Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-14
NEXT GREAT OFFENSIVE
MAY BE IN THE WEST
Doubt as to Which Side Will Take
Initiative Adds to the
Interest.
TURKS REPORTED WAR WEARY
Talk Of Separate Peace ACCOMPANIED
by News That Germans Are Add.
ing to Defenses of Con-
stantinople. ..

/ LONDON, July ID, 1885 pm.
For more than a week now the
Austro-German offensive in Cali
cia and Poland has been hanging
fire, while the Russians, their CEN
ter having fallen back on a more
advantageous line in the heights
to the north of Krasnik, appar-
emily are awaiting the next move
of the Teutonic forces.
Fresh ammunition and rein
forcements may bring sudden
revival of activity in thi S war
theater, but meantime the western
front, by reason of the uncer-
tainty as to which side plans a
general offensive, will offer the
greatest possibilities of interest
ing developments.
German Adventure Costly.
The French claim their front In the
Argonne forest. after being dented by
a violent attack made by the army OF
Crown Prince Frederick William. has
been restored. the net result being q
costly adventure for the Germans: but
the strength of the offensive at this
point leads the British press TO specu-
late whether the Argonns or the VICE.
vre districts will not be selected for .
general German offensive rather than
the backgrounds in Flanders.
Germans Claim Big Gain.
The German official statement issued
today in Berlin announces that German
forces yesterday captured French posi-
tions in the forest of the Argonne for
a width of three kilometers (1.S miles)
and for depth Of one kilometer. and
that they also stormed hill 2s5. The
Germans claim they made 1851 pris-
oners, took two field cannon and rem
dered eight cannon useless.
Today's official statement from Paris
says German attacks in the Argonne
were definitely stopped" German at
tacks against the British in Belgium,
Paris reports, were repulsed. There
was trench-to-trench fighting with
hand grenades, mine battles and heavy
artillery engagements at several points
along the line without marked ad-
vantage to either side.
Talk Of Peace for Turkey.
Many reports from Balkan sources
revive the rumors that Turkey is weary
Of war and anxious for separate
peace. Though none Of the reports
finds confirmation. some sections of
the British press profess to, believe
that they are not improbable, in that
Turkey is beginning to feel the pinch
of ammunition shortage in the Darda-
nelles by virtue of Rumania's refusal
to allow munitions to cross her borders.
The attacks made on Rumania by Ber-
lin newspapers coincide in this theory at
least to the extent that Rumania's atti-
tude in the matter of arms and ammuni-
ton traffic is being felt.
strengthening Constantinople.
According to Mytilene dispatch to the
Times, advices from Constantinople are
to the effect that the Germans are
and adding to the fortihcA-
tions at Constantinople on stupend-
GUS scale.
They are employing thousands of
soldiers as laborers and trenches are
being dug on the sea front at half
mile intervals all the way from San
on the western outskirts of
with the usual accom-
paniments of mined approaches en-
and concealed batteries
guns of all sizes. There are
ample supplies of guns. the dispatch
adds, but through what channel they
were obtained is not known
War Council at Cracow.
GENEVA, Switzerland, July Is. via
Paris. July IA dispatch to the
Tribune from Innsbruck says:
"Archduke Joseph Ferdinand is ex.
pected today at Cracow to preside over
z war council.
"If within the next few days the
Austrians cannot stop the victorious
Russian advance the whole front must
retreat. Since the. loss of the positions
south of Lublin revfctualing of the
armies has become impossible. Large
Austrian reinforcements have been
hurried to the province of Lublin, but
the Russians, though fighting against
saThe Austrians have been returning
to Galicia since the 10th Of July and
are now at Wrzawy. The Russians
defeated the Austrians at Zamosz and
and captured two Hunga-
rian battalions.
sIt is reported from Lemberg that
an important council of war was held
Il a number of superior officers were
a.