Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-04
WINTER RAINS
DELAY AR MlES
ON WEST Line
Flooded River Valleys Render oper-
ations of the COntending Sides
Difficult in the Extreme,
WORST IN EUROPE IN YEARS
Both Fronts Alike Dren5hed So that
Roads Have Become Regular
ousgmires.
SLIGHT ADVANCE 10 MADE
Germans Only Forward Move of the
Day is Capture Of the Town
of Borjomow,
RUSS SECURE ANOTHER BASE
Appear to Have Won Additional
Opening Through Carpathians.
TURKS FoRTIFYING THE FRONT
Feverish Activity In Direction Not
at Present Threatened Indicates
Fear the BaIkan states VIII
Enter the Conflict.
Germans Only Forward Move of the
Day is Capture Of the Town
of Borjomow,
Uss SECURE ANOTHER BASE
Appear to Have Won Additional
Opening Through Carpathians.
,URKs FoRTIFYING THE FRONT
Feverish Activity In Direction Not
at Present Threatened Indicates
Fear the balkan states VIII
Enter the Conflict.

LONDON, Jan. 3.-The extremely
rainy winter, the worst Europe has
experienced in years, causing floods
in the river valleys of the continent
as we'll as those OF England, has pre-
vented any operations on large
scale. on the western battle front,
and has seriously interferred with
those in the east.
There have been heavy artillery
engagements from the sea TO the
Swiss border, and occasioned attacks
by the infantry of the opposing
armies, which when not repulsed,
have added a few yards to the terri
tory in the possession of the attack
ing force, but have always proved
costly adventures.
Germans Capture BOrjimOw.
The French have gained a little ground
between Albert and Roye Just north of
the point here the line turns eastward.
| and to the east OF Rheims and southwest
of verdun, where the attempts to make
the German positions at st, Mihiel on
the Meuse untenable. re proceeding
sloYly. They have also made some ad-
vance In AlSave. but have suffered a
repulse to the northwest of the st,
| Menehould.
In the east the Germans have captured
the important Russian position of Borji-
NOV, but elsewhere, they have been
unable to make headway against the Rus
SLAMS who as defenders of well fortified
positions, are aided by the wet weather
and muddy roads which hinder the Ger
man movements.
| The Austrians claim to have checked
the Russian advance near Gorlice on
the south Galician railway, west of
Jaslow, but apparently the battle here
has not yet been concluded. The Rus
SLAMS, on the other hand, have taken the
Austrian's positions near Uzsck Pass.
which should open another entrance for
them through the Carpathians into Hun
gary, while the Austrians' retreat IN
Bukowina is described by the Russians
as a rout.
Turks Cross Border.
| The Turks have crossed the Russian
border In the Caucasus and. according
to their own account. have defeated the
Russian garrison at Ardahan. They are
however. displaying anxiety for their re-
naming possessions in Europe by fever
ishly fortifying the whole coast line
What they fear is not disclosed, for IL is
considered hardly possible for the allies
TO land a sufficient force to prove a
menace to them. IL is possible they antici-
pate an invasion from another source
Indications point TO the possibility OF
the Balkan states. which are now neutral
taking a hand in the war.
| Greece Il Ready.
The Greek minister of finance has de-
clared that Greece is making prepara.
tions to maintain the new territory which
It gained in the Balkan wars from Turkey
and Bulgaria, but that II has more tC
fear from Bulgaria than from Turkey. II
is not thought that Rumanla can look or
calmly while the Russians are ADVANCING
toward Transylvania. and Il is expected
that It win join with Russia and try &c
secure the much-coveted eastern province
of Austria-Hungary.
British Offer Prayers.
Throughout the British empire and in
the English churches in foreign countries
inteTcession services were held today foI
the success OF the allies arms Many oi
the sermons embodied exhortations TO the
young men TO join the army. King Georg,
attended services in the village church al
Sandringham.