The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-11-27
Brave Soldiers VIII Not Be without
Their Amusements Daring ihe !
Long Winter Months Z

From fridays osIiv.
The coming winter having In
terrupted the fighting along the
North seacoast, Germany q maxi
ing a new effort TO pierce the
lines Of the allies az another
point. Activities Of considerable
magnitude are reported In the
region Of the Areonne forest,
where severe engagements have
been in progress for the last few
days. The German infantry made
three vigorous attacks. Other
assaults are believed to be i'm
pending. The importance Of this
battle, foreign military critics ex.
plain, lies In the fact that II the
Germans shouir succeed In push
ing back the allies they viii be
able 10 join forces with their
troops further to the east.
Berlin, November 20.--An Off
eiaI announcement Of the death
from heart failure OF Major Gen
eraI voights-Rhetz, qusrtern1as-
ter general Of the German army,
recalls the fact that he sue
ceeded General Won stern In this
post only short time ago. His
appointment caused, at the time,
the erroneous statement TO be
circulated in Holland that Gen
eraI Won voiehts-Rh had been
chosen as the eventual success
scr Of General Won Moitke as
n "a
London, November 2o.-The
house Of commons today for
malIy passed a vote for sup
Elementary army, an estimate for
which provides for an additional
army OF a million men.
Berlin, November 2o.-The
German troops repuIsed French
attack In the neiehborhood Of
Verdun, in France, and the Rus
sian retreat in northwestern Po-
land continues, according 70 an
official communication issued by
the German general army head
quarters.
London, November 20-Compara
tive calm in the west and reawak
cned activity in the east is taker
by London to indicate that the Ger
man military chiefs have decided
20 concentrate their energies at pres
ent toward dealing a crushing blow
20 Russia. Such fragmentary re
ports as are received from the east
ern zone OF the fighting showed tina
the German army stiil is pressing
the Russians back through Russian
Poland and over the same battlefield
across which the Russians few
weeks ago were advancing victorl
Ously. No clear explanation hai
been made Of the reversal in tn,
form Of the opposing armies, al
though Il has been reported ON sew
cral occasions that the Germans ar
sending thousands OF their fines
troops from France and Belgium 4
the east.
Was A Quiet Day.
Paris. November 20.-A Frencl
official communication. issued thii
afternoon. says that yesterday there
was hardly any infantry attacks or
the part Of the enemy. and that theil
artillery activity was largely reduced
viii Attempt TO Cross County,.
Bruges. November 20.-large bod
les OF German engineers have beei
seen passing toward the front, &C
cording to information received. i
is believed that the Germans ar
manning to cross the inundatei
country by scientific engineerinl
methods. In the meanwhile the ives
tern storm continues, and the water
of the North sea are seeping In
land through six big locks at Nieu
port. II is learned that on Noyen
Der IS the Germans attempted
raid on these locks, which are Dull
in a semi-circle. Their attack, whicI
was conducted in number OF al
mored automobiles, was repulsed.
Germans In Russian Territory.
Petrograd, November 2O.-Thl
great masses OF German troops tina
were being poured into Russian-Pc
land in support OF General Won Hin
denberg's attempt 10 crush the Rfi
sian forces there were thrown bacI
after their advance to Thorn. IL 1
admitted here that the German
troops have now advanced approx
mately fifty miles into Russian tel
ritory. The cars troops have r,
treated and desperate fighting mars
ed the line Of retreat.
London, November 20.-The Emf
lish government seems TO have b
come thoroughly alarmed over tn
spy question. At the outbreak Z
the war when Il was reported ths
London was filed with the enemy
spies. the stories were belittlet
There has been sufficient proof sine
then. however, that not only. Lon
don but all of England and its POI
sessions, are honeycombed with spie
so the government vigil has bee
increased. One Of the odd feature
in connection with the new stan
taken by the government Is the far
that the militant suffragists hay
pointed out the vital importance 9
greater efficiency In the war agains
spies.
Reports from France say that Tn
soldiers of that country are prepa
ing to have some comfort combine
with war during the winter. The
have, built baths In the trenche
and are planning improvised stage
for vaudeville amusements, all dee
enough to be safe from the shell
of the enemy. II Is also interes
ing to note that the soldiers OF Au
tria-Hungary, as well as those
Franco and Germany. have exteI