Arizona republican., 1915-01-13
These Gains, If Followed Up. Will. Threaten. the Railways Germans Use to Supply Troops on the Firing Line
GERMANS CLAIM
 FURTHER PROGRESS
In the Argonne District, On the Heights of the Mouse, the Germans on the Offensive Claim Pro- gress is Made
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPArcH1


 LONDON, Jan. 12-French attacks to the north of Soissons, on the Aisne and near Perthes, east of Rheims, are developing into a ser ious offensive. The gains the French have made at these points, if follow ed up, would have been of two-fold importance.
 They threaten the railways the Germans are using to supply their troops on the fighting line, and are of a serious menace to the German forces which held the positions to the north of Rheims. In Argonne. on the heights of the Mouse, the Germans are on the offensive, and claim to have made further progress. There is practically no changes else- where.
 The French have found it i'm possible to take by frontal attacks the positions from which the Ger mans are bombarding Rheims, but advances on each side would en- velop them, and force retirement. thus giving the cathedral city much desired relief from German shells. It is reported the Germans have sent heavy endorsements to the Argonne district to prevent the French break ing their lines, which are very close to the German border, not far from Metz.
 Fresh German troops dispatched to Alsace, combined with wintry wea- ther have stopped the French ad- vance in that region. Along the rest of the front the artillery is doing most of the work. Only isolated attacks are being attempted. the state of the weather and the ground making the movement of large bodies of troops out of the question. Simi- lar conditions prevail in the east While they have not completely stop red fighting they have called a hal- over the greater part of the field of operations In restricted areas. and along the River Rawka near Bolimow, however, there has been fierce fighting.
 According to Petrograd correspond ents the Germans have been unable to make any material advance. Se- we're fighting is also taking place on the Nida River where the Aus trians are opposing the Russians at tempts to penetrate to Cracow. The i Germans are keeping the Mazurian Lakes open with ice breakers to block the Russian advance in East Prussia. Russian troops hold posi- tions around the lakes, and have been waiting for them to freeze over before resuming the offensive.
 Constantinople officials denied the Petrograd claimed over the Turkish army in the Caucasus, according to tke Reuter- Telegram. The Turks claimed to have captured dominating 1 positions on the main front beyond the frontier
 The dispatch stated the main head quarters of the Turkish army re- pudiated the Russian press reports. The following telegram from the commander of the Caucasian army was made public:
 "On the main front our troops have captured dominating positions beyond the frontier. Operations near Olti and Ardahan have been delayed by deep snow. and severe frosts. The Russian assertion that commander of a Turkish division was taken prisoner is not true, but a Russian detachment attacked transport car wing wounded in a Russian village capturing a severely wounded com mander of a Turkish brigade. and