The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-09
RUSSIANS CHECK
GERMAN ADVANCE
PetFOgrad Report Says Third
Attempt TO Reach Warsaw
Has Failed.
HEAVY LOSSES FOR TEUTOES
Austrians Advance From carpathians
crupshed by Cars Forces
Allies Are Pushing Slowly
On in West Flanders.

Petrograd, Dec 31-The Russian
view of the military situation in Po-
land in the light of recent develop
ments is that a definite check has
been administered to the Germans
The evacuation by the Germans of the
village Of Mistrzewice, five miles north
Of Sochaczew, related officially by the
war office, is regarded by military
critics here, as ringing down the cur
tain on the third German advance to-
ward Warsaw"
At tremendous loss to themselves
the Germans had succeeded in estab-
fishing a foOthoId in Mistrzewice, on
the east bank of the Bzura River, but
their persistent sledgehammer attacks
in the last three weeks failed to pene-
trate the Russian line before Warsaw.
The Germans steadily threw reinforce
ments into the town, in an endeavor
to extend their position along the
river.
When 1t became evident that the
Austrian advance from the Carpa-
THAN Mountains had failed, the Ger
mans evacuated the villige in intervals
between Russian attacks. The Aus
trian operations from the Carpathians
evidently formed an integral part OF
the general plan of the Germans for
the Warsaw campaign.
Stop Austrian Assault.
The simultaneous attacks of the
Austrians in Western Galicia and from
the Carpathians proved to be a com
plete failure. Unofficial reports state
that the losses of the Austrians were
enormous and that the Russians have
taken as many as fifty thousand pris-
oners, including many Germans. Train
loads of guns and other war booty
pass daily through Lemberg.
Austrian Ship Torpedoed?
A dispatch from Venice contains a
report that a French submarine boat
has torpedoed the Austrian dread
nought Viribus Units at Pola It is
said the hull of the dreadnought was
pierced, but that she succeeded in
reaching her dock.
French Push Slowly On.
France claims slight gains near
Newport in the official announce
ment given out by the war depart
ment this afternoon. This communi-
cation also recites other points along
the line where German attacks have
been driven back. There has been
heavy bombarding at st. Georges, in
the Aisne region and on the heights
of the Meuse.
Russians Cross Nida River.
Petrograd, Dec 3O.-Between the
Lower Vistula and the Pilica only
! fighting of small Importance has taken
place. The Germans left theeir
! trenches on the right bank of the
Bzura near the village of Mistrzevice
and fell back on the left bank OF the
Bzura.
In Western Galicia the Russians
have made progress in spite of the al
most impossible condition of the coun-
try due to mud They have driven the
enemy from the front Of Stremnik
Sor1ice JasIiska, taking guns and
large numbee of machine guns.
Army of $4,000 Retreats.
The retreat of the Austrian army
| in GaIicia, along the Lisko-Sa bok-Duk-
la-Zmigrod front is described officially
here as more and more precipitate and
disorderly. The retreating forces are
estimated unoffciaIly as numbering
about 175,OOO men,
French Take Belgian Town.
The French official statement on
the progress of the war refers to COM
| paratively minor French successes
and mentions violent bombardment
of certain French positions by Ger
man artillery. The French have oc-
cupied a village in Belgium; they
have gained ground in the Argonne
and they are investing Steinbach in
| Upper Alsace.
Little Change in Line.
London, Dec 29.-The battle lines
in the East and West have undergone
only infinitesimaI changes during the
day. The French and German reports
agree that the Germans have captured
| a section of trenches near HoI1ebeke,
south of Ypres. The French assert
that the Germans gave up trenches on
the first line, to the extent Of about
| 500 or 900 yards in the Lens region,
| further east, while unsuccessful dem
onstrations have been made from both
! sides at various points along the ex-