The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-22
FIRST PERIOD OF THE
WAR CLOSED, SAYS
A RUSSIAN GENERAL
Military Expert Summar-
ICES Situation In East Fol-
lowing Extended Visit
to the Front

Petrograd, December 2i.-(via Lon
don. $50 p. MA Russian general
who recently returned from the front
views the present military situation
enthusiastically.
We are now at the close of the first
period of the war" he said today. 1T
has ended, to be sure. with the battle
front shifted to the eastward, but with
out marked advantage for the Germans.
The German offensive was begun
with the center extending from Posen
to kalisz. General MacKenzen and Gen
eral Francois advanced to the Bzura
river. OCCUPYING positions in almost a
straight line from Plock through
Domitz and Lodz to Piotrkow, where
they fortified themselves The northern
division, which proceeded to Ciechanow
and Makow. was forced back TO the
frontier. The Austro- German troops from
Silesia advanced toward Olknsz VOL
brom and Novo Radomsk. while further
south the Russians proceeded to the
river Duna1ec, aiming to free Cracov.
Southwest OF Przemysl an Austro-Hun-
garian army attempted to cross the Car
pathians. striving TO relieve Przemysl ana
free Galicia. The centeIs OF intense oper-
atoms developed in the order above men
toned.
Strategic Position
''rhe strategic position % the railroad
lines enabled the Austro-Germans to ma
NEWER both north and south and east
and west. The total number of Austro-
Germans opposing Russia is estimated at
more than 40 army corps (about 100000
mem.
THE present aim of the enemy evil
dertly Is to take the Lithuanian fortresses
of hoyno, Dyinsx and Grodno, and oc-
cupy western Poland as far as Warsaw.
while the Austrians are attempting to free
Galicia, push northward to Radon and
Lublin and occupy southern Poland -
the enemy were successful in thus freeing
its own territory, terrifying through the
lines mentioned, no effort would be made
to go further. The enemy would content
himself with remaining on the defensive
so that 30 army corps might be trans
ferred to the west.
These aspirations cannot be real
lied because the Russians are being
reinforced continually and now are oc-
cupying positions which may be d.
Tended much more effeetually than the
previous ones. The Soehaczew country.
which is low and marshy, offers the
most excellent facilities for defense.
The rainy weather also favors tho Rus
slams in their trench digging and ruins
the roads used by the Germans.
Next Large Battle
The next large battle is expected
around Cracow and Przemysl with the
probability also of German demonstra-
tions in force around Mlawa, Suwalli
and Wirballen.
"The situation on the Caucasian
front has not changed materially. The
Russians there are remaining on the
defensive on account of the rigorous
weather
1.-THE Turks. with greatly increased
forces, are attempting invasion along
a route from Urumah. in northwestern
Persia, to the shore of the Caspian sea
at Baku. thence to Elzabethpol and on
to Tihis. Their efforts thus far have
been unsuccessful
Between Kars and Erzerum, where
hostilties We're begun, operations now are
at standstll. The previous intention OF
the Turks to make a descent ont he Cri-
mea and elsewhere along the Black sea
has been either abandoned or delayed
Meanwhile Russia Is preparing y
coast line defense The Turkish fleet,
after its temperance at Batum. again
has disappeared"