Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-04
KAISER IN DANGER
FROM SHELL FIRE
ON FRENCH FRONT
Emperor Reluctantly Quits Field
al Soissons-MeW Battles
Are Developing Along
Western Line.
PUSH INTO EAST PRUSSIA
Operations OF Russians In Drive
at Koenigsburg and In Car
pathians Of Vast Mill
tary Importance.
INTO EAST PRUSSIA

correspondence agency of this city
asserts That it learns from a depend
able source that Emperor William
was under heavy fire at the battle
of SCISSORS and that ii was only
after insistUmr representations from
his encourage that he consented.
after Il long While. to leave the eX-
posed position.
London. Feb, The Paris cor
espondent OF Reuters Telegram
%ompanN teIegraphs that he learns
that the Russians have routed the
TarkiSh troops in Persia and have
entered Tabriz, capital of the PROV
ince of Azerbaijan which the Turks
occupied early in January.
London. Feb. 1.-Two conditions can
particularly for today by
British observers of the war: Tile
Austrc-German concentration in the
Carpathians. which is regarded as a
menace to the Russian armies in Buhn-
wilma, and the Russian activities in
east Prussia, which have been char
acterized as Il threat to the German
forces in this territory. Thus at the
extreme end OF the immense eastern
front military operations of the great
est Importance are developing.
As for the western battle front an
other big battle in the vicinity Of
scissors is confidently expected AS Is
4 bitter conflict near La Bassee, where
for some time The Germans have 9aeer
pillng up "elntorcements.
Pushing into Prussia.
Russia's new invasion OF east Prus-
sia is becoming well defined in British
eyes as an outfIanking movement. For
some time this frontier district has
been in Russian hands without attract
Ing much attention along the so mile
front from Tilsit southwark almost rs
far as Anserburg. This front is only
90 miles TO the east Of the PrusSian
fortress OF koenisSbera.
The Morning Mails Petrograd cor
respondent referring to the fact that
Tilsit, east Prussia. is mentioned for
the first time in connection with the
Russian movements. say he believes
Important actions are imminent.
The correspondent says he thinks tho
Niemen river is Sufficiently frozen to
permit the passage of troops and ar
tillery, which alone would be sufficient
to explain the movement north of Til
sit. On the other hand. the koenigs-
berg garrison probably is so depleted
by drafts for the front. west of the
Nistula river. that the Russians seri-
ouSlN menace the German flank.
Seeking Weak Spot.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd.
dealing with he battle in East Prus-
STA. says:
The Russians occupied P~illkallen.
after a days sllellins. The garrison
suffered heavily before retiring. or
the population of 5000, only 300 WON
en- and children and aged persons re
manned.
The Germans have strong defenses
nortl1ward of the Mazurlan lakes to In
terburg. along the Augeraph river. but
they are comparatively weak further
northward to Tilsit.'
Battle of the Mountains.
Many miles to the south the combined
Austro-German armies and the forces
of Russia are battling in the snow in
the ~Carpathian mountain passes, but
as is usual with mountain fighting the
situation is confused, each sid main
tanning that the tide of battle is rum
ming in its favor. 1t will be hard to
form a clear picture of the situation
until either the Russians emerge in
force on the Hugarian plains or the
Austro-Germans hammer them back to
the mountain passes. perhaps causing
at the am time a Russian rctrsat in
Bu6owina.
One effect of this struggle has been
to bring the Austru-German troops 50
near the Rumanian frontier as to fan
the wal flame in that country, a fact
which may ave az important bearing
on deciding when Rumania will enter
the conflict.
Where Are the Turks?
Little reliable information has come
to HAND concerning TIE fight In tho
Caucasus. A round about rtlTnor cred
its Russia with the reoccmpation of
Tahriz The Londcn which,
hailed the fighting to the east Of FL
Kantara AS the real beginning Of the
Turkish invasion of Egypt. NOW seem
inclined to qualify that assertion. While
there has been more u~nimportant skir-
mishing to the east of the suez canal
there is little proof that the Turks are
advancing in force.