Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-04
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
SUNG ON WAR FIELD
Eve of Holiday Celebrated by Ger
mans After Russian Attack on
Lines is Over.
DELAYED STORY FROM FRONT
Scarcely shelter Hut In Trenches
and ARTILLERY Positions that Docs
Not Display It's YuIetide
Tree.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE TENTH
GERMAN INFANTRY DIVISION ON
THE RAwKA RIVER. Poland, Dec 2e.
-tNia Courier to Berlin. thence 10 Lon
don. January a)-"Artiilery preliminaries
for a general infantry attack win begin
at noon; infantry attack begins at 2
o'clock" This was the Christmas day
order telephoned and signalled to the
German army on the Rawka yesterday
morning
The thunder OF heavy cannonade and
the rattle Of infantry fire was heard
along the whole line during the short
Christmas afternoon. The attack resulted
in a slight advance Of the Tenth infantry
At enc point a brigade was thrown
across the swampy valley and succeeded
in gaining a foothold on the other side.
Progress Slow.
But progress was slow against the
triple row OF Russian trenches on the
hills and in the woods on the east bank
OF the Rawka. which position Is protected
by broad belt OF swamps in which the
Germans cannot entrench. as their
trenches fill Immediately with water
The short winter days and the fogs
hanging constantly over the valley give
the German artillery only an hour or
two daily In which to cover the German
advance by an effective bombardment. A
few days OF hard frost and clear. cold
weather would make the task easier. but
the winter in Poland so far has been
exceedingly mild. There is no snow and
thaws keep the ground marshy,. convert
Ing into auagmires the roads over which
ammunition supplies must be transported.
Headway Necessarily slow.
Under such circumstances only slow
headwRy can be expected in a frontal
attack against the present Russian DO
sitions.
a few hours OF sunshine yesterday, gave
the German aviators their first oppor-
tunity In a week 70 reconnolter the Rus
sian lines. One Of the aviators reported
that long wagon trains were parked In
the road through the forest near The
Russian lines This information was CON
Veyed TO the German artillery ana a
surprise was arranged for the Russians.
AT given signal several heavy batteries
opened fire on the road.
Have Exact Range.
The effect could not be determlnea
definitely as the fog again settled before
me aviator could reascend. The bat
ter'es had the exact range, however and
the havoc caused was presumed to have
oeen great. But little was heard during
the day from the Russian artillery, which
believed TO be short of ammunition on
this section OF the front
Although Christmas was a battle day
Tor the Germans. Christmas eve, which
10 the Germans is the most important
part OF the yuletide. was comparatively
quiet. A Russian message had announced
general attack along tho whole line
Tor the evening. when the Germans
were. celebrating. The Russian attack.
however. developed in force only at one
point--asainst the German army corps
to The south OF this place. where the
Russians launched a heavy infantry at
tack. well supported by artillery. They
were beaten off and lost heavily par
tieularly in prisoners.
Trees In shelter Huts.
elsewhere along the line the German
soldiers celebrated Christmas as nearly
as possible In home fashion. There was
scarcely a sheter-hut In the trenches
end artillery positions. which did not
display a Christmas tree decorated with
unsel ana say colored candles that had
neen reposing in the soldiers knapsaeks
Tor many weeks. The correspondent rid
Ing along tho lines. saw scores OF such
trees exhibited by the proud soldiers.
Most OF the Christmas packages from
LONE had 10 arrive. having been de.
layed by the miserable roads and rapld
movements OF the army But food i'd
bits. bottles OF wine. nips OF rum and
arrack. carefully preserved for the eeIe-
bration came 70 Hight and helped 10
give the real Christmas feeling.
The cannonade on this part Of the
front ceased almost entirely at dusk.
Far and near could be heard the rough
solder voices Joining In the Christmas
anthem. Holy Night Peaceful NiEht.n
Christmas carols were heard from the
Russian lines. too. at one point prob
ably from the Polish soldiers, as the
Russian Christmas Is thirteen days later.
AZ the division staff quarters A large
tree was set up in the dining room OF
q country house. The division commander
made a brief address 10 his staff. and
simple presents, which had been collected
with difficulty were distributed TO the
enlisted men.