The state herald., 1914-12-18
DESTROY 500
POLISH TOWNS
ARMIES SWAY OVER pEsoLATEp
COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY
DECISIVE RESULT.
BELGRADE RECApTURED
TROOPS ON FRENCH FRONTIERS
STOPPED FROM ACTIVITY BY
THE WINTER WEATHER.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
London, Dec. 15.-The Servians have
occupied Belgrade after fierce bat
tie, according to dispatches from
Nish.
The Austrians captured Belgrade
Dec. 2 after having besieged 1t since
July 30, bombarding from batteries
near Semln and from monitors on the
Danube. A large portion of the city
was said to have been destroyed by
the fire of the Austrians.
When war was declared the Servian
government moved from Belgrade to
Kraguyeyats and later went farther
south to Nish, where 1t remains.
A striking feature of the days Off
cial news is the candid admission by
the Austrian government Of the defeat
of the Austrian army in Servia and ap-
parently of the abandonment Of Its
third attempt to invade the territory
of its small Slav neighbor. While at
tributing the failure to the enemy's
superior force, as all government bull
letins explain failures, the Austrian
war office announces plainly an eI-
tended retirement and heavy losses.
New decisions and measures con-
sequently will be taken to repel the
enemy" says the Austrian statement.
Apparently that means that the Aus
trian army directed against Servia
will assume a defensive line.
The Servians claim to be pressing
home their victory with more captures
of prisoners and to have driven part
of the invading army across the Drina
river. Moreover, they express conf
dence that they are about to retake
the capital and expel the invaders
from Servian territory.
The progress Of the war in northern
Hungary is less definite.
Sundays German wireless report
with candor equal to that OF the Aus
trian bulletin spoke Of the severe re-
sistance" which the German and Aus
trian arms are encountering In South
Poland and in Galicia, adding that 1t
was evident the Austrian forces In the
Carpathians are not numerically
strong enough to clear the Russians
out OF Hungarian territory. But the
Austrians claim that they are driving
down the northern slopes OF the Car
pathians the Russian invaders, who
were last week in occupation OF sew
eral top.s south OF that mountain
range.
Poland is fast becoming another
Belgium In point Of suffering. while
the opposing armies drive each other
back and forth. occupy and reoccupy
cities and villages and inflict upon the
inhabitants bombardments similar to
those suffered In Belgium and north
ern France.
More than 500 Polish towns have
been ruined. according to various nc
counts from the correspondents.
The French official statement given
out In Paris reports comparative quiet
In Flanders and artillery exchanges OF
relatively minor Importance else.
where. In the Meuse. German bat
teries are said to be moving to the
north. In the Woevre district the
French captured trench and re-
pulsed two counter attacks. The ad.
vance OF the French line into Alsace
has brought Il to Il point north OF
Altkirch. and about ten miles TO tho
east OF the frontier.
The troops in France and Belgium
are suffering from n plague OF mud
and damp. which causes them greater
discomfort than did the cold wave at
the end OF November. with its posi-.
tive hardships OF frozen foot and
hands. and cffectnally votoes any
movements on n big scale.
The Turkish army has not asserted
itself nor has II engaged In any
great battle. Envcr Pasha hRs takcn
command OF tho Caucasian army and
Tnlaat Bey has succeeded him as min.
iAtor OF war.