The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-19
KaiseF's Force Reported Near
Warsaw Forced Back,
Says PetrOgrad.
FAILED TO RELIEVE CRAGOW
SIavs Defeat Teutons in Desperate
Attempt to outfiank 5esiegina
Army-Both Sides Claim
Progress in West.
--latest Dispatches

columns which for some days appear
ed to be making steady progress in
their invasion of Poland, three have
suffered checks, according to the off,
cial report from Russian headquarters.
The column which, was making a
downward stroke from Mlawa, on the
east Prussian frontier, and which was
reported in one dispatch from Petro-
grad to be within fifteen miles of War
saw, was repulsed after an energetic
offensive, and under counter attacks
from the Russians, was compelled to
retire at some points
Germans Repulsed.
The attacks of the main German
column, hwich had its front on the
line between LODI and Lowicz, and
which came down diagonally from
Thorn, were delivered with greaat
force, but, according to the Russian
account, were repulsed with heavy
losses to the invaders. That the Ger
mans attached great importance to
the success Of their attack here is
shown by the fact that in the two
days they faced the Russian trenches
seven times and were driven back by
a murderous fire.
Didn't Relieve Cracow.
The other column which has suf-
fered is that composed of German and
Austrian troops which has been trying
to outfank the Russian left south Of
Cracow. In this case it was the Rus
SLAMS who assumed the offensive, and
they claim that after a tenacious re-
sistance they defeated the Germans,
taking several guns and 1000 pTis-
oners.
No Food Left in Lodz.
A Petrograd dispatch says the Pol
ish town of LODI at the time Of its
evacuation by the Russians was com
pletely destitute OF food The pOpula-
ton quit the town en- masse, fearing
the Germans; thousands proceeded to
Warsaw on foot.
Accounts Of the fighting between
LODI and How show that the Germans
attacked in close formation in the
night and a fog, hoping to catch the
Russians unaware. The Russians,
however, were forewarned and allowed
the Germans to advance close and
then swept the German lines with a
hundred searchIights. Dazzled by the
glare the Germans in dense columns
offered an easy target to machine guns
and rifle fire They lost enormously
and finally retired
Allies Give and Take.
In the west both the French and the
Germans claim they have made prog
ress in the Argonne region and in
Flanders. Il is evident the Germans,
with a view - stopping the advance
the Allies are making in Flanders, at
tempted an offensive in the vicinity OF
Ypres and succeeded in taking one
trench from the French. The latest
French official communication says
this trench has been recaptuFed. Else
where along the front there have been
artillery duels, with occasional infan-
try attacks, by first one side and then
the other.
British Lost No shiPz-
The secretary Of the admiralty has
received a cable dispatch from Vice
Admiral Sturdee, of the British squad
ron, stating that in the battle OF the
Falkland islands, in which the German
cruisers Scharnhorse, Gleisenau and
Leipzig were sunk, the British casual
ties totaIed seven men killed and four
wounded. No officers, the dispatch
says, were killed or wounded.
Russian Landing Blocked.
An official statement issued at Con-
stantinople says: Under cover OF
man-of-dar, the Russians attempted to
disembark on Thursday near Council,
south of Batum, Transcaucasia, in or
der to outflank our troops. They were
compelled to retreat with heavy losses
Kaiser Able to Sit Up.
According to information through
private sources, Emperor Williams
condition shows marked improvement
His temperature is normal. His ply
sicians allowed him to sit UP for few
hours.
"Jap" Squadron OFF Chile
According to reliable information
reaching Toxic a squadron of Japanese
uarships is seeking the German con-
verted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich