Evening star., 1915-04-14
PRECIPITATE RETREAT
OF AUSTRIANS CLAIMED
Russians Said to Have Captured
Austrian Positions at Mezolaborcz.
Deemed Impregnable.
CHECK FOR sLAvS CLAIMED
Reports Of Advances for Cars
Troops Contradict Vienna's
Assertion That Enemy Has
Been Held.

LONDON, April 14.-The
struggle for the last of the Car
pathian passes remaining in the
hands of the Germanic allies still
holds the center of the war stage.
In London the critical importance
of the series of fierce battles be-
ing waged along the eastern front
from Bartfeld to Bukowina is so
fully recognized that the activi-
ties in other fields appear relative
ly of minor importance.
In a desperate attack by the
Russians on the right flank of the
Austrian position at Mezolaborcz.
on the Hungarian side of the East
Beskid mountains and about fifty
miles south of Peremysl, the Aus
trians were forced after a twelve
hour battle to make a precipitate
retreat. The whole main crest in
this district, which the Austrians
considered to be impregnable,
now is in Russian hands.
Austrians Report Check.
Each side is making claims Of sue
cess in the general fighting. The Aus
trians assert that the Muscovite in
vaders have been held in check since
March 20. but an official statement
from Petrograd declares that fighting
is in progress more than fourteen
miles to the south of Dukla pass. which
| would indicate considerable Russian
advance In the direction of the Hun
1 garian plains.
The Teutonic forces still hold Uzsok
pass, and continue their ceaseless
| counter attacks, but last night the
Russians announced the capture OF
three more heights within four or five
miles Of that vital gateway.
Make Stubborn Contest.
| According to latest advioes from
Petrograd, Austro-German forces which
still hold isolated submits of the Car
pathians are contesting stubbornIy
| every foot of the Russian advance
| along tho front from Bartfeld to Stry.
| This front runs almost due east and
west for lis miles. Bartfeld is in
northern Hungary. and Stry in east
ern Galicia. to the south of Lemberg
Attacks and counter attacks follow
| with such rapidity that both sides
may be said to be taking the offensive
| simultaneously The shocks are re-
sulting in unusually heavy casualties.
with only a slight change In the COM
parative positions of the opposing
forces.
Uzsok Held by Austrians.
Uzsok. near the pass of that name.
still remains in the possession of the
Austrians. but the Russians have cap
tured the height to the northward.
coming within three mifcs Of the rail-
road station. and their occupation of
the town itself is expected. The Aus
trians are vigorously repeating their
efforts to penetrate from Bukowina
into Russian territory in the direction
of Chotin. The Russians characterize
| this move as device on the part OF
the Austrians for drawing Russian
troops from the Carpathians They as
sert that the Austrians have been un-
able to bring up sufficient reinforce
ments to check the Russian advance.
and that the only alternative for the
Austrians Is to divert part of the Rus
sian forces in other directions.
Small Battles Daily.
To the north in the district along the
Prussian frontier there are no move
ments of first importance. Small bat
ties are a daily occurrence in the Ma
riampol district. The Germans have
occupied fortified positions from Ma
riampol to Suwalki since their unsuc-
cessful invasion of a month ago. The
Russians are attempting persistently to
oust the Germans from this region The
Szeszupa river, flowing northward from
Mariampol, forms strong protection
for the German left wing.
The Germans are attempting to un-
dertake an offensive movement at sew
eraI points along the Narew river, but
are avoiding battle in the district be-
yond the Niemen. where the miry con-
dition Of the ground makes maneuvers
difficult.
Germans Make Sorties.
The Germans are making occasional
sorties farther to the south. presum-
ably for the purpose of relieving the
pressure in the Marfampol-Suwaiki
district. They have attacked the town
of Chafranka. on the Skwa river. fif-
teen miles north Of Ostralenka. At
Evabno a persistent artillery battle 10
in progress.
The Russians are pressing the Ger
mans on both sides of Ossowetz. which
is again under heavy fire of German
howitzers. Efforts to destroy the
bridges over the Bobr river opposite
the fortress, by the use of infiam-
mable RATS, were frustrated by Rus
sian artillery hre.
Campaign in the West.
In the western arena Of the war the
allies have done little in the last two
or three days beyond the consolida-
ton of the positions now in their hands
preparatory to another sfott - Dust