The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-02-25
London Press Prints Conflict
ing Versions Of Recent q
Big Battles.
GERMANS MAKING BIG CLAIMS
Berlin Reports 100000 Prisoners Cap.
tured with Much Loot, While
Petrograd Tells Of an
Orderly Retreat.

A~OAAAOAy wv SOs AC 1DAASAoA AVW0-
papers print today two conflicting YER
sions Of the recent battles by which
the Germans drove the Russians back
over the East Prussian frontier, but,
naturally, they are inclined to accept
the Russian version that the Russians
fell back in orderly fashion, fighting
an effective rear guard action.
As against this is the German claim
of one hundred thousand prisoners and
a staggering array of captured NUM-
tions. It is noted, however, that Ber-
lin says:
"The pursuit has come to an end,
and British observers say this means
that another costly German rush has
fallen short. 1t will take the battles
now developing on Russian soil to
demonstrate whether this view is cor.
rect.
In the Carpathians the armies OF
Russia and Austria remain swaying,
as it we're, in the gateway of Hungary.
British Sea Plan Broadens.
Almost coincident with the unoffi-
cial reports that Austria proposes to
follow the example of her ally by max
ing war on merchant ships in the Ad.
Ratio came the announcement by Pre-
mier Asquith in the British House Of
Commons today that the much dis
cussed retaliatory plan of Great Brit
ain, though still tentative, was much
broader in scope thar had been pre-
yiously suggested: in that 1t was a
matter for the consideration of all the
Allies and that a joint note concerning
it might be expected from the Allies.
To Front From Louvain.
German achievements have been
moved up to Southwest Belgium and
Northern France from Louvain. Many
troops are also being sent from the
same point in southern direction.
The Austrian Report.
Vienna, Feb. 23.-The following Off
cial communication was issued to-
night: Along the front in Russian
Poland and west Galfcia only artillery
duels and infantry skirmishes have
taken place. In the Carpathians num-
erous Russian attacks continue, and
there have been attacks also in the
western sector mostly at night. All
these attempts to penetrate our lines
are repulsed with great losses to the
enemy"
Bombs Near London.
London. Feb. pa Braintree dis
patch to the Press Association says
that about $50 o'clock last night a
hostile aeroplane dropped missiles,
supposed to be incendiary bombs, on
the fields close to Braintree, but they
did no damage.
At $40 o'clock an aeroplane passed
over Colchester, which lies about fifty
miles northeast of London 1t dropped
a bomb which buried itself in gar
den, where it exploded, doing damage
to the rear of a house and smashing
the windows in other houses. No one
was hurt
The aeroplane, said to be German,
also dropped bombs at Marks Tey, six
and half miles west of Colchester,
and near Coggeshall, but no great
damage resulted. The machine was
last reported as making off toward the
sea.
A German submarine, described by
some as the U-12 and by others as the
,u-21. which is operating in the Irish
Sea, yesterday found another victim
In the little Irish coasting steamer
Downshire.
The Downshire was sunk not far
from the spot where the British Cam
bank was topedoed few hours ear
lier. In the case of the .Downshire,
however, the crew were given time to
escape in their boats and instead of
wasting torpedo the Germans used
bomb. which destroyed the vessel in
q few minutes.
Big Battle In Galicla.
Petrograd dispatches say the Ger
mans have met an impenetrable bar
rier In the vicinity Of Ossowetz and
that their difficulties have been in
creased by the overflow Of the Me.
man river. They are in great force,
however, and the battle, which is only
just beginning. promises to be se-
we're one.
There seems to DO little change in
the relGtive positions In West Galicia,
although both sides have been max
Ing IN effort TO move forward; while
In the Csrpathians. although the fight.