Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-05-15
General Macenzen's Ad vance Guards Chase Rus
 sians Into Fortress.
FRENCH PROGRESS
 IN WEDGE DRIVE
General JOffre's Strategy, If Success. full, Will Open Wide Gap in German Line and Force Their Falling Back
 on Extensive Front.

 drive, of the Austro-G German marines under General von Macenzen through western Galicia continues unstemmed, according to advices from Vienna and Berlin yesterday.
 From being the besiegers of Przemysl, the Russians now have turned to it's defense, an official state ment issued in Berlin says.
 In this statement, the German war office claims that the forces under Macenzen have pushed their pursuit of the Russian corps, defeated, to the east of Cracow, until now their ad- vance guards are before the great dered last March, after siege of more than six months.
 The Russians also are in retreat from their positions at Thielce, Inow- lodz and along the Pilica river, ac- cording to the Berlin statement. They are said to be falling back hastily to- ward the east.
 The Russians, it is reported, are de- velOping counter strokes, but these have not yet developed to a point where military men are willing to commit themselves on a prediction as to their success.
 Russians Explain Retreat. The Russian official statement is- sued in Petrograd last night, practic- ally admits the German claims of an advance upon Przemysl. The czar's war office explains that the Russians have fallen back to the river San, upon which Przemysl is situated, with the object of shortening their front. Petrograd claims very considera- ble success for the Russian offensive in the extreme southeast, asserting that the Austrians on Tuesday evacu- ated strongly fortified position ex- tending from Bistritcz to the Rouman- ian frontier, and fell back percepti- I bly beyond the river Pruth. The Russians, it is stated, are in full pur- suit.
 The Russians also claim successes in the north in the direction of Chav- 1 Ii.
 Allies Gain in West. Tn the west. however, the allies appear to be having the best Of the ! fighting. especially to the north o1 I Arras. where the French midnight of- ficial communique claims further progress has been made. l. The weather in this section fof the | last day has been distinctly unfav- orable. Heavy rains have fallen which have rendered the condition o1 the ground difficult.
 Despite these handicaps, the Fiencn claim to have pressed their gains tc an appreciable extent, occupying strong German trench southwest 'ol Angres. on the Aix-Noulettes-Souche2 road. capturing additional positions m the eastern and northern slopes of the Loretta hills. and occupylne more houses in the village of Nouvelle St. Vast.
 Berlin, regarding this fighting, con. tents itself with the assertion tna' the day was comparatively quiet Ine fighting in the Loretta hills, 1t fur' +her states. is unimportant.
 ' French Driving Wedge. The French hope by driving .s | wedge through he German nne II th;s section, to open consplcuou' , oan a development which will neces' s;tate the falling back of the Germans o, Q wide front. While to the nortl ofIaRassee the British are kept pret' tv well engaged on the defensive tbev are keeping large numbers o cormans engaged who otnerWls' would he available against the f'rencl offensive.