Rock Island Argus., 1914-12-24
Germans Planning Siege
Ouerations Before the
Polish Capital.
ADVANCING STEADILY
Same Tactics as Employed in
Rush towards Calais and
Ounkirk to Be Used.

Ioudon. Dec. q. - Christmas eve
snss little change in the underground
varfare being waEed in France and
Belgium.
IN the east a supreme German ef-
sort continues 10 be made before War
sau. where the forces OF the German
center. and the Russians seeking TO
check them. sway back and forth
along the banks Of the rivers barring
the way 10 the Polish capital
There have been Russian successes
IN the latest encounter but in the
izst 10 days the Germans have ad-
vanced appreciably and II i said they
are now bringing up 42-ceutimetre
guns preparatory TO siege operations
Austro.GerInau forces operating from
Cracow are attempting TO push north
Eard into Poland. In this effort. how
ever. they are meeting determined re
sisiance.
See Huge Sacrifice Of Men.
German tactics in the march toward
Warsaw. military observer, in London
pont ont, are beginning TO have some
Of the characteristics of the rush to-
ward Calais and Dunkirk. which the
allies etemmed. thousands being sac
riiced with the same prOdigality
shown by tine Germans I'm Flanders
Military experts in London are unable
10 agree on the number OF Austro Ger
man troops in the east, estimates va
ryiur from a million 10 a million and
ra e. 81 u
sia- unless zexaggerating her resources.
Should be easily able 70 top this figure.
Crystal Palace. London. famous rec
reation ground, will be closed to
the public from New Years day until
the end OF the war in order TO provide
training quarters for soldiers.
During the week. Dec. S to Is. there
we're % British officers killed and 81
wounded The casualties occurred in
about sixty different regiments.
Greetings TO Boys az Front.
Christmas greetings from home are
being distributed in the trenches. at
hospitals and In camps. Hundreds Of
thousands Of postcards 70 soldiers and
sailors from King George and Queen
Mary are one OF the features Of British
gifts.
Austrian attempts 10 crush Seryia
are soon 10 be renewed in the form Of
a final blow" according to Budapest.
Several Austrian Companies Slain.
Petrograd. Dec. 24.-OmciaI: "On
the left bank Of the Pilica obstinate
tghting continues in the region OF the
villages OF Jeseszee and Roikowawolia-
On the right bank OF the Pilica we
have made progress in the vicinity OF
OpocznO and Tomaszow- In GaIicia
our success continues South OF the
Eistula we captured during Dec. 20
and y. SO officers and $500 men In
the Carpathians. while pursuing re-
treating Aus;riaus. we captured. Dec
2. 30 officers and 1.5OO men Near
Przemysl the Austrians attempted
sortie during which several Of their
advance companies were anuiEilated.
Other advance companies were made
prisOners. We seized "A mile OF rail
way leading into the city.
Jodz Capture Turning Point
LODI. Russian Poland. Dec. 21.-Cap-
ture o. LODI. according TO a declara-
ton Of General Won HindenburZ. Ger
man commander. 20 a correspondent
q the Associated Press. was the turn
ing point IN the campaign IN Poland.
Ine battle for possession OF the city
vas one of the most bitter struggles
II the entire war at this front. 4
correspOndent today Visited some bat
uehelds On the vicinity OF LODI and
gained some idea OF operations which
led IN fHr. ~.Hr - 81
Serman forces drove their columns .
lnto the Russians in the form OF 1
hage pitchfOrk with another large I
Iorce between the lines OF the fork Z
me Intention was 20 drive the Rus
vans into the arms Of large Austro- /
Serfnan forces massed 70 cut of their .
ieTeat, but the timely arrival OF Rus
van reserves from Warsaw relieved &
lae situation for the Russians. In one .
v tne operations around LODI occur
reo The celebrated cutting on" of two
,ernan corps. which. after being en-
feiy surrounded By Warsaw reserves.
.1fned and cut their way out and
'fought with them 1900 OF their
!, o-ia-De captors. This exploit is
i - acterized as one Of the most bril-
: q the war. Some distance west
I. i1ooz' the Germans. after captur-
- number OF trenches. found SO
.-asian corpses in a space OF 50 square
DlhghamD'on. y. y. Dec. 24-Mrs. Ii
.@hees Cur1iss. novelist. and former {
MOI of Good Housekeeping, died in
hospital here last night. "a