The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-25
TWO BIG BATTLES
RAGING IN POLAND
AUSTRO.GERMAN FORCES MASS.
ED FOR ASSAULT OF RUS
SIAN ARMY.
ENGLAND FEARS GERMANY
Should Germans Reach Coast England
Will Have to Protect Her Bor-
der From Invasion.

London.-Two big battles, both OF
which may have decisive results, are
raging in Poland, and a third of al
most equal importance is progressing
in East Prussia.
OF the three battles that now at
its heights between the Vistula and
Warta Rivers and in which the Rus.
| SLAMS claim partial success, is e1cit-
ing the most interest. The Germans,
It is believed, have brought by their
line of strategic railways in Posen
and Silesia at least half a million men
in an effort to break the Russian line
here. Weather conditions, the frozen
ground and the situation of the bat
tleield, favor a battle decisive to a
degree not equalled on any other field
in the present war. .
The other part in Poland IS talk
ing place on the Observation-Disclosures
front and Russians and Germans each
claim It is proceeding satisfactorily.
In East Prussia the Russian advance
is moving slowly through the wild
country, surrounding the Mazurian
Lakes. In Galicia the Russians are
moving westward and at the same
time are Selling the passes Of the
Carpathians.
There now is almost a complete
absence Of infantry attacks In the
western arena, and the artillery fight
ing is much less violent. All that
region about Dixmude through which
the User Canal passes is inundated
and the only serious fighting appears
to be taking place south Of User,
where cannonading is in progress.
Bad weather, which necessarily
hampers operations, has been expert
enced and snow has fallen in some
places. There has been no important
action in the French center, but In
the Argonne region the Germans have
made vigorous attacks, which the
French say were ~repulsed. On the
French right wing the Germans have
retaken Chauyoncourt part of which
they destroyed a few days ago. Ger
man activity in the vicinity Of Rheims
has slackeued. .
Austria's advance into Servia s
creating uneasiness in Bulgaria as TO
the future of the Balkan States.
Whether Bulgaria should remain neu'
trail or throw in her lot with the Allies
was discussed in the .Sobranje. Lead
ers of the Democratic party suggest
ed that the Allies should be consulted
As TO their intentions regarding the
future Of the Balkans.
Italy. too, has been affected by the
Austrian advance and her ,ambassa'
dor sat the European capitals nave
been called home to- confer with the
cabinet. Marquis Imperiali Italian
ambassador to Great Britain, will
leave for Rome.
To prevent tea reaching Germany
from England through neutral coun-
tries, Great Britain has prohibited lts
e%xportation to European countries ex-
cent those Of the Allies, Spain and
Portugal. Since the outbreak of the
war, tea exports to Holland have
reached enormous proportions.
The admiralty has taken further
steps to protect east coast ports by
the extension of the mine field. This
seems to support rumors that a Ger
man raid on the east coast IS ex'
pected. 1t is generally believed here
that If Germany is baked in other
designs she will attempt to attack
England no matter how desperate
such an expedition is considered.