, 1915-01-20

munlque says: "Our troops we're successful
in a sudden attack made with the object OF
overwhelming the trenches recently con
structed by the Germans northeast of Eau
uuescourt, north of Roye, in the Department
of Somlne. The attacks Of the enemy in the
region north OF S ,issons have been stopped.
The flooding OF The Aisne, which destroyed
several Of our bridges, rendered very preca-
rious the communications Of oar troops ope-
rating on the first slopes on the right bank.
We were thus prevented from senliug them
feenforcempnts, aud this was the chief cause
of the withdrawal of those troops while
fighting under difficulties. We were obliged
to NbNutOH several cannon, as the result OF
the breaking down of Il bridge, but we rem
dered all of them unfit for use. The Ger
mans made prisoners particularly OF wound
ell men whom III the Withdrawal movement
we We're unable to take with us. On our
side we made a number Of important prison
ors, mot wounded, belonging to seven dtffe-
rent regiments. The success is a partial one
for our adyersaries and has not influenced
the operations us il whole, in fact, by the
reason of the obstacle presented by the Aisne
and the dispositions which we have taken,
the enemy will be unable to utilize the south
side OF the river. The success is therefore
purely Of u local character"
A Petrograd official bulletin states "On
Thursday we made progress on the right
bank OF the lower Vistula, oWr troops chang
ing positions in u manner favourable to Them,
and the cavalry of the enemy operating
IN this region was ~repulsed, leaving Serpetz
III the possession of our vanguard. On
our other fronts nothing occurred other
tEan sklrmishes and artillery duels, but our
accommodating parties We're active. On the
left buuk Of the VistQla isolated German
attacks were easily repealed by our fire On
various portions of the Austrian front the
enemy tried to lombard our position with
heavy guns, but the efficient fire of our
batteries soon silenced the Austrian artil-
lery. In order to avoid u false understands
ing of our operations at Azorbnljan during
the last few days, the General Staff of the
Caucasus Army deems it eXpedient to give
the following explanation: "From the be-
ginning of decisive action in the principal
region of this theatre 1t appeared necessary
to re group our troops, and in accordance
with this decision we proceeded III Acrobat
jan to concentrate Our troops ut certain
places, which demanded the evacuation OF
several points occupied previously. This re-
arrangement Of our forces was not under
pressure from the enemy, but was in accord
auC6 Will a. Sp6C4dllS u6FlSeu pun. DulluS
this operation 40 important action took
place, except an engagement which our adj
vance guard had near Miadoab. and thus we
did not evacuate Azerbaijan, but adopted
changes in our position answering better to
the new Development"
London, Jan. 16th--The ''Dady Tele-
graph" in a leading article says it is clearly
manifest that the recent earthquake was
more widespread than any experienced in
Italy in modern times, and that there are
ominous signs that the worst is not yet
known, and that restored communications
will reveal fearful desolation and loss of
life, especially in the southern section
between Naples and Brindisi. The great
est single addition to the reports yet
received comes from Rome, where the
destruction was enormous, fifty palaces
and churches being among the buildings
damaged. The Observatory, which was re-
garded as immune even to catastrophe shocks,
is included in the damaged structures. At
the Pope's Cathedral of st. John the Lqteran,
one of the gigantic statues of the disciples
that cross the facade crashed to the steps,
killing a. worshippor who was departing.
mn. ,A,wo ,r,, 4I,k - T,7o~ Troom;,I