Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-30
Christmas Day Brings But Lit
tie Relief to Millions of
Men on European Bat
tIefieIds.
HOLD SERVICES ON FIELD
Temporary Truces Agreed to
BY Subdivisions of Food
and Presents Reach
Fighting Fronts.

London, Dec. 26.-The anniversary of
h birth of Him who came to earth
to save mankind brought little of the
spirit of peace on earth, good will
toward men, in Europe. Christmas day
dawned cold over the battletields of
the war tori countries. where for
nearly five months millions Of men
have been engaged in a death struggle
that nations II ideals might survive.
AT the lighting frOntS in rance Bel
GUM. Poland. east Prussia and AL
SAGE there were, in some instances.
truces by common agreement between
h opposing armies, while the men en-
joyed the Christmas dinners and ex-
plored the packages from loving friends
at home. There was no official truce,
however. which Pope Benedict sought
to bring about between the belligerents.
Little News From Front.
There was virtually no official news
from the front. In France and BEL
GUM. the opposing armies occupied the
trenches that have become their tenn
porary homes. In Poland the vast ar
mics of men continued the red business
OF war with the same earneStnesS and
desperation that has characterized the
campaigning in that bullet-riddled
province since the wal began.
According to the latest official adj
vices from the Russian general staff.
the German invaders have been checked
at every point i'm their efforts to reach
Warsaw. Whether the reported turn of
fortunes is more than a temporary adj
vantage for this hosts Of Gar Nicholas
cannot be stated definitely.
From this, report it is gathered that
the Germans directed their main at
tacks against the Russian front which
lies along the banks of the BZura riN-
or and thence southwark to the Pilica
river. but without success.
Along the rest of the front south to
the Carpathians the Russians claim
similar victories: but on the East
Prussian frontier the Germans appar-
entity have turned the scales on their
adversaries and after having retreated
to their own territory sume the of
fensive and again are back I'm Mlawa.
whence they originally tried to outflank
the Russian forces north OF the Nistula
and work their way to Warsaw from
the north.
Germans Try %Fiankins Move.
Even now it is possible that the Ger
mans have resumed their outflanking
tactics, and while keeping the Russian
center busy by making frontal attacks
are hoping to get into Warsaw by the
back door. All that is certain at pres
dent is that the two armies whose num-
bers can only be roughly estimated. are
engaged in one of the greatest battles
OF the worlds history on a front which
extends from East Prussia to the Car
pathians and il which the advantage
SWAPS first to one side and then to the
other.
The capitals of the warning countries
are sad. though a brave show is be-
ing made in Berlin. Paris and London
to relegate to the background the
shadow of the tragedy that has brought
them to the brink of misfortune.
Everywhere families today are eating
meager dinners, having sacrificed their
own pleasure to bring Il ray of light in
to the lives of loved ones in the cheer
less trenches on the firing line. Hun
dreds of tons of food. warm clothing.
cigars, tobacco, wine and packages OF
ali sorts have been sem to the front 10y
the civilians of England. France and
Germany. School children nave made
munifcent gifts TO the soldiers and the
wounded have been remembered by
royalty and citizens as we'll.
Even the prisoners have not been
forgotten. The warning countries
mutually agreed to transport presents
to the hapless c%aptives who have los;
in the struggle. Religious services were
conducted in the various hospitals and
upon the field where improvised affairs
had been constructed.