The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-12
Bloody Fighting Ends in Halting Offensive of the Kaiser's Troops
WHOLE GERMAN PLAN
 IS BELIEVED AFFECTED
lServian Victory Over Austrians Is Confirmed-VictoryD Due to Bril-
 liant Leadership, Says Valjevo Report

2. London. December 11.-u0:40 ID. m)
 Of the five Austro-German columns
 which for some days appeared to be
 making steady progress in their in-
 vasion of Poland three have suffered
 checks, according to tonight's official report from Russian headquarters. The column making a downward
 stroke from Mlawa on the East Prus- sian frontier reported in one dispatch from Petrograd today to be within 15 miles of Warsaw, was repulsed after Ian energetic offensive and under coun- ter attacks from the Russians was scompelled to retire at some points. The attacks of the main German 'column, which had it's front on the limo between Lodz and I.owicz and which foame down diagonally from Thorn, were delivered with great force, but Eaccording to the Russian account were Lrepulsed with heavy losses to the in 'vaders. That the Germans attached great importance to the success of their
 attack here is shown by the fact that lduring the two days they faced the Russian trenches seven times and were Idriven back by a murderous fire. No Other Changes
 The other column which has suffered lis that composed of German and Aus Itrian troops which had been trying
 to outflank the Russian left south of lCracow. In this case the Russians as-
 sumed the offensive and they claim that after a tenacious resistance they defeated the Germans. taking several
 guns and 2Oo0 prisoners
 Of the German column operating in | the region of Piotrl1ow and that ad-
 vancing from Czenstochowa there is no news except the Russian statement that Ion other parts of the front there have been no substantial changes" A check or repulse of any one of the columns, however, in the opinion of military critics. must affect the whole German plan, which was @ formidable conversion movement aiming at the capture of Warsaw and the relief of Cracow. For this purpose large rein forcements were sent from the west and operations were pushed with great resC CIution against a determined oppo- sition. It probably will take some days to determine. however, whether the
 checks have upset this plan. The Ger mans attach the utmost importance, il I is said, to winning decisive victory in the east before the Russians cat make their nunibers which military men believe must already be superior so Overwhelming that the better means of transportation possessed by the Ger mans will be discounted.
 Servian Victory Confirmed
 The Servian victory over the Aus trians appears fully confirmed by the occupation of Ushitza and Valjevo. The Servians have regained most of theiI territory toward the Bosnian frontier and they also have defeated the Aus trians advancing from the north.
 Up to December the Servians hat captured about 25,000 prisoners, 11s guns of all kinds and great quantities of war material. The Servians clain victory was due entirely to brilliant leadership and the morale of theil troops most of whom were veteran: fighting in their third war. These qual- ities. they say. overcame the greatel numbers which the Austrians had o1 their side.
 -In the west, both the French and tn, Germans claim they have made progres, in the Argonne region and in Flanders It is evident the Germans in an effor
 to stop the allies advance in Flanders attempted an offensive in the vicinity O
 Ypres and took one trench from thu
 French, The latest French official com
 munication says this trench was recap tured Elsewhere along the front ther, have been artillery duels with occasiona