The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-17
NEITHER CAN DELIVER
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH
Armies in West Flanders Re-
main Deadlocked.
GERMANS FORCED BACK.
The Russian Armies Are Gradual
ly COnverging on Cracow.
PetrOgrad Cautions Allies.

London, Nov. 16.-The armies of
the allies and of Germany remain
deadlocked in West Flanders today
along the battle line, where snow s
ankle deep with the prospect of fur
ther intermittent artillery duels and
infantry clashes, which for more
than month have been swinging
back and forth without definite re-
suit. The snow and the generally
adverse weather conditions in Fland-
ers will make necessary more fire.
quent shifts of men in the trenches
and there will be more sickness, es-
pec-ally lung and throat affections.
In short, trench warfare, already
laborous and exhausting, will daily
become greater ordeal.
The Germans, who endeavored to
cross the User canal between Dix
nude and Bixschoote were driven
back and German regiment was de-
stroyed at Bixschoote. Two Ger
man attacks near Ypres were repuls-
ed and the French have taken the
| offensive and driven the enemy
from positions taken by them several
days ago.
On the remainder of the line there
have been artillery exchanges and
engagements Of relatively minor i'm
portance.
The Germans have not abandon
ed their attempt to reach the French
coast towns and yet they have not
advanced. Today, according to the
claims of the allies, the Germans
are back on the right bank of the
User, having been forced to release
their grip on points on the left bank
held so stubbornly by them last
week. This retirement of the
breadth of the river is described in
the official communication given out
III Paris last 'ght as the most note
worthy incident of the day." and it
shows how little change there has
been elsewhere either in Belgium or
France.
In the meantime, the Germans
are putting the final touches to the
defenses stretching in row after row
from Ostend 10 the Dutch border
and should their present lines be
broken they probably VIII endeavor
to winter in these posit ons.
In the eastern arena of the war
the Germans are making and execut-
ing similar plans in the face of the
Russian advance. 1t is said that
great German forces are being con-
centrated at Thorn, Posen and
Breslau. with the idea of keeping
the Russians out OF important posi-
tions IN the provinces of Posen and
Silesia.
word Of caution to the allies
comes from Petrograd. This is that
they must not expect the Russians
to sweep on to Berlin overnight, as
1t were, as this advance may take
months and even longer. The Ger
mans occupy the defenses they have
been preparing for years and in ad-
dition to this may be nole to spare
even more men for the operations on
their eastern front. Russian armies
seem to be gradually converging on
Cracow, and the siege or investment
OF this place appears to be not far
on. 1t is suggested that the Aus.
trian garrison Of Cracow might sur
render to avoid bombardment. but
this can be called nothing more than
suggestion.
The Russian forward movement
I'm east Prussia seems to continue
and 1t Is SAID the Russian generals
are imposing on the captured towns
hnes in proportion to those levied
by the Germans on cities OF Belgium.
These fines correspond with the pop
ulation of the town taken.
The British operations against
the Turks have spread the confiagra-
ton to the southern entrance of the
Red sea, where Indian troops. as
sirted by British warships, have
taken a Turkish fort.
The spy agitation in England
again has flared up. Today all per-
sons leaving London must depart
from a designated railroad station.
where the person and baggage of
every traveller is subjected to
search for maps and drawings and
anything else that might be intended
for the use of the enemy.