The Holly chieftain., 1914-12-11
WAR LORDS NEW FORCES CRUSH
RUSSIAN ADVANCE AFTER
DEFEATS IN POLAND.
ALLIES MAKE ADVANCES
WEAKENING OF RUSSIAN LINE TO
MEET MUscoviTEs SEIZED
ON BY BRITISH.


London. Dec. S.-After q long battle
fought with the greatest stubbornness,
the Germans have succeeded In oc'
cuyping Lode, Poland. which is an un-
fortified city. According to the Berlin
report, the Russians suffered severe
Losses and are In retreat This sue
cess Of the Germans is considered by
military experts really remarkable
achievement. Less than a fortnight
ago the army to which this victory has
fallen was surrounded by Russians and
cut Its way out only at the last mo.
ment, losing great numbers Of men
and many guns.
Yet 1t was able within 4 few days
to reOrganize. take the offensive and
defeat the Russians defending Lodz.
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 Kaiser has given orders to cap
ture Warsaw next at all costs, accord
ing to reports from Berlin, and Ger
man troops are making supreme ad-
vance.
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, were compelled to fall back.
There will be undoubtedly much
more fighting before the campaign in
this district is concluded. .Lodz was
won only after hand-tohand fighting
in the suburbs Of the city. and the
whole Russian line, from north to
south, is now Strengthened out and
will contest every foot Of ground with
the invaders.
In the meantime, taking advantage
Of the battles. the Germans In the
east, the allied French, Belgian and
British forces have begun an offensive
movement in the west.
They are now virtually in possession
of the left bank Of the User canal and
in northern France, particularly In the
neighborhood of La Bassee, where the
Germans hold q strong position, the
allies are beginning with heavy can
nonade to feel their way eastward.
The same process is being followed
along the whole front. The French
official communication speaks Of the
superiority of our offensive" and the
marked advantage" Of the French ar
tillery over that Of the Germans.
The advance, slight as 1t is in the
northwest, has ended for the present
at least, in the opinion Of many, the
German menace to the coast ports. It
Is believed that SO long as the Ger
mans are compelled to keep up the
strength Of their army in the east
they will be unable to assume the Of
fensive in the west.
There is a report, however, that the
Germans have kept the pick Of their
western army in the Aisne valley,
whence, at an opportune moment, they
can hurl 1t against the French lines
and make another effort to get
through to Paris.
King Peter of Servia. who has been
Ill for many months, has assumed COM
mand of the Servian army and, ac-
cording to Nish report, has checked
the advance of the Austrians, inflict-
ing heavy losses on them. The Aus
trian reply to this is that "the occu-
patton Of Belgrade necessitates the re-
grouping Of our troops"
The political news Of the day was
the authoritative announcement from
Sofia that 1t was not considered pos.
sible anything would intervene to
make 1t necessary for Bulgaria to
change her policy Of strict neutrality.