South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-21
Capture of SkiernieWiCe, IN Po-
land, 40 Miles From Capital,
Shows Rapid Advance After
Occupation of Lodz.
RUSSIANS CLAIM CHECK
OF OFFENSIVE MOVES
Petrograd Admits Evacuation
of Lowicz After Railway
Rolling Stock Was Destroyed
Germans in Aerial Attacks

BERLIN. Dec. 21.-Nia Amster-
dam)-The capture of Skierniewice.
an important railroad center OF Po-
land, 40 miles from Warsaw, by Ger
man troops is reported in a dispatch
received from Breslau today. This
town is a junction point for three rail
roads. the lines running to Warsaw.
Lodz and LOWicZ Its capture shows
that the Germans have advanced 80
miles since taking LODI. Skierniewice
being that distance from the Polish
manufacturing city.
As a result of losing control of the
Warsaw -Skierniewice railroad the Rus
slams Will be unable to send reinforce
mentS direct To the troops i'm the Pit
rOkwo region. They can now go only
in a round -abOut-Way from IVangorOd
and the immediate result of the prog
ress of the German forces is expected
TO be a retirement of the Russians
north of the upper Nistula
PETROGRAD, Dec. u Real Ger
man guns are trying TO batter way
through the Russian defensive posi-
tiOns west Of Wrasaw to open route
for an advance upon the capital of
Poland. The sound Of the cannonade
can be heard in Warsaw, but it is Of
ficially asserted here that the Ger
mans advance toward that city has
been so seriously checked that il can
not be resumed for some time
The people of Warsaw are suffering
as result of the battle raging almost
at their doors German aviators in
aeroplanes and Zeppelins have bonn
barded the city three times within a
week. killing 425 persons and injuring
many more Supplies of food In War
saw are giving out, hundreds are leav-
ing the city.
All of the available trains are being
used TO transport Russian troops TO
the front beyond Warsaw. And this
made it impossible to replenish the
dwindling food supply there.
LOwicz Is Evacuated.
1t was admitted here today that
Lowicz had been evacuated by the
they destroyed all the railroad rolling
stock that they were unable to take
to Warsaw. The city was Immediately
occupied by the Germans.
Close attention is given by the mil
itary experts today to the announce
ment that a German attempt to cross
the Nistula at DobrZyn has been re-
pulsed. They say that the operations
there probably will furnish a key to
the prolonged battle near the Bzura
river The failure of the Germans at
Dobrzyn is believed TO have aVerted a
strategic move to halt the Russian
forces advancing against the Thorn
Soldau front.
The Bourse Gazette correspondent
at Warsaw sends the following de-
seription OF the German reverse at
Bobrzyn:
.urrI,a Cor,,ar f,.oo ,,,r,.oo,t,-1 =
DObrzyn from the west through the
great forest that stretches close to the
left bank of the Nistula. The river
is about 300 yards wide with a long
line of islands in the middle of the
stream. The Germans brought great
quantity of bridge material apparently |
to throw a large force
across the river.
In Bad Position.
THE Germans found they had got
ten into a bad position. The Russians
north of the Vistula were much !
stronger than the enemy supposed. |
presenting an unbTOken front from
Protzka to Wloclawek. From their !
con n,aled positions on the islands the /
Russians ripped the Germans with |
their machine guns. and the enemy
had TO retire, losing hundreds Of men
and their bridge pontoOns."
According to the Army Messenger. |
the positions in which the Russians |
are now established on the right bank |
Of the Vistula, threatens the German /
army that is now stubbornly beat |
ing against the Russian on the Bzura !
front especially in the region about |
SOchacze
The advance Of the cooperating /
army north of the tistula." it says. |
now promises 10 hasten To a sue
81
saw. The troops sent TO the relief OF 4
PrZsemysl were met at the Galician +
end of the pass by two Russian corps
and the lighting there has been in /
progress for three days.
The valleys are filled with snow
and the wounded perish from cold as
L IS impossible for the opposition !