The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
Most Gigantic Offensive Op- erations Yet Attempted on Eastern Front Are Now Under Way
WEST FRONT QUIET
 AS TEUTONS ATTEMPT
 TO CRUSH RUSSIANS
Both Germans and Aus trians Claim Progress, But Main Forces Have Not Yet Clashed

London. July I6.-Ci0i3o D. m.)
 The Austro- German armies, which
 now appear to he working in per
 feet concert as the result of the
 German organization. are giving
 the Russians little rest or time to
 reorEanixc after their retreat
 from GsIicis.
 Simultaneously with the German
 effort to reach Warsaw, the Aus
 triHns have attacked along the
 Dniester and have crossed that
 river at several points.
 General Von Mack kenzen's army. which doubtless had been waiting for Field Marshal Von HindenburE to move in the north, also has come to life in southern Poland
 In fact there Is fighting of more or less severity all along tha Rus sian front except in central Poland, where the Russians are in such strong positions that in the opinion of mil itary mon 1t would be impossible to break through
 Claim Further Progress
 The Germans claim further progress In their northern operations but with the Russians retiring it is not likely that the main forces have clashed as yet. The combined operations are the most gigantic yet undertaken, the aim being, according 10 military experts, to squeeze the Russians out of War saw and the great slice of country which they hold to the north. south and east of that city, and at the same time to attempt an invasion of Bes- sarahia.
 Sc long as this effort to crush Rus sia or to break her power of offen- slve continues there Is little possi- bility, military writers say of the Ger mans attempting any important move mont in the west. for it Is believed that the Austro- Germans will for a long while require all their available troops in the east Four German army corps, composed of Pomeranians and men from Schleswig, are said to have left Thorn to reinforce General Von IIindenbury
 The Ger1an crown prince did try to break through the French lines In the Atgonpo, but it Is the opinion of mil itary experts that his intention was simply to weaken the French hold on Verdun A German official statement claims that one result of this offen- sive wds the capture of 1000 French soldiers in three weeks On the other hand, the French claim to have re- gained most of the ground they had been forced to give up and which they state cid not exceed 100 yards in depth British critics describe the ef- fort of the crown prince as a costly and partially successful advance. fol- lowed by a counter offensive which definitely checked his progress.
 Fighting in Lorraine
 Fighting is now in progress on the Lorraiao frontier and in Artois. where the French continue their attempt to capture Souchoz.
 Further progress is unofficially re- ported from Athens to have been made by the allies on the Gallipoli penin- sula in the Dardanelles campaign and as the dispatches were generally ahead of the official reports this statement Is credited nere.
 More important Is the news that Roumania has declined to accede to Germanvs demand that Roumania all low munitions to pass through that country for Turkey
 The Grterte allies announce vic tory in Africa, where they captured Ngaundere an important trading cen-
 Continued on Page seven.)