Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-17
TROOPS Of KAISER
AGAIN HALTED AT
GATES OF WARSAW
German Attempts to Outf!ank
Russian Armies In Poland
Said to Have Resulted
In Failure.
CLAIM SUCCESS AT CRkCOW
Allies In West Have Retaken
Position on User and Are
Testing Strength of Foe
at Many Points.
SUCCESS AT CRACOW

London. Dec. t4.-The campaign in
eastern Russia is now viewed more
complacently by the allies. Petrograd
reported Yesterday hat the Germans
were within Is miles of Warsaw, but
it is now said that this advanc has
been checked. 1t is asserted in Paris
that the German plan of campaign has
failed, that attempts to outflank the
Russian right and left have been de-
feated and that the Germans now are
reduced to the necessity of making
frontal attacks, which so far have been
futile and costly.
An official statement. given out in
Paris today on behalf of the allies,
makes the following comment or the
campaign in the east:
In the region of Mlawa. violent at
tacks on the part Of the Germans have
been repulsed and the Russians have
taken the offensive against columns of
the enemy that are retiring in disorder.
In the region TO the north of Lowicz
ferociouS German attacks have been
everywhere repulSed. with heavy losses
to them.
TN the region south of Carcow the
Russian offensive has been successfully
continued in spite of a stubborn resis-
lance"
Say Cracow Is Menaced.
1t is now being said by British COM
mentators that Something went wrong
with the timing of the AuStro-German
operations for the relief OF Cracow,
Galicia. The converging columns APP
~parpntly failed TO effect II junction, with
the result that General Dinoitrief, form
er Bulgarian minister at Petrograd
seems to haNe been able to inflict a
sharp reverse on the Teutonic forces
by %repulsins the individual armies be-
fore they had time to concentrate.
Further to the north the capture of
IoQz by the Germans so far as is
known had no spectacular sequel. The
German official report of yesterday did
not refer to operations along the cen
ter. although 1t mentioned military ac-
tivities in both north and south Poland.
Military writers in Berlin have
warned the public not to base excessive
expectations on the capture of Lodz.
While the invader made fierce on
slauehts against the Russian lines
northeast of LODI on both Wednes-
lay and Thursday. in attempts to break
through towards Warsaw they appear
to have accomplished little.
Probable German Strategy.
1t is considered possible however that
the Germans just now arc placing chief
reliance on the effort to turn the right
flank of the army of Grand Duke Mich
olas, through the efforts of the invad-
Ing forces. winch nav bttii It9iIiilS
forward from the direction of Mlawa
near the east Prussian border. Tho
German WAY office statement yesterday
said that this attack was progressing
but Russian headquarters claims tha1
the Tcutons have been repulsed there
aud put to flight. The more optilnis-
tic observers think that they see il
this a process of development which is
similar to that which resulted in The
previous retreat of the Germans. Tn
invaders. are however now nuci
stronger than when they made TIL
cartier effort to reach the Polish cap
ital.
Germans Confident.
German observers, however, Will
frankly recognizing the immense i'm
portance of the outcome see no reason
for believing that the German plan
Major Moraht. military correspond
ent of the Berlin Tagblatt who occa
sionall seems to have special sources
of information assumes Tat the attacl
is being directed against the Russian
positions in the immediate rear 0
Lodz where the Russians v forti
fled the line of the Manga, a smal
stream 12 to Is miles east of the city
The Russians nave a faculty TO
fortifying a series of positions in tn
rear, one behind another and since ]
is difficult for a successful opponen
to get the Russian masses into actio
towards the rear.
Major Moraht. pictures the %strateg
of the battle as of prime Importance t
the Russians.
The German army in the center, tn
major says, is faced with the task Q
thrusting it's oppnents back bodily be
cause the left wing of this army is noN
near w and has not advanced ia
enought toward the Russian line G
communication to deal a decisive bloS
on the Russian light,
The northern force operating frof
east PrusSian which stOrr1ed PrzasnyS
on December O.. has advanced about .
miles into Poland. a quarter of the dis
lance to Warsaw. Major Moraht be
lieves any further advance may fore
the Russians to divert their STRATEGY
reserves at Warsaw to head off thei
new danger.
No General Assault.
1t has become apparent that the re
newed military activity in France, tn
precise nature of which has been lei
in doubt by the indefinite official com
munications has not yet attained tn
dimensions of general assault. BeI
lin is specializing whether the allie
taking advantage Of Germans pre-oo
%cupation in the great struggle wit
Russian. win seize the opportunity
begin a general movement DESIGNED
push back the whole German line.
Reports from French and Englis
sources state that the Germans are be
ing pushed back slowly here and thel
as though the present operations of II
allies were in the nature of testing a.
tackS to ascertain whether the Gel
mans have been weakened appreciab
by withdrawals of men from the cas-
ern battle fields.