Evening star., 1914-12-13

Reports German Line Pierced.
PETROGRAD, December II. via
London. sos p.m.-Russian military
observers contend that the Germans
in withdrawing before the partial sue
cesses Of the Russians along the battle
front to the north of Warsaw are fol-
lowing their well known tactics OF de-
as long as possible by holding each
successive trench until It becomes un-
tenabIe. Reports reaching Petrograd
today. however. indicate that the Ger
man front has been pierced at least on
two points between Ciechanow and
Pr5asnysz, which has resulted In sever
ing communication between the Ger
man columns.
A German repulse here, military crit
les say. will be more significant as a
strategic advantage than as decisive
factor in the campaign now raging on
all sides of Warsaw. 1t VIII give the
Russian forces operating to the north
west of Warsaw. Russians point out.
space in which to maneuver on the
right bank of the Vistula- their right
wing. which hitherto has been cramped
by the falling back of their own troops
upon the Polish capital.
The uninterrupted fighting in the last
three weeks Is now being augmented.
1t is said, by day and night attacks on
the Russian positions between Lowicz
man reinforcements from other parts
of the battle front are reported to be
entering the struggle in this locality.
Says German Plan Failed.
The Petrograd correspondent of the
Matfn wires his paper that the Ger
man plan in Poland has completely
failed.
His dispatch says:
THE German plan. which consisted
of turning the Russian right wing at
ing a similar maneuver on the extreme
left on the River Donajec, has COM
pletely failed. The Germans are re-
duced to making bloody and useless at
tacks on our 'front.'
A dispatch from Budapest quotes the
newspaper AZest as saying that the
country of Saros Galicia has been
evacuated by the Russians, who left
by way of the Dukla pass through the
Carpathians and that Bartfa again is
in the possession of the Austrians.
Germans Occupy Przasnzysz.
BERLIN, December IL tby wi. eless
to Sayville. L. L).-Occupation of the
city Of Przasnysz by the German
forces which have been advancing on
Warsaw from the north, recently re-
ported dnofficially. was said definitely
by the ofilcial press bureau today to
have been accomplished.
This is the most important factor
in the latest developments from the
eastern theater of war. the press bu-
reau statement continues. '-and while
In itself it is not important, 1t shows
that the Germans have begun active
offensive operations north of the Wis.,
tula. Przasnysz lies on the direct line
Of communication between Willenberg,
East Prussia, and Warsaw. This shows
that the advance is directed against
the fortified line along the Narew river.
If this line were broken, the Germans
would be in the rear of Warsaw.
which would exercise a deciding in
fiuence on the Polish campaign.
Russian Resistance Severe.
News from South Poland and Galicia
makes it clear that, notwithstanding
certain successes achieved by the Ger
mans and Austrians. severe resistance
is being encountered everywhere.
Evidently the Austrian forces in the
are too small to clear
Hungarian territory of the enemy at
once, and must attack and repulse one
column after another.
The Austrians report that 10000
Russians have been captured. but they
fail to say within what period. making
the report meaningless.
Operations in Servia also are meet