Evening star., 1915-01-20
WESTERN FRONT CLASHES
OF MINOR CONSEQUENCE
Allies Apparently Forced to the De-
fensive After Making Consid-
cradle Progress in Alsace.
CHECK GERMANS IN POLAND
Petrograd Reports Russian Forces
Have Taken the Offensive and
Are Advancing Toward
East Prussia.

LIN NDo->, ldiludiy ~, 10
p.m.-Military critics are dis
posed to regard today's lack of
news from the battle fronts as
indicating important operations
now under way or about to begin.
1t has been demonstrated in the
past that the war Offices in Paris,
Berlin and Petrograd are less
communicative on the eve of vital
happenings.
French and German Claims.
Absolute quiet on some parts Of the
battle line in France. artillery engage
ments of greater or less severity at
others and spirited infantry encount-
ers at still other places are set
forth in the official announcement given
out by the French war office in Paris
this. afternoon None of the engage
great importance.
The German official statement on the
progress of the war. issued in Berlin
this afternoon. claims minor successes
at several points, notably at Notre
Dame de Lorette and in the Argonne,
where 500 yards have been gained. In
the forest north Of Sennheim the Ger
man advance. ii says. has been satis-
factory. At other points on the line
there have been TIA Ae.sasaassvA's
(ery exchanges.
Allies Checked in Alsace.
In Alsace, where the allies were MAX
ing progress until checked recently by
the arrival of German reinforcements.
they now apparently are on the defen-
sive. The official statement from Bef-
lin today says that the Germans have
captured the town Of Airzstein, north
Of Sennheim.
A further advance in the Argonne,
also, is reported, but this Is disputed
in the French statement. which asserts
that the allies. although compelled.
temporarily. to evacuate certain posi-
tious, later recaptured them. Else
where along the western front only
minor actions. principally artillery en-
gagements. occurred yesterday.
Fighting Along the Vistula.
An official Russian statement today
describes a series Of actions along the
Nistula, northwest of Warsaw, during
january II and IS. In three of these
engagements. it is said. the Russians
won the advantage. twice silencing
herman batteries and on ano her occa-
sion repulsing an attack with heavy
loss to the Germans.
Two victories over the British forces
operating near the head of the Per-
ian gulf are claimed by the Turkish
war office. IN statement Issue at
,onstantinople. 1t is asserted that the
British attempted a surprise attack on
the Turks. but were repulsed with the
loss of 100 killed and wounded. In a
cavalry engagement near the junction
Df the Tigris and Euphrates rivers the
British are reported to have with
irawn after heavy losses
Germans on Defensive.
PETROGRAD. January 20. via Lon
don. a:O4 p.m.-Along a sixtymile front
krom 'Ciechanow to the south Of Mlawa,
To- Dobrzyn, on the Vistula, twelve
miles below Plock, the Germans are on
he defensive against the Russian ad-
nance toward East Prussia. During
he last three days heavy artillery en-
Kagements have occurred at various
points along this line.
Meanwhile the struggle is in prog
ess for possession of the left bank of
khe Vistula from its junction with the
Tszura at Wiszogrod westward to Do
brzyn. a distance of approximately
rorty-h miles. Possession by the
Russians of Dtszgorod and their foot
ng on the left bank of the BZura in
hat vicinity affords them a base for
heir operations against the Germans
who are in force to the west of that
position. and effectualiy prevents a
movement upon Nowo Georglewsk
~ hich has been the German objective
,n the advance toward Warsaw from
Inc north
Ordered to Quit Cracow.-
GENEVA. via Paris. January 20
dispatches from Budapest state that
he. governor of Cracow has ordered
The partial evacuation from the city
nd it's suburbs of women. children and
non unfit for military service They
ave been given forty eight hours tc
cave The men over military age. bu,
bo arc still active, have been form ed
TO "A civic guard. The banks hay,
been transferred to Vienna. Provisions
n all kinds. 1t is stated, are scarce ir
racow.
The Austrian war office has ISSUED
an order calling out all of the land
e,urm men up to and including thos.
ged sixty. The order applies through.