The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-12-18

eial Information bureau today Issued
the following statement: "a combined
attack by the allies was made yes;
terdsy on the line from Pollabke to
Wyteschaete in Belgium. Several
German trenches and number or
prisoners were captured and sub
stantial progress was made"
Such confident claims We're made
by the allies during the week concern
hIg the success OF their movement
against the German line that Berlin
military authorities have issued a
special statement to contradict them.
The French official statements re-
noFted a long series OF victories, In
Guiding the destruction of a number
Of German batteries, the capture OF
trenches and the rout Of the Ger
mans In infantry attacks along al
most the whole line. German state
ments, however, said there mas
been little activity and the latest an
nuuncement from Berlin characterizes
the French report OF December IL
concerning the destruction OF batter
les and the capture Of trenches as
a pure invention The definite
statement Is made i'm Rotterdam that
the Germans begun a retreat, falling
back In Belgium toward a prepared
line further from the coast. A re-
nor, from Nish that the SeTvians re-
captured Belgrade IL not confirmed.
although Il Is admitted in Vienna
that the Anstrians suffered reversed
in SeTyia. ......
II is announced In Berlin that the
turkish cruiser Midiril, formerly the
Berman warship Breslan. has bonn
barded the Russian Black sea port
Of Sebastopol, although with what
effect II Is not stated.
The sultan OF Turkey, addressing
his parliament, asserted that Turkey
had been forced into the war by
the hostile acts of Russia, France
and England.
British oaiciai Statement.
London, December ia state
ment issued by the British Official
information bureau concerning the
combined attack by the allies yester.
day against the German line Is in.
terpreted in some quarters as mark.
ing the beginning OF the much dis.
cussed attempt TO make a general
advance. The point Of combined at.
tack mentioned In the statement Is
TO the south OF Ypres. II will be no
tiCed, hoWever. that the statement
refers TO the fighting in Northern
France. as we'll as in Belgium. This
IL taken TO mean offensive stretches
over a considerable area II has been
known for some time that the British
army headquarters has been pushed
TO the eastward. IL Is consequently
assumed by British observers that
the allies have made more progress
than has been chronicled.
Berlin. December 15.-The Turkish
cruiser Midirli formerly the Bres-
laul has bombarded Sebastopol. The
cruiser sultan Selim (The Goeben)
Bombarded Batum, setting fire to the
city.
Vienna. December 15.-The aban.
donment of Belgrade by the Austri.
ans is acknowledged in an Official
statement issued from the army head.
quarters, today. The statement fol.
lows: an the southern theatre OF
the war the retirement of our right
wing involved change which made
II advisable for us TO abandon Bel.
grade, which was evacuated without
lighting. Our troops have fought long
and fatiguing battles but we are in
the best OF spirits"
Constantinople, December 15.-A
Mohammedan uprising has occurred
in Caucasus, $4,000 armed Russian
Moslerns. going over TO fight agains,
the Russians.
From Tuesdays Daily.
For the first time a carload
OF horses was shipped today
from Mankato for service In the
European war. The shipment
went over the Milwaukee road
TO South ST. Paul. where the
horses will RE inspected by an
agent of the French government,
and II satisfactory they will be
forwarded to France. Here they
are to be used in drawing artil.
lery. This is heavy work, re-
quiring powerful horses. The
horses range in weight from
twelve TO fourteen hundred
pounds. They are, until sold.
the property of Clay Oliver of
Rapid City. South Dakota, who
has been selling horses at the
Coy livery barn.
Since the first of September.
Mr.. Coy has handled eight car.
loads OF horses. about $50 head.
here In Mankato. He sold six
carloads two weeks ago at oma.
ha for the French government.
These horses were accepted.
During the present week 1.-THE
French government is to receive
two thousand horses in all at
South 81 Paul. thus completing
the receipt Of all the horses OF
a contract for twenty thousand.
From Tuesdsys Daily.
Agricultural Extension Short
courses will be held in, at least
thirty-flve towns OF the state OF
Minnesota between January 5. and
April 8. 1915. According ito plans.
these courses will place special
stress on corn and alfalfa; on I've
stock; on dairy farming; and on
home making
with the. stan OF leaders which
viii have charge OF each OF the
ccureae Will ha nrxSaut m car lcod nj