Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-31
Berlin Confident, However,
Christmas Day Fighting Was
Fiercest of Month, Judged by
Losses Suffered.
L0EDON RESIDENTS WARNED
Are Told to Hide in Easements
If They Hear Guns-British
Lose Fear of Zeppelins, but
Attack from the Air Is EX-
pected.

London, Dec. 2S, 90 p. m-The battle
lines in the east and west have under
gone only infuitesmel changes in the
past day The French and German re-
ports agree that the Germans have cap
turcd a section OF trenches near Hole
heltc, south of Ypres. The French assert
that the Germans gave up trenches on
the first line, to the extent of about 500
or 900 yards in the Lens region, further
east, while unsuccessful demonstration
have been made from both sides at var
ious points along the extended lines
The reports of the numbers of wound
cd both armies are sending back from
the lines IN Belgium appear to show
that the lighting on Christmas in that
country was the hercest of the past
month. Correspondents in the rear say
that the BelGians as a result of five
days sappinE captured nearly 1900 Ger
mans with only small losses to them
selves.
According to the Russian reports, thu
German attempts to capture Warsaw
have failed. while the Berlin official state
ment says there is general confidence that
the German and Austrian forces are NAL
ing progress along the great front
The English newspapers are enthusias-
tic over the raid by their cruisers and SCI
planes on Cuxhaven. They decline to ac-
cept without reservation the German
statement that ships at CuXhaven and the
gas works were hit by bombs but that
no damage was done and consider this
improbable.
Tho naval writer's dilato and speculate
lavishiy upon the most remarkable en-
gagement Of 2oth century warfare They
/ conclude that the German ships feared
| to come forth and give battle to the Brit
ish cruisers because of the uncertainty
as to whether the British battleships were
lurking behind them. The fact that the
| Zeppelins were driven off is taken by som"
as evidence that the Zeppolns are really
untruStworthy craft. Others think II
means that the Germans are outstanding
all their d.rigibles for a grand raid upon
England
1t is argued by some of the writer's
that If Cuxhavcn can thus be attacked
why not Helgoland, Wilmshaven and
even the Kiel canal
LOSS ONLY $4,000 IN VALUE.
The only damage the British eXpe-
dltlOn sustained was the loss OF SeNera
hydroplanes. costing $4,000, and the
only man who lost his life was Com
mander Hewlett,
The British people are beginning e
lose whatever fear Of the Zcppelins
they had, perhaps prematurely. but the
exploits of the airmen on the continen
and the scouting trip Of the German
flyer over Kent on Christmas show
that there is a strong possibility tina
the taubes may repeat, over London
the visit with bombs which they pait
Paris and Warsaw.
The authorities issued warning to-
p night of the danger to people in thu
streets from guns which may be useC
In London against hostile air craft auC
advised the people to take refuge il
, Easements if they should hear the sounC
of explosives or guns
\ heavy wind storm with ram anC
snow swept over parts of England an'
adjacent waters Tonight and there mus
be suffering for thu sailors on duty 81
the smaller craft off the coasts.