Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-05
CARNAGE IS HORRIBLE
ON VAST Battlefield
Zone Where Germans Escaped From
Crossflre Of Russians Is Perfect
Charnel HOuse.
TRENCHES CHoKED WITH DEAD
Not Believed That Present Period OF
Diminished Intensity VIII BE Of
Long Duration-Views Differ as to
Meaning of Developments at LODI.

Especial Cable to The Times dispatch. I
PETROGRAD. December 4.-Somo
surprise has been cuused here BY the
announcement of the general stan tina.
comparative tranquility has set in OF,
all fronts where Russian troops are
engaged. It was believed that tho
great battle OF Western Poland would
be fought to n definite Issue without
pause or relaxation.
There is no reason to suppose that
this period Of diminished Intensity will
be OF long duration. Any moment we
may hear that operations have been re-
sumed with fresh vigor. and this time
they Will not be likely to calm down
until one side or the other has given
way. As to which side that will be.
lions that the Germans suffered very
heavily continue. message from
LODI states that ten cannon and
seventy-five machine guns taken from
the enemy have been brought to that
town.
Tho zone whence the Germans sue
ceeded In escaping from the cross
fire OF the Russian enveloping troops
Is perfect charnel house. All who
have visited that vast battlefield unite
In describing the carnage as horrible.
The trenches are choked with layers
OF German corpscs. At ono yillegc. in
three successive charges. the Siberian
rants Hike wheat
Tho Views OF the best military critics
differ considerably as to the meaning
or the curious development OF the bat
tie of Lodz. Some believe that tho Ger
! mans are now merely making tremcnd-
GUS efforts to eXtricatc portion OF
their army from "A position OF deadly
peril. and that the object of masses of
reinforccmcnts which they are bring
Ing up is to cover the retreat OF the
| shaken and exhausted corps on which
the brunt OF the protracted conflict has
fallen. In the opinion OF others, the
enemy ia stiil bent OH the aggressive.
| and hopes by persistent efforts to eff
| feet practicable breach in the Rus
| sian line.
RESIGNED THEMSELVES
TO DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE.
The conviction Is gaining ground tina
| the Germans have transferred. and arc
| still transferring very large bodies OF
troops to Poland from the western
front. and they have resigned them
selves Tor the present 10 Il defensive
attitude against Great Britain and
France
Colonel Shumsky contcmplates the
possibility OF the German forces I'm the
west being reduced to ten or afteeu
corps.
a Tlhis telegram to the Bourse
Gazette says the russians are operat-
| Ing In the Bajazet district against the
Turks under favorable conditions
Everywhere they are welcomed by the
population with gifts OF food Ap-
preaching one village. they were met
by procession. headed by priest
| carrying crosses and other religious
| symbols.
The Turkish inhabitants also try to
ingratlate themselves with the invaders.
| Only tho Kurds give trouble: In one
| place they turned an Armenian monas-
a., terry into n stable.
There Is no confirmation of the re-
ported massacre OF Armenians by the
| ottoman army. though many Arme-
mans. fearing outraEes. have left their
homes and fled TO the hills. The Turk
ISM authorities have received orders
from ConstantInopie TO cpdenvor TO
discover their hiding places, and per-
suade them to return by the offer OF
privileges Tho Ottoman troops have
aiso been instructed to show the ut
most consideration to Armenlans.
1t has been established that tho
turkish and German consuls at Tabriz
made preparations TO supply foodstuffs
! 10 ottoman troops, who were expected
| to invade Persia,