The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-20
ENGLISH TROOPS
GAIN IN FRANCE
Advance of ee-Quarters of
a Mile is Officially
Announced.
HARD FIGHTING IN THE EAST
Conflict RACES in Northern Poland as
Germans Fall Back in One Place
Only to Advance in Another
Bring Up More Guns.

London, March 12.-British forces in
France advanced three-quarters 'of q
mile yesterday, capturing all the inter
vening positions of the enemy, accord
ing to an official announcement given
out in London today.
OF this victory in northern France
there is no news beyond the official
reports. 1t is believed that while no
great amount of ground has been cap
tured, the improvement in the British
position brought about by it is of the
greatest importance, and if pressed
further might compel the Germans to
evacuate La Bassee and perhaps other
poin<s, which make their line so strong
at present.
Bombs Destroy Railroad.
Equally important was the success
achieved by British airmen in destroy
ing the railway functions at Menin and
courtrai. These are on one of the Ger
man main lines of communication, and
their destruction will delay the arrival
of new cOntingents of troops, which
are reported to be again concentrat-
ing in Belgium for another attempt to
break through to Calais and Boulogne.
According to Dutch reports these
troops have brought with them a large
number of boats for the passage of
the canal and rivers, and for the first
time in months they include cavalry
units.
Hard Fighting in East.
These, however, are small affairs in
comparison with the battles which are
in progress in North Poland between
the Niemen and Vistula rivers. The
Germans apparently are falling back
in the North, but are fighting a rear
guard action, which has reached the
importance of pitched battle, and are
taking a few prisoners with them.
The Germans are again in Angus
towo forest, on the East Prussian Dor
der, which has been the burial place
of so many German and Russian sol
diers The Germans have brought up
more guns, but of a lighter calibre, to
lombard Ossowetz, while further to
the south in the neighborhood of o.
trolenka, they claim to have defeated
the Russians. The battle on the roads
from KhorjeIe to Pryasnysz, along
which the Germans hope to reach and
pierce the Russian fortress line, still
continue.
New Battle in Poland.
London, March 11-Balked at other
points, the Germans are making an
other attempt to break through the
Russian line of fortresses in Northern
Poland. They are advancing from
Khorjele, on the East Prussian from
tier, along the Orzyc river and by the
roads leading southwark to Przasnysz.
This is one Of the routes the Germans
took in their great rush from East
Prussia in February, which finally end
ed in their defeat at PrZasnysz.
For their new attempt they have
brought up troops which have been op-
Grating in the region of Grodno and
some of the new army which has been
training since the outbreak of the war
in the interior Of Germany. The point
selected for the attack is the most
favorable along the East Prussian
front. for the splendid railway system
can bring troops and their supplies to
the border, from which good roads lead
to PrZasnysz.
A big battle is developing in this
region, while one of almost equal i'm
poFtance is in progress farther north
in the region of Suwalki, where the
Russians have pressed the Germans
back to their own border.
Russians Holding Own.
The Russians appear to have coun-
tered successfully the German often
sfve on the Pilica river, and in the Car
pathians they are withstanding con-
tinued attacks along the whole front.
In the western war zone the fighting
as for many weeks past, has been con-
fined to the Champagne region, the Ar
come and the Vosges, although there
has been an occasional skirmish north
Of Arras. The Germans in a long re-
port issued today say the French Of
fensive in the Champagne has been
fruitless, which is at variance with the
French reports of almost daily prog
ress.
Wreck 80 DardaneIIes Guns.
A Central News dispatch from
Athens says in the bombardment Of
the Dardanelles on Monday thirty
guns, mounted on motor trucks, were