Evening star., 1915-01-03
GERMANS ATTACK I.
ALONG ENT|REL|NE
Christmas Day Greeting to
Russians Intrenched on +,
Banks of RaWka River. =
RESULT is AN ADVANCE
OF THE KAISER'S FORCES
Yuletide Celebration by Soldiers in
Portion of Teuton Camp Not
Under Assault.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE 10th
GERMAN INFANTRY DIVISION OF
THE RAWkA RIVER, Poland. Decem-
Der 26, via courier to Berlin, thence
to London, January 3. 1855 a.m-"Ar-
tillery preliminaries for q general in
fantry attack will begin at noon: In
fantry attack begins at o'clock.
This was the Christmas day order tel
ephoned and signaled to the German
army on the Rawka yesterday morn
ing.
The thunder of heavy cannonade
and the rattle of infantry fire was
heard along the whole line during tho
short Christmas afternoon. The attack
resulted in slight advance of the 10th
Infantry. At one point n brigade was
thrown across the swampy valley and
succeeded in gaining "A foothold on the
other side.
But progress was slow against tho
triple row of Russian trenches in the
hills and in the woods on the east bank
of the Rawka, which position Is pro-
tected by a broad belt of swamps, in
which the Germans cannot intrench. as
the trenches fill Immediately with
water.
Hampered by Fogs.
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 bonn
bardment. 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 on the ground
and thaws keep the soil narshy. con-
,,,-r ,,,f1 hn do
which ammunition supplies must be
transported.
Under such circumstances only slow
headway can be expected in a frontal
sitions.
A few hours of sunshine yesterday
gave the German aviators their first
opportunity in week to reconnoiter
the Russian lines. One of the aviators
reported that long wagon trains were
parked in the road through the forest
near the Russian lines. This informa-
tion was conveyed to the German artil-
lery and a surprise was arranged for
the Russians. At given signal sew
eral heavy batteries opened fire on the
road The effect could not be deter
mined definitely. as the fog again set
tied before the aviator could reasceno.
The batteries had the exact range,
however and the havoc caused was
presumed to have been great. But lit
tie was heard during the day from the
Russian artillery. which is belleVed 10
be short of ammunition on this section
of the front.
Comparatively Quiet Christmsa Eve.
Although Christmas was a battle day
for the Germans, Christmas eve, which
to the Germans Is the most important
part of the Yuletide, was comparative
Iy quiet A Russian message had an.
nounced a general attack along tho
whole line for the evening. when tho
Germans were celebrating The Rus
sian attack, however. developed I'm force
only at one point-against the German
army corps to the south of this place.
where the Russians launched heavy
infantry attack well supported by ar
tillery They were beaten off and lost
heavily particularly in prisoners.
Elsewhere along the line the German
soldiers celebrated Christmas as nearly
as possible in home fashion There was
and artillery positions which did not dis
play a Christmas tree decorated with
tinsel and gay-colored candles that had
been repoSing in the soldiers knapSackS
for many weeks.
The correspondent. riding along tho
line, said scores of such trees were
exhibited by the proud soldiers.
Delay in Arrival of Gifts.
Most of the Christmas packages from
layed by the miserable roads and rap
id movements of the army. But food
tidbits, bottles of wines. nips of rum
and arrack. carefully preserved for
the celebration, came to light and
helped 20 give the real Christmas feel
ing.
The cannonade on this part of the
front ceased almost entirely at dusk.
Far and near could be heard the rough
soldiers voices joining in the Christ.
mas anthem, Holy Night. Peaceful
Night" Christmas carols were heard
from the Russian lines, too. at ono
point, probably from the Polish SOL
diers. as the Russian Christmas Is
thirteen days later.
At the division staff headquarters q
large tree was set up in the dining
room of a country house. The division
commander made a brief address to
his staff and simple presents, which
had been collected with difficulty, were
distributed to the enlisted men.