The Washington times., 1915-01-31

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The only position where the Russians
threaten IL at Dukla pass. where they
overwhelm the Austrian left hank.
Russians Lost Opportunity.
Hungary is practically clear Of the
Russians. and this has relieved the
general situation. because It has quiet
ed the fears of Hungarians that their
land was to be overrun by the enemy.
If the Russian offensive had been con-
for the Russian Cossoeks and tleir
mounted infantry to have swept over
the Hungarian plains. and Il would
have REQUIRED the utilization Of = very
checked them. But this opportunity was
lost when the Russians halted, for no
reason that can now be revealed, and
remained aimlessly in the neghbor-
we're eventually forced to take the de-
fensive.
Little to Gain East Prussia.
Checking the drive against Hungary
has naturally had its effect on Rou-
mania. ~.
''fuch is being made Of the movement
into East Prussia. yet Russia can gain
little here. As a matter Of fact, II the
fortress of Przemysl can hold out
against the best efforth Of the Rug
slams. with their communications abso-
lntely perfect. how can they expect to
koenigsberg and capture that fortress,
one OF Germany's strongest positions?
. But conceding the impossible for ar
suments ssn,.,nt sal sake: % even though they could
part of East Prussia. what would they
gain? Their boast OF on to Berlin
called for a straight march to that city.
Koenigsberg is far from that straight
Russian Losses Great.
''The Russian first line losses have
been very great. Their denials cannot
alter this fact. Their second line can
not be depended on. They are hope
lessly short of competent officers, and
our reports from all along our eastern
front show that SO far as Germany Is
concerned. the situation is entirely salts
factory"
Other officers echoed the same general
sentiment. They intimated that another
expected. sithough M nc for s obSious reasons eaa MS
1t is impossible even to hint what this
will be. But there Is no attempt made
to disguise the general satisfaction felt
over the present outlook in the east.
PARIS. Jan. 31.-That the French
have been forced to give way in the
d fighting in the Argonne region is admit
ted by the war office. 1t Is stated that
during the fighting of the last few
days the Germans have made slight
gains. though at an enormous cost.
The French losses are admittedly seri-
Gus, but they are declared to be far
less than those Of the enemy. The
French forces. compelled to abandon
their forward line Of trenches in the
completely reorganized and to have oc-
cupied positions that are some 200 me-
tres in the rear Of the original positions.
This is the only point where losses
the war office to be in no way sig
nificant.
In the fighting north of Lombaertzyde.
a. well as before the British positions
. the allied line Is declared to be COW
cred with German dead. The fighting In
that section continues with tho advan-
tage entirely with the allies. it Is
1t is stated that the artillery duel at
Arras and In that vicinity continues
. without Interruption. The Germans are
believed to be massing their forces
and the British lines have been heavily
rs-enforced.
Furious battles are proceeding at La
Bassee and in Belgium. while renewal
OF the battle Of scissors is considered
imminent.
Concerning the result of the fighting
in front Of Lombaertzyde and to the
east Of Nieuport. the reports from the
rival headquarters are curiously at
variance. The Germans state that the
allies losses We're very heavy, 200 Mo-
roccans and Algerians being left dead
among the sand dunes.
The French war office says it is
definitely established that the Germans
left large number of dead on the fi.ad
in front Of Lombaertzyde at the foot of
the Great Dune.
The French report says also that the
Germans suffered heavily under the fire
OF the British forces near La Bassee.
where the Germans state they took two
more trenches and made sixty prison.
ers captive. The Kaisers troops nre
renewing their desperate infantry as
saults upon English positions at this
point and the battle Is developing
strongly with large forces engaged.
North Of Arras. near Neuville-St
Vast. the French gunners on Friday
brought within range a GcrmaA ammu-
milton train and blew up one of the
wagons.