Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-12-11
GERMANS SUCCESS IN NORTH
ERIN POLAND is REGARDED AS
REALLY A REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENT
TEUTON ARMY IS AIDED
BY STRATEGIC RAILWAYS
Whole Russian Line Is Now STRAIGHT
ened Out and viii Contend Every
Foot of Ground With the In
vaders-AIlies Begin Of
fensive in the West.

London, Dec. 8.-After a long battle
fought with the greatest stubbornness,
the Germans have succeeded in occu-
plying LODI, Poland, which is an I'M
fortified city. According to the Berlin
report the Russians suffered severe
losses and are in retreat.
The success of the Germans, be-
cause largely Of what preceded it, is
| regarded by military experts as really
a remarkable achievement. Less than
a fortnight ago the army to which this
victory has fallen was surrounded by
Russians, and cut it's way out only at
the last moment, losing great numbers
OF men and many guns. Yet it was
able within a few days to reorganize,
take the offensive and defeat the Rus
slams defending LODI.
Strategic Railways Help.
This was made possible by the net
work of strategic railways on the Ger
man side of the frontier, over which
reinforcements can be sent where they
are most needed.
The Russians, on the other hand,
vigorously attacked ON both wings,
were unable to send fresh men to stiff
fen their center to meet the German
wedge and were compelled to fall
back.
Undoubtedly there will be much
more fighting before the campaign in
this district is concluded LODI was
won only after Rand-to-hand fighting
in the suburbs Of the city and the
whole Russian line from north to
south is now Strengthened out and will
contend every foot Of ground with the
invaders.
Allies Take Offensive.
In the meantime, taking advantage
Of the preoccupation of the Germans
in the east, the allied French, Belgian
and British forces have begun an Of
fensive movement in the west. They
are virtually in possession of the left
bank of the User canal and in north
ern France, particularly in the neigh
borhOOd of La Bassee, where the Ger
mans hold very strong position, the
allies are beginning, with a heavy can
nonade, to feel their way eastward.
The same process is being followed
along the whole front The French Of
fetal communication speaks of 'the
superiority Of our offensive" and Fthe
marked advantage" of the French ar
tillery over that Of the Germans.
German Menace Ends.
In the opinion Of many the advance,
slight as it is in the northwest. has
ended, for the present at least, the
German menace of coast ports. It is
believed that SO long as the Germans
are compelled to keep up the strength
OF their army in the east they will be
unable to assume the offensive in the
west.
There is a report, however, that the
Germans have kept the pick of their
army in the Aisne valley, whence, at
an opportune moment, they can hurl
it against the French line and make
another effort to get through to Paris.
Austrians Are Checked.
King Peter of Servia, who has been
Ill for many months, has assumed
command of the Servian army and,
according to a Nish report, has check
ed the advance of the Austrians, in
ficting heavy losses upon them. The
Austrian reply to this is that ''the oc-
cupation of Belgrade necessitates the
regrouping of our troops"
The political news of the day was
the authoritative announcement from
Sofia that it was not considered pos
sible anything would intervene to
make it necessary for Bulgaria to
change her policy of strict neutrality
until next spring.