Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-01-02
Latest War News 10 Date.

| Uldue udIlHE dildth NnIlSluldS lay
on the German naval base at Cux-
haven, at the mouth of the Elbe Six
of the airmen returned safely, but the
seventh, Commander Hewlett. it is
thought has been lost, as his machine
was found wrecked off Helgoland
What damage was done by the
bombs thrown by the attacking party
could not be ascertained, but the Ger
man report of the affair says that the
raid was fruitless.
The enterprise of the British navy
| in thus attempting TO dig OUT the
| German fleet brought about a battle
| between the most modern of war ma
chimes. The British squadron, includ-
| ing the light cruisers Arethusa and
Undaunted, which have been engaged
in previous exploits on the German
coast, was attacked by Zeppelns. sea
planes and submarines.
BY rapid maneuvering the ships
were able TO avoid the submarines.
while the Zeppelins found the fire Of
the cruisers too dangerous for them
to keep up the fight The German
seaplanes dropped bombs, which, ac-
cording to the British account, fell
| harmlessly into the sea.
The Germans. however, claim to
have hit two destroyers and their con-
voy. the latter being set Attire.
Dit -h ;y, no
vicinity for three hours without being
attacked by any surface warships and
picked up three of the seven pilots
and their planes. Three others were
picked up by submarines, but their
machines were sunk. Commander
Hewlett, it is thought. was drowned.
Neither the AustroGerman often
sive operations against the Russians
nor the allies attacks upon the Ger
man lines in the west have made any
appreciate progress, although the
fighting continues along the greater
part of the two fronts with undated
intensity. In both cases the attack
ing armies appear to have run full
tilt against what seems to be almost
impenetrable lines.
The Germans in their official report
announce that they have ceased their
attacks on the BZura river, which,
with the Russian masses behind il,
stands across their direct path to War
saw. They are now trying to find a
way to the Polish capital along the
course to the Plica river, which is a
considerable distance south of War
saw.
Fog has interfered with the battles
in Flanders, but along the French
front the Germans have been deliver
ing fierce cOunter-attacks in an effort
to throw off the pressure which the
allies are eXerting., In these. as in
the attacks of the allies which pre-
ceded them, the losses on both sides
have been considerable, but naturally
heavier on the side which has been al
lacking.
The slowness of the allies progress
is explained in London as being due
to the refusal of the general staff to
sacrifice a great number of soldiers.
According to information from Con
stantinople, the Turks, under advice
of the Germans, are fortifying the
shores of their territory in the Gulf
of Saros and on the Sea of Marmora,
indicating that they expect visits from
the allied fleets.
Venezuela has proposed formally to
all the neutral governments of Europe
and Asia, as well as the two Americas,
that a conference be held in Washing
ton to revise or supplement the rules
of international law respecting the
rights of neutrals in the present war;
The plan provides that the govern
ing board of the Pan-American Union,
consisting of the diplomatic represen-
tatives of all the American republics,
should draft a program for the con-
ference or congress.
The United States government has
heard of reports from Germany that
American consults originally accredit-
ed to Belgium would be required to
obtain new exequaturs or certificates
of authority. Until such a notice is
communicated and its form is exam
ined. high officials said the American
government would be unable to deter
mine a course of action.
German aviators made another at
:empt to drop bombs on British port
Friday.
Like the attempt against Dover,
that of Friday, which was directed
against Sheerness, was unsuccessful.
An aeroplane crossed the channel,
according TO the official report, and
sailing high, flew over Sheerness.
British air craft went in pursuit. and.
says one dispatch. engaged the enemy
for a quarter of an hour before thou
sands of spectators. The invaders
finally disappeared in the mist, hav-
ing been hit several times.