Evening star., 1915-12-30
SIMULTANEOUS ATTACK
ON FORTY-MILE FRONT
Slavs West of Lake Ranger Now
Are Threatening Mitau,
It Is Said.
HARD FIGHTING IN vOsGEs
Berlin Declares That All Hartmanns-
Weilerkopf Positions Have
Been Reconquered
by Them.

LONDON. December 3o.-Al-
though Petrograd remains silent
on the subject, the public is in
clined to believe the Russians are
undertaking great offensive in
Bukowina. near the Bessarabian
border. Official Austrian reports
telling OF attacks by dense masses
OF Russian troops indicate that
an important battle is under way.
The fighting centers at point
near Toporoutz. a small town
Just within the border OF north
ern Bukowina. but simultaneous
attack is being made along an ex-
tended front. from the Pruth to
a position north of the Dniester,
a distance of about forty miles.
The latest advices state that the
Russian assault is being contin-
'ued. accompanied by an unusually
'HedNN DOmOarQment-
Attack Near Lake Babit.
Unofficial reports from the extreme
northern portion of the eastern front
state the Germans have made serious
but futile attack in the region Of Lake
Babit. while the Russians west of Lake
Ranger are threatening Mitau.
These opposing attacks create deli
cate situation. as a successful advance
by either would endanger considerable
forces of the defeated opponent.
Fighting on Western Line.
Along the western front. except for
mining and aerial engagements on the
British lines. the chief fighting seems 10
he confined to the Vosges. where, in tie
region OF Hartmsnns- -WeiIerkopf the
French claim 10 have made a successful
advance.
Berlin reports heavy fighting con-
tinues in the Vosges. Announcement is
made by the war Office that positions
near Hartmanns-Weilerk have been
recoaquered by the Germans Brit
ish surprise attack near Lille failed,
according to Berlin.
Nothing has happened to change the
Macedonian position. but it is general
ly believed that any advance into
Greek territory must be made by the
Bugarians. the opinion being that the
.Austro-Germans cannot spare enough
troops for serious attempt against Sa-
ioniki.
Position of Germanic Allies.
a dispatch to the Havas Agency from
Athens. dated Wednesday. says:
According to Information received
from a Bulgarian source. the third Bull
gsrian army corps is now between
Narna con the Black sea COAST, and
Eustchuk lon the DaIube), while
Turkish army of 10000 is at Burgas
Ito the south of NarnaD. A German
army corps passed Uskup Monday GO
ing south.
The PATHS announces that Gen.
Stephanovitchs Serbian army has made
good its retreat into Albania. 1t was
10000 strong at the beginning of the
Bulgarian attack. and has been con-
tiSuously engaged. disputing the
ground inch by inch. II has saved al
most all the material belonging TO IL
and has caused the Bulgarians a loss
five times greater than II suffered il
self II IS now a complete army of
$1,000 men.
Won Mackensen at Sofia.
\ seini-oficial telegram received in
Amsterdam from Sofia. Bulgaria.
sta'es THAI Field Marshal Won Max
ensen. the German commander. arrived
AT Sofia yesterday. according to a dis
patch 10 Reuters Telegram comnapy
After visiting the German and Aus,ri-
An ministers ito Bulgaria and King
Ferdinand the field marshal returned
to headauarters
u WAS reported December 2s in nous
dispatches that Field Marshal Va,
Nacfeusen was directing preparations
FOR - powerful expedition acai,st
Egyut "'
Despite numerous difficulties. sucn as
"dlnE grounds and a mountainous
country, French aviatoTs have succeed
ed. according to an official note issued
in Paris. In Carrying on reconnaissances
about ninety-three miles into the in
terror Of the Bulgarian lines
In the month of November alone there
were no less than ffty-four reconnsis
sances, during which observations and
numerous photographs useful in stra
tesic movements We're taken Aviators
bom barded cantonmenss at Uskup. Is
tip. Kara, Hodzali. Strumnitza and pei
ric. These bombardments were very
effective.
Kings Palace Hit by Shell.
KiEg Ferdinands palace at the Blac,,
sea port of Varna was hit during the
recent Russian bomba rdment of that
Bulgarian town. but the damage was
nnimportant. says dispatch from
Athens to Reuters Telegram Company
The same Russian squadron. the cor
respondent adds bomba rded the Bull
garian port of Traks
TK,.n fr1