Evening star., 1914-12-31
MUST KEEP UP PRESSURE
AS AN AID TO RUSSIANS
Chief Activity for the Present Ex-
pected to Be in Eastern The
ater of the War.
STORIES OF AUSTRIAN RoUT
Defeat Of Army Which Poured
Through Passes of the Carpathian
Mountains Declared to Be
Overwhelming.

LONDON, December 81, IL 80
p.m.-There are increasing indica-
tons, in the opinion Of British OBJ
servers of events on the continent.
that a serious allied offensive
movement against the whole Ger
man line in the western arena OF
the war will be postponed until
such time as larger contingents
of Lord Kitchener's new army
take the field.
The losses OF the allies sus-
tanned up to the present time in
the tentative thrusts forward here
and there have been heavy in
proportion to the gains achieved,
and it is understood that the va
rious leaders unite in the opinion
that the sacrifices entailed by
general advance at this time
would be too great.
The turn of events in the east
ern theater of hostilities, where
Russia appears to be more than
holding her own, necessitates
nevertheless continued hard pres
sure against the German lines in
the west to prevent them from
moving any more Of their troops
to the eastern field.
La Bases Hard Problem.
In the west the town of La Basses,
still held by the Germans, is proving
to be one of the hardest problems the
allied forces have to solve. The tn
vaders have thrown up exceptionally
strong earthworks around it and have
two army corps quartered In the city.
To take this stronghold by direct as
Sault would mean a terrible loss OF
life, but its taking is essential to any
concerted move forward. in order to af-
ford protection to the communications
of the allies.
All the news reaching London from
the eastern field tends to confirm the
rout of the forces of Austria, which
their way laboriously back over the
Carpathians.
Think War Will Spread.
There are indications in London that
the entire continental political situa-
ton, which involves Greece. Italy. Rou-
mania and Portugal, Is developing day
by day. Even the participation In the
war of at least some of these staten
soon will become reality. T.is fs the
view of certain of the British conf
mentators on the situation.
Among the factors contributing to
this situation Is Italy's occupation ct
Avlona and the reported racial unrest
in Austria Hungary, where the Rou-
manian subjects Of Emperor FRANCES
rebellion, as we'll as Germany's con-
tinued aggression In Angola, the Por-
tuguese possession in western Africa.
The German air raid on the channel
port of Dunkirk in France gives basis
for the belief that visits of this kind
will be more frequent from now OH.
1t would appear that the British raid
on Cuxhaven aroused in the Germans
a spirit of retaliation. England, judg-
ing from the expressions appearing In
the newspapers, Is just as anxious to
deliver blow for blow iii this respect
Artillery Doing Fighting.
The French official announcement
given out in Paris this afternoon re-
lates q continuance of artillery eX-
changes with the enemy. and further
advances. measured by yards, of French
soldiers at various points on the line
of battle.
aolyS Of fha
driven back, and in Alsace a certain
village is held half by German and half
by French troops. The fighting here
has been from house to house. and il
continues today.
The German official statement given
out in Berlin this afternoon relates
that in the village of steinbach. in
Alsace, house after house was de-
stroyed by the French artillery. but
that the community is still in possess
sion of the Germans. An entire French
was annihilated on the north
ern end of the line: French attacks
Argonne the Germans occupied several
French trenches and captured $50 pris-
,ners. and their artillery broke down
French attacks in upper Alsace
The situation in East Prussia, north
If the Vistula and on the Pilica river
s described as unchanged while east
If the Bzura river the fighting con-
inues.
Holds Warsaw Doomed.
BERLIN. via The Hague and Lon.
lon. December 31.-Mat Moraht, the
expert, discussing in the
'ageblatt the eastern war situation
;ays:
"All military authorities are agreed
hat the Polish capital must soon be
.yacuated. It's value as a fortress, as
8 well konwn, is sliEhf. but the
strongly fortified positions In front of
he forts, 1t must be expected. Will be
veil defended. Nevertheless II wound
eQuire strong forces to hold them,
TT appears, moreover. aa II the Rus.
ian general staff attaches greater Inn
,ortance in bringing it's main forces
m hAhind fha Xlsfl1la HnkinAs-