Evening star., 1914-12-26
GERMAN VIEW is THAT
RUSSIANS ARE RETIRING
Present Engagements, It Is Believed,
Are to Cover Retreat of Their
Main Army.
SLAUGHTER rs NOT CHECKED
No General Engagements Are Re-
ported, But Fighting Continues
in Both Eastern and Western
Theaters of War.

LONDON. December 20, II:5O
a.m.-Christmas has come and
gone without a truce on the part
of any of the warning nations OF
Europe. While there has been
no cessation of military activity.
nevertheless no. decisive action
has occurred along either of the
great battle fronts.
From Petrograd comes news
that the Russians have resumed
the offensive at several points in
Poland and that they have cap
tured no fewer than 1900 pris-
oners.
AS Viewed in Berlin.
To offset this, however, Berlin
reports inactivity along the Polish
front.
An Austrian army is still max
ing courageous effort to strike
down the valley of the Nida i'll
the direction of Carnow. British
observers are of the opinion that
this movement will be too late #
it is fact that the Austro-Ger-
man attack in the center has
really received its reported check.
New Move on Warsaw.
Gen. Won Hindenburg, the German COM
mander In the east, still keeps his bull
dog grip on the Fistula, and seems to be
making his present movement toward
Warsaw from Thorn. which is northwest
of tn, Polish capital, i'll the province Of
West Prussia.
On the western battle line Paris re-
ports slight progress from Nieuport,
while Berlin balances this with the claim
that the Germans have taken some
side again claim the capture of a trench
near Puisaleine, which they held in spite
of several counter attacks
The official announcement given out by
the French war office in Paris this after
noon relates that fogs in the north have
Interfered with the operations in Flanders.
Counter attacks on the part of the Ger
mans have been 'epulsed at number OF
points. There was artillery fighting near
the sea and at Perthes. Progress was
also made in upper Alsace Christmas day.
Russians Report Successes.
PETROGRAD, via London. December
26.-Russian successes are reported Of
ficially from the battle front before
Warsaw and from that around Cracow.
but without materially changing the
general situation in these regions. Es-
pecially vicious attacks have been made
by the Germans between Pinezow.
forty miles northeast of Cracow, and
korozyn, at the junction
of the Nida and Vistula rivers
In this place the Austrians initiated
the tactics of the Germans and tried to
force a passage by sheer weight OF
numbers Time after time they ad-
vanced in solid formation against the
Russian front in the face of heavy
fire. The net result, after two
days' NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. % and 2S-
was the capture by the Russians OF
nearly 5000 prisoners. including half
hundred officers. and the retention by
the Russians of the left bank OF the
Nida. where they are strongly IN
The combatants here are old enemies.
Three months ago the same Austrian
troops opposed the nrst husetan ad-
vance on Crocow.
To the north the Russians are hold
ing their own. and are inf1icting severe
on the Germans. series
Of energetic attacks at Bolimow. just
south of Sochaezow (thirty miles from
Warsaw, are reported to have been re-
pulsed on the night of the 23d by Wig
,rous Russian counter attacks. while
,orty miles farther south, at Anovo-
onZ. a successful German crossing OF
he Pilica river was turned into Ger
nan reverse by savage attacks by ST.
,erian troops. who forced the invaders
pack again.
Halted by Winter Weather.
The Russo Turkish operations have
,een brought to a standstill by eli
natic conditions IN Asia Minor. Here
he Russian troops have spread out,