Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-12-05
BATTLES RAGE IN
RUSSIAN POLAND
GERMANS AND RUSSIANS NOW IN
A MIGHTY STRUGGLE sU-
PREMACY IN POLAND.
REINFOUcEMENTS TO FRONT
The Fighting in Belgium and France
Has subsidized, and the Great Strug-
gle Has Shifted to the East.
Summary Of War News to Date.

|
The Berlin official statement Tues
day says that there is nothing of i'm
| portance to report from Poland, while
| the Russian government rests upon
its warning against overoptimism.
The facts, as CLEANED from various
messages of correspondents, appear to
be that three semiindependent en-
gagements are progressing between
Thorn on the north and Cracow on the
south, In which both combatants have
achieved local successes, without a
distinct victory for any of the armies.
Some of the British military experts
believe that Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg's forces have been split into
three units, one of which certainly is
almost completely enveloped, while
the Russians have driven a wedge be-
tween the German army and its Aus
trian ally In the region of Cracow
They declare that the Germans have
consistently underestimated the quail
ties of their Muscovite opponents and
have opposed them with body com
posed almost wholly of second line
troops, but are now rushing heavy re-
Inducements from the western line.
They express the opinion that the is
sue depends on whether these arrive
in time.
Berlin reports the failure of the
Russian attack on the Notifications
east of Darkesmen, in East Prussia,
with heavy losses, while unofficial
messages from Petrograd describe an
important Russian gain and the cap
ture of ten miles of trenches to the
northeast of LODI.
Advices from Holland report that
railway traffic, newspapers and posts
in the Brussels region are entirely
suspended, it is presumed for the pur-
pose Of suppressing news of move
ment Of German troops to the east
ward.
The only development of the day in
the western theater was the renewal
of the British naval bombardment of
the German base at Zeebrugge.
England was surprised at the an
nouncement that King George had
left Monday night on a visit to the
headquarters of the British forces in |
France, where he is certain of an en-
thusiastic reception from the soldiers.
Monday was the fortieth birthday
Of Winston Spencer Churchill, first
lord of the admiralty, and the papers.
except few Of those antagonistic to
him, pay, a tribute to his remarkable
The SEVENTEEN, birthday of
the queen mother, Alexandra, was
celebrated Tuesday.
The Dutch papers say that the Ger
mans have imposed an indemnity of
100000 monthly on Belgium for the
duration of the war for the mainte-
nance of the troops, and in addition.
'75,000.000 as war levy for alleged
of neutrality.
Luxembourg reports that the Ger
mans have paid substantial sum for
lamages resulting from their occupa.
ion of the grand duchy.
Heavy fighting Is in progress in |
Servia, but snow is bad |
y hampering the operations. The 1
dontenegrins claim to have defeated Is
he Austrians with great losses near 8
'ishegrad, on the Drina river. '
Field Marshal Sir John French, COM
handler Of the British expeditionary {
orces on the continent, in an Of I
icial statement gives an optimistic S
lew of the situation in France and c
Belgium from the standpoint of the {
lies. His report brings the opera
ion only up to Nov. 20. but he con- I
ludes by saying that signs are in S
violence that I'VE are possibly in the b
ast stages of the battle from Ypres y
, Armentieres." as the German artil- v
cry fire had slackened and infantry S
ttacks had virtually ceased. IL