The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-01
Russians Push Offensive

iC iNuSSioiS hic PuSHihe thtii ct- fensive in East Prussia, while the Ger. mans continue their attack in central Poland. These operations, however, are secondary to the battle in the Car pathians, the outcome of which is likely to have a marked effect on fu- ture operations of the war.
 The Russians again have the Turks in the Sari Kamysh region, where they crossed a mountain during a snow storm and after heavy fighting captured the commanding general and his staff of the Thirtieth Turkish division and a large quantity of war material. To add to the Turkish difficulties the Russian Black sea fleet has bombarded the Turk . ish barracks at Trebizond and Rizah, besides sinking several Turkish sailing vessels used as transports.
 Except in the neighoborhood of La Bassee and in the -Areonne, where the Germans have resumed their attacks artillery has been the only arm engaged on the western front. The Germans again claim to have completed some trenches near La Bassee, while the French say that the British have re- occupied all the ground they tempor- arily had lost At that place the official British eye witness in description of the battle of January 25, says that after desperate hand to hand fighting the Germans were driven out and suffered severe losses.
 Germans Still Fighting
 Notwithstanding this, it is eviden. that the Germans still are bent on breaking the lines that guard the French coast ports. as dispatches com ing by way of Holland say they are gathering another fresh army for an attack on the Yser line
 In addition to the preparations they are carrying out in many parts of the African continent, the British face a rising of the natives of Nyasaland where three settlers have been killed The situation is now we'll in hand, ac- cording to official information.
 The appearance of the German sub marine raider. U-21, in the Irish sea- where she sank three small steamers has caused a f1utter in shipping cir cles. All the faster steamers, however, have been able to elude her, and, as it is believed she has returned to her base traffic between Ireland and England has been resumed
 Eyewitness Talks
 Our men in many cases fought with bayonets and even knocked out many Germans with their fists in the Yser battle. A story is told of one man who broke into house held by eight Ger mans. bayoneted four and captured the rest while he continued to suck at his clay pipe,' says the official eyewitness with the British expedi- tionary force describing the battle of January 25, when the Germans at- tackled the British north and south of La Bassee canal and captured some trenches, which the French official re- port today says have been retalScn.
 "The battle which commenced early in the morning was preceded by the usual artillery duel.
 At 5 o'clock in the morning." gays the eyewitness, "the Germans assault ed the British and Frensh south of the canal and at one point penetrated our lines. About the same time they at tackled Givenchy. north of the canal. and. passing over our front trenches temporarily gained foothold in the place. But as their infantry surged forward our men met them with cold steel killing 100 with the bayonet.
 Fight at Close Quarters
 "The fighting then proceeded for some hours at close quarters, hut by noon we had reoccupied the whole of cur original trenches around the vil- lage. The Germans showed the utmost determination, delivering no less :han five attacks on the northeast corner of Givenchy. Their losses were heavy. several scattered bodies which had penetrated our line being killed prac- tically to a man. Our casualties were comparatively light.
 Meanwhile. on the south of the canal the struggle was contested fiercely throughout the day. The Ger mans advancing along the main road were caught by our machine guns and left the ground filtered with dead, to the estimated number of 300. As they came along the railway embankment they also were subjected to machine gun fire and suffered greatly. But, as has been said. they penetrated our line at one point.
 Made Counter Attack
 By counter attack, however. un : dertaken about 1 D. m. in cooperation with the French, the allies drove them back. Though we did not win back our original position we established our selves in a fresh line close behilsd 1t.
 "A great part of the area where
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