South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-11

PETROGRAD. Dec. Herman
officers have assumed complete con-
troll of the operations of the Austrian
as well as the German armies south
of Cracow in western Galicia, where
one Of the biggest battles of the war
seems 10 be developing
Arehduke Frederick, commander
in-chief of the Austrian armies, has
Yielded the direction of the massed
forces south of Cracow. which are
trying TO hurl the Russians back and
relieve Cracow. where the Russians
are establishing "a siege.
Upon the outcome of this conflict
depends the fate of Silesfa. If the
AustrO- German forces are defeated
the Russians Will sweep onward TO
Silesia in an effort TO open up the
gates to Vienna.
Gen. Won Hindenburg. the German
commarder-in-ch chief, is throwing huge
masses of cavalry TO the southeast in
order TO push through the passes Of
the Carpathian mountains and relieve
the situation in Hungary. Alarmed at
the steady advance of the Russians
into eastern Hungary. the Hungarian
government sent an appeal to the
Germans TO send aid.
Force March in Carpathians.
The march through the Carpathian
mountain passes, which is being
forced at top speed because of the
seriousness of the situation in Hun
gary. is being attended by the greatest
difficulties and hardships. The wealth
er is bitter cold. the passes are deep
with snow and the German cavalry
have travelled so rapidly that they
have Outdistanced their supply trains
The character of the territory in the
l.
broken that extensive reconnaissance
is rendered impossible. Hence it is
impossible for the Russians 10 tell
exactly how big the German relief
army is. except through the actual
contact of battle.
More German troops are being sent
southwark 20 strengthen the AustrO-
German army which is attempting to
delay Russian siege operations around
Cracow. and to prevent the Russians
from forcing their way into Silesia. a
successful siege at Cracow would open
the door into Silesia for the Russian
forces.
The Russian plan of campaign has
been only slightly affected by the
fighting I'm northern Poland. The
same may be said in regard 10 the
German drive toward PiotrOkow.
Three Boys Decorated.
In the new list OF recipients of the
cross of St. George, which Is awarded
for gallantry in action. are three boys
aged respectively l.. IA and Is. The
youngest is the son of an engineer
living in Moscow. He has been at
tached to a Russian regiment since
September. and has taken part in a
dozen battles where he carried cart
ridges to soldiers in the trenches, be-
ing under fire all the time His
bravery in the lighting at Ivangorod
won his decoration. This boy has de-
veloped into a wonderful scout In
one instance he wandered into a VIII
lage occupied by German troops.
The Germans questioned the boy
about the location of Russian troops.
and he purposely misinformed them.
telling them that one village not far
away. was held by only a patrol of
cossacks. The Germans attacked the
place. which In fact. was held by
heavy Russian force. The Germans.
being outnumbered. were all cap
tured Another scouting expedition
bv this boy resulted in the capture Of
10 big guns.
Dispatches from Tifis describe the
extraordinary physical endurance %
the Turks. who march harefooted
through the snow and fight lightly
clad. in the bitter weather now pre-
vailing I'm Trans-Caucasia