Evening star., 1915-01-31

Baltic.
ADVANCE on Thorn.
On the southern front in East Prus-
sia another. army is advancing toward
the German fortress of Thorn, while
>still another is holding a line or IN
trenchments which protect Warsaw and
which Cen Won Hindenburg has been
trying to batter through for three
months.
Other armies are again preparing 70
meet big Austro-German force whicn
is attempting to regain Galicia anu
Bukowina, thereby turning Grand Duke
Nicholas left wing.
Only Few Left in City.
When the Russians entered Pillkaller
it is said that they found only 800 in
habitants left there. these being wom-
en-. children and aged men. Petro-
grad has made no official statement
of the capture of this city, but the re-
ports of fighting to the north are taken
to Indicate that the Slarlc wave has
rolled over the town.
The Russians are making a FURIOUS
drive against the extreme German leIt
wing along the line of Gumbinnen ana
Tilsit where the defenseS are weaker
than they are in the region along the
Angerapp river from Angerburg, at
he head of the MaZurian lakes, to
1nSterburg.
Army Reaches River.
Russian armies are now conversing
upon Insterburg, the railway center COM
manding the lines to koenigsberg and
Danzig. The first army of the East Prus-
sian asion has now reached the Inster
river. and in one place has passed 1t.
From the southeast the czar's forces are
advancing near Darkehmen. on the
Angerapp Still farther south strong
force is operating among the lakes IN
the region of Lotzen
The Russian design is to outf1ank the
German outposts in the MaZurlan lakes
region and overrun East Prussia as
counter to the Austro-German concentra-
ton in the Carpathians.
Six Months of War.
The end of the sixth month of Eu-
ropes great war finds the armies OF
the beligerent nations completing
preparations for a new series of opera
tions or actually engaged in cam
paigns the extent of which hardly was
anticipated when the declarations of
hostilities were made. In Flanders,
France and central Poland deadlock
still exists, but largely because of Rus
sia's tremendous resources and the ac-
ton of Turkey the sphere Of opera
tions has been widely extended.
Russia alone is engaged in fighting
hostile armies from Tflsit. far In the
north of East Prussia. to Tabriz. IN
Persia. a distance of over 1900 miles.
only that portion of her territory bor-
dering on Roumania is free from
menace, but, according to her reports.
all is going well with her immense
armies.
are battling against the Turks in the
Caucasus and Persia. They apparently
have inflicted another defeat on the
Turkish forces, for the Russian official
to Tabriz while unofficial dispatches
state that the Russians have reoccupied
that city.
Twenty-Eight Army Corps Gather.
What is regarded as the most important
campaign; however, is that which is de-
veloping in the Carpathians, brought
about by the Austro-German offensive
designed to drive the Russians from
Galicia and Bukowina. thereby removing
the menace of an invasion OF Hungary
The Austro-German allies are said to
have concentrated no less than twenty
eight army corps for this venture So
far as can be gathered from contradictory |
official reports, the Russians have won
preliminary skirmishes in the western |
pa asses from Dakla to Wyszkow. while to !
the east they have been forced to retire I
before superior forces. The battles which |
are being fought in the snow are just |
commencing. however, and many days !
must pass before a definite decision is |
reached. !
Battles in West. !
Battles in the west still consist of !
local engagements, although the Ger
mans, who apparently are preparing
for an extensive offensive before the