Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-11
Roumania Thought Ready to Join
Allies, While Greece and Italy
Grow Weary of Porte'S
Conduct.
TURK EXAsPERATEs THEM
Whole Eastern Battle Area Sea of
Mud, Making Operations
Impossible.
SNOW is OFF THE -cARPATH1ANs

LONDON, Jan. 9.-Should Rou-
mania, now that the Russians are on
the border Of, IL not actually in,
Transylvania decide to participate in
the war on the side of the allies, its
army will provide the missing link
in the chain of troops winding from
the Baltic to the Adriatic, distance,
roughly. OF 1900 miles. This battle
line would be composed Of Russians,
Roumanlans, Servians and Monte
negrins on the one side and Germans
and Austro-Hungarians on the other.
While Roumania has not taken the fate
ful step. the belief exists in the countries
OF the allies that II soon will do so.
Other developments are expected. The
relations between Greece and Turkey
have reached the breaking point over the
alleged ill-treatment of Greeks In Asia
Minor.
Italy Restless.
Italy Is growing restless over Turkeys
delay in giving satisfaction for the vio-
lation of the Italian consulate at Hodeida.
from which the British consul, who sought
iNhNsN NuNANt was AOiNluiy ItHhONtus
Italy. also, It is reported, has agreed
that servia should be granted a port in
the Adriatic. Roumania and Greece, it
Is thought. however, may delay taking
up arms until Bulgaria. which is anxious
for a part Of Macedonia is satisfied or
the last efforts fail TO satisfy that coun-
try. which is at present maintaining its
neutrality. for a hostile Bulgaria on their
borders would compel them to divide
their forces
Develop New Offensive.
While there are no reports of startling
developments on the battiefields. there
are extremely important operations now
In progress In both east and west The
Germans. simultaneously with the re-
newal OF their attacks on the left bank
OF the Vistula. are developing new Of
fenslve from the direction of Mlawa, on
the east Prussian frontier which the
Russians are attempting to counter.
Some Of the German attacks on the
Russian line which runs along the Bzura
and Rawka rivers and thence southwark
TO opoczno and along the Nida TO
opatowiec on the lower vistula, have
been particularly severe. but according
to tho Russian report. all have been re-
pulsed.
The thaw, which has set In in southern
Poland and Galiacls. has covered the
country into sea Of mud and even
cleared the snow from the Carpathians. so
that fighting in this region is impos-
sible.
Advance of French.
The French. after a heavy lombard
ment OF the German position between the
oise and the western end OF the Argonne,
and after suffering several repulses, have
advanced their fronts at several points,
particularly to the east OF Rheims, whore
their progress has been slow but steady.
In eastern Argonne the Germans have
been making a similar advance.
The progress which tho French again
report In the vicinity Of Flirey, in the
Woevre district. Is of particular i'm
portance. for should It continue they will
cut the road which links ST. MiheI with
Metz and may compel the Germans to
evaeuate 81 Mihel, which they gained
long ago at great cost. The Germans
have sent reinforcements to Alsace.
where the French advance has Threatened
to cut off Muelhausen from the rest OF
the German line. and have occupied
Burrihaupt-Le-Haut