Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-02
Desperate Effort Is Being
Made to Stop Advance
of the Germans
STUBBORN BATTLE
ALONG WHOLE LINE
Claims About Fighting in
Western Fields Are
Very Contradictory

German line in France apparently
Is under way In the Champagne
region, and although no definite
results have been achieved, bat
tie of considerable Importance Is
developing. Attacks Of the allies
along this section of the front
have been proceeding tentatively
for several days but the communl-
cation from the German war office
today indicates that an assault In
force has now been launched. 1t
is said that at least two army
corps Of French were engaged and
that they were repulsed after
fierce fighting at close quarters.
In the Argonne, Berlin reports,
the French made five efforts to
break through the German POSI-
tions, being thrust back In each
instance. The French statement
asserts that the allies made slight
progress in the vosaes.
In the house of commons Prem
Ier Asquith announced that at no
time previously had the British
government been more confident
that the allies would achieve VIC
tory.
London, March Interest In the
fighting along the eastern battle front
has been DETECTED for the moment
from the Carpathians to the north OF
Poland, where the Russians appear
to be making desperate effort to re-
gain the ground Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg won when he threw them
back from East Prussia. Consequent
ly, the stubborn struggle continues on
the line from the Bobr to the Narew,
where Grand Duke Nicholas has yet
to establish his ascendancy.
Vienna reports a violent engage
ment in Bukowina without saying any
thing about the outcome, while Petro-
grad claims to have checked the Aus
tro-German advance in this region.
In the west. interest is centering on
the fighting in the Champagne re-
gion, where fierce attacks and coun-
ter attacks have marked the opera
tions of the last week. Berlin claims
to have repulsed the continued French
advances in this region, while Paris
asserts the French troops have been
successful in making progress and re-
pulsing the German counter attacks.
Paris claims also the capture of 1000
yards of trenches to the northwest and
uorth of Eeauzjour.
Rumania MobIIizIng.
The Rumanian minister of the in
terror is credited with the statement
that a representative Of his country
has made a formal agreement with
Great Britain. France and Russia for
entering the war with them. Buchar.
est advices say that ten classes of Ru-
manian reserves have been called out
for March 13. 1t has been expected
that should .Rumania enter the war
she would do so in the hope of enlarg-
ing her territory at the expense OF
Austria. and with the particular OBJ
ject of obtaining Pennsylvania, which
is populated largely by Rumanians.
Russians Claim Success.
A semi-official statement from Pet
rograd deals with the Russian often.
sive movement in north Poland, near
the Prussian border where, it is said,
the Germans are being pushed back
steadily The fighting in this region
is severe, possession OF villages pass
ing back and forth from one side to
the other. but appreciable progress
each day Is claimed for the Russians.
In eastern Galicia, at the other end OF
the Russian front, the Austrians are
reported to have suffered reverses.
These claims, however, have not been
borne out from eithor Berlin or Wen
ma.
The great Anglo-French fleet is still
smashing at the Dardanelles fortifca-
tions. Although Constantinople ad'
mits that some of the forts have felt
the effects of the bombardment, it has
not confirmed the statements OF the
British admiralty concerning the re-
duction of the outer defenses. A large
force of Turkish troops is said to have
been assembled on the isthmus to op-
pose any attempts of landing parties
to advance on Constantinople.
AATCAC nCEG I'M