Gain Ground.
Advantages for German armies,
both in the west and east, are report
ed in an official statement by mill
tary headquarters today Attacks or
the Allies in France and Belgium
have been repulsed and the Germans
ar gaining ground near Arraz, in Ar
gonne. In the east, the Russian
forces have been beaten back in
the fighting along the East Prussian
frontier and in Southern Poland.
A French official communication
today said: ''There is no new Incl
dent to report"
Emperor Williams condition con-
tinues to improve, according to an
official announcement today. Catar-
rhal symptoms have wholly disap-
peared, and his majesty's tempera-
ture is normal.
German newspapers, which have
just been received here, show that
tn German press, although prohibited
strictly from criticising any acts of
the government during the war, are
much displeased by the sudden
change in leadership Of the German
military forces. They state Count
Won Moltke had been politely side
tracked" as chief Of the general
staff and that the supreme command
was given the war minister whose
behavior towards the Reichstag In
THE Zabern incident was insulting.
In a short biography of Major Cen
eral Won Falkenhayn, which the news
papers are permitted to print, they
refer, in most guarded way, to
what they term his failure, up to the
present in operations on the western
front.