Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-11-17
GIGANTIC BATTLE
NOW DEVELOPING
IN EAST PRUSSIA
Russians Are Vigorously Pushing
Great Enveloping Movement
Against Germans.
TEUTONS CHECK THE RETREAT
Halt Retirement in Poland and Try
to Create Diversion by
Counter Attacks.
TEUTONs CHECK THE RETREAT

Tarnow, Jaslo and krosno, three
towns in Galicia.
London, Nov. 14.-While the bat
tie in West Flanders continues to
hold public attention because Of the
desperate character of the fighting,
the numbers of men engaged and
the territory at stake, military men
now look upon East Prussia as the
center OF gravity CT the war.
In the latter field of operations a
tremendous battle is developing. The
Russians are pushing vigorously a
great enyeloping movement. They
are engaged with the Germans along
wide curve of $50 miles from Stall
luponen, in the northeast, through
Goldap and Kruglanken, which is
we'll within the tangle of lakes,
Military observers say the Ger
mans apparently have checked their
retreat in Poland and by counter at
tacks are endeavoring to create a
diversion. They say, however, that
the Russians are not to be turned
from their plan, which is believed to
be an attack on Danzig.
They argue that the Germans
must either allow East Prussia to be
reinforcements, and that they can
hardly weaken their army along the
Polish frontier, for that would leave
Posen and Silesia open to invasion.
The allies, naturally, are hoping an
effort will be made to relieve East
Prussia at a sacrifice to the German
armies in Belgium and France.
In any fighting in their own coun-
try, the Germans will have the adj
vantage over the Russians, as they
have a network of stragetic railways
to move their troops quickly and
they use motors to a larger extent
than their opponents. Military men
are watching operations in this re-
gion with deepest interest.
In West Flanders the Germans do
not seem to have improved their po
sltion to any marked extent. In
fact, an unofficial report from the
north of France last night said they
have again lost Dixmude, which they
took last Tuesday; that their at
tempts to break down the British
resistance around Ypres have failed,
and that their attack in the vicinity
of La Bassee has met with no great
er success
The German official report again
says the German attacks are prog
ressing, and records the capture of
some prisoners. On the other hand,
the French official communication
declares that all German attacks
have been repulsed and that an ad-
vance has been made by the allies
nearly everywhere.
Vienna admits the Austrians have
evacuated Eastern Galicia, but as an
offset 10 this says the Servian re-
sistance has been broken and the
Austrians have crossed the Danube,
driving the SerVians back into their
own country. Vienna also reports
that the Austrians now have turned
their attention to the Montenegrins
and are endeavoring to force them
back. According to a Montenegrin
report they have failed.
Accounts from this part of the !,
world are so contradictory, however, |
that the only thing clear is that the
Austrians, by sending up reinforce !
ments, have virtually cleared their
country Of the enemy.
England is beginning to learn the
cost of the European war. A white
paper issued yesterday shows that !
the government intends to ask par
Lament for SLIPS, 100000, which,
with the $5OO,0OO,OO0 voted at the
last session, is expected to be Great !
Britain's bill for the financial year |
ending March 81. Of this sum, how
ever, a small part has been loaned .
to Belgium and Servia, and some
will be used to assist the dominions
and the allies to make their fnan-
cial arrangements.
A portion of the money also will /
be required for the additional mil
lion men who are to be enlisted and
who will bring the English regular
army up to 2,1S6,O00. These figures
do not include the territorials, who
number nearly 100000. /