New Britain herald., 1915-04-08
Russians Pushing Forward Rapidly lH Capahians- Capture SmolRk;;
 Read to Hungary Open.
BATTLE ON WESTERN FRONT
 OF PARTICULAR SEVERITY

and Forty eight Others Wounded
 By Bombs Dropped on Podgoritza,
 Montenegro By Austrian Aviators--
 5,95O,OOO Men Lost During First
 Eight Months of War.
 Russian troops are pushing for ward rapidly in the Carpathians and it is reported from Petrograd that the road to the plains of Hungary now lies open before them. According to this information, the Russians have cap tured Smolnii1, east of Lupkow Pass. and have driven wedge between the western and eastern wings of the Austrian army in the Beskids, plac- ing the eastern wing in precarious position.
 Both the French and German off, cial statements show that the new bat tie in the region between the Mouse and the Moselle has developd into d struggle of particular severity. Allies Maintain Advance.
 The Paris announcement says that the gains made heretofore by the ai- lies have been maintained in the face of violent counter attacks in which the Germans suffered enormous losses.
 The German account of this fight ing mentions French attacks at eight. points and asserts that all were re- pulsed. It says also that the losses or the French were very heavy.
 It is announced officially at Cairo that a small Turkish force is still in the vicinity of the Suez Canal A sllirmish occurred near the canal yes terday with no casualties on either side. It is said that there are no large bodies of Turks in that vicinity.
 Austria Seeking Peace. S
 The Austrian correspondent of a Turiil newspaper telegraphs that he has reliable information that there is a basis for the reports that Austria is seeking peace with the triple en- tente powers, the better to deal with Italy. Semi-official negotiations, he says, have been begun.
 The losses of men during the first six months of the war are estimated by the military expert of Rome newspaper at 5,95O,00o. The cost of the war in that period is placed at $S,400 million.
 Preparing Combined Attack.
 General Pau of the French army, who has reached Naples on his way from Petrograd and the Balkan capi- taIs, corroborated the reports that the allies are preparing for a combined land and sea attack on the Darda- nelles. When this attack is made, the general says, the Turkish fortifica- tions must fall. fA
 Austrian aviators dropped seven bombs yesterday on Podgoritza, Mont enegro. A Cettinje despatch says that twelve women and children were killed and forty y-eight other persons wounded #...
 Russians Capture Smolnik.
 Petrograd, April s, 12 noon, via London, 2:30 D. m.-The advance of the Russians in the Carpathians has gut the Austrian army under General Boerovitch in two places. The east ern wing of this army is in pre- carious position. Ea..
 The Russians have ca ptured Smol- nix, east of Lupkow Pass. The Rus sians have also thrown back the Aus tlians in the district of Bartfeld and in the district of Lupkow. Having advanced through the Rostock Pass. they have forced wedge between the Austrian armies.
 Sinoinik controls the only road through the Beskid Mountains be- tween ATezolaborcz and Uzsok, a dis lance of 60 miles.
 French Official Statement.
 Paris, April s, via London, 2:20 P. m,-2ha French War office this after room gave out a report on the prog rcs3 of tke fighting, which reads as follows:
 Tn Belgium the day was marked by artillery engagements.
 'In the valley of the Aisne and the district to the east of Rheims our ef- forts, in spite of the abnormally bad weather, continued with great activ- lty, and we have maintained our gains between the Mouse and the Moselle In their entirety, while at the same time we are proceeding to mako fur ther progress.
 "In the BruIe Forest we captured a German trench, at the same time taking large number of prisoners in this section of the front This was reported last night
 Allies Maintain Advance.
 "The rains of the last few days have soaked through the clay soil of the Woevre to a great depth, rendering difficult the m ovements of artillery and preventing the explosion of shells Our troops have consolidated the
 (Ccntinued on Eleventh Page.)