Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-17
BATTLES EAST AND WEST
. MILESTONES OF THE WAR
British Claim to Have Won Decided
Advantage Over Germans
in France.
SPRING CAMPAIGN Is OPENED
Petrograd Thinks Present Russian
Offensive Marks Beginning of
a New Phase Of Titanic
Struggle.

LONDON, March u. "A
p.m.-The Petrograd correspond
ent of Reuters Telegram Com
pany says in a dispatch that cap
ture OF the Austrian fortress at
Przemysl is considered in the
Russian capital as a matter OF a
few days only.
Austrian soldiers captured bv
the Russians during unsuccessful
sorties say the garrison is exist
ing on famine rations. and that
the hospitals are crowded.
Under Siege for Months.
The Austrian fortress at Przemysl In
Galicia, has been described as one of
the strongest positions held by the
troops Of the dual monarchy. 1t has
been besieged since the early weeks OF
the war and never for a moment has
the Russian Gordon been relaxed The
Austrians have made various attempt.
to relieve the garrison. the latest hay-
ing been conducted last week. Aero
planes have been great help to tho
garrison. They have kept the fortress
| in communication with Austrian base.
when no other method was possible.
and they even have taken in suppliss
and medicines.
Pivotal Battles of War.
Neuve Chappelle and ST. Eloi in the
west and PrZasnysz and Przemysl n
the east are the pivots Of the battl.
areas. in which struggles that ma
mark important milestones in the war
now are being fought.
The outcome of the fight for Neuvs
Chappelle. from which the British have
driven the Germans. with a loss o.
nearly 10000 men, should prove in tn.
opinion of British observers. whethe
the Germans can mass men and re
trieve ground lost by them with tn.
same battering tactics they displayeu
last year. On the other hand. If tn.
British can hold the positions gained
by them. 1t will go far toward attest
ing what may be expected when the
allies begin their spring advance
Won Hindenburg's Big Stake.
The outcome of the battle of Prza.-
nysz will demonstrate whether Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg again has
failed and virtually nuIlified all his
costly efforts TO reach Warsaw.
To the south the Austrians are al
tempting what they have tried many
times before--a dash to relieve the
fortress OF Przemysi. According to di-
patches from Petrograd. this latest ef-
fort, which was northward advance
from the Carpathians. has deflnitelr
fallen short the Austrians having beeu
checked in the center of their chief
offensive movement at Smolnik, 20 the
south of Lutowiska. In the meantime
the Russians are drawing closer their
lines around the Prsemsyl fortress.
Germans Bombard Nieupoit.
PARIS, March 1.-THE enemy "a
again furiously bonn ba riding Nieupor'.
this time with 16-inch howitzers," says
an undated message from the Pet.t
Parisiens war correspondent. who adds
Thirty shells have fallen in the torr
making enormous holes and demoltsft-
ing several buildings. but no ono was
hurt.
belgian troops. profiting by sl!SNt
recession of the waters in the district
tbe,- occupy. carried two German sd-
yanced positions Tho first was on th-
Eloosterhoek farm near Stuvekens-
kerke while the second was line OF
trenches on the road from l'ervyse 10
Schoorba ike.
"Warships and monitors vigorous
bonn barded Westende Til" Germans
replied feebly. but none OF their shells
tonk effect. Torpedo boat destroyers
protected the bombarding ships. shet'-
ing a German submarine which at
tempted to approach The fire against
the shore positions was directed ~
aeroplanes
Open Spring Campaign. ..
pETRoGAD. March Il. via Londou.
, 3, p.m.-Active encounters of con
siderable strategic Importance along
tbe soo-mile front constitute. in the
oniuiou of military authorities here.
the beginning of the spring campaign.
These engagements are spread along
tho line from the River Niewen in the
north through Russian Poland and
through Galicia to the Rive
Dniester Never before in the history
of war in the eastern theater mas there
been such continuous activity along
the whole hne-
In the Carpathians the Russians ap-
near to have been successful in turning
The Austrian right flank south OF
stanisiau in a spectacular battle Hall
hurled in SHOW. which in places was
pver the heads of the combatants. the
rushed the Austrian fortif-
"a tions near the village of Tarnowice
A Abandoning the customary militsr'
formations they scrambled as best they
could through the drifts, sometime
strung out in Indian nle. sometime
almost losing touch with each other
They succeeded, however. In reaching
the fortif1cations in sufficiently good
order to take the Austrians by surprise