Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-13
Invasion of Prussia By the
Hosts of the Car Ends
Upon Short Notice
AUSTRIANS LOSE
PASS IN MOUNTAINS
Berlin Admits That the Foe
Has Secured Foothold in
Hungarian Territory

London, Feb. 12.-The Russian in
cursion into East Prussia appears
Judging from dispatches reaching
London, likely to be as short lived as
were the previous Russian raids into
this same district. Germany's SUI
perb equipment and strategic rail-
ways in this territory have enabled
her within few days to throw i'm
mense bodies of troops against the
invaders.
In the present case the German SOL
diers appear to have been rushed into
East Prussia from both Poland and in
terror points.
An official statement from Petro-
grad today makes it clear that the
Russian invasion of East Prussia is
checked and that the invaders are
retreating to their own territory.
Germany's version of the events which
brought this about has not been CIV
en-, and it Is not known whether there
has been heavy fighting or whether
the Russians are merely falling back
before the largely reinforced German
army. With the withdrawal of the
Russians, German soil will be freed
from hostile forces, except in a Sec
tion of Alsace.
Russians Win in South.
In the Carpathians the situation
looks favorable to the Russians, who
are pressing against the Austrian de-
fenses at three of the most important
mountain passes and this in spite of
the difficulties interposed by snow
blockaded roads. Berlin admits that
the Russians have entered Hungari-
an territory at several points in the
Carpathian district, but declares that
these positions were most dearly
bought. in view Of the terrible casu-
alties inflicted by Austrian artillery
and machine guns on the Russian
massed formations.
In Russian Poland the Germans
hold the belief that Russia is prepar
ing to fall back to her second line
and the Russian trench defenses in
that region will be assisted by the
flooding Of great sections of the in
tervening country.
Germany to be BIoekaded.
The London newspapers profess to
believe that the German submarine
attack on the British steamer Laertes
flying the Dutch flag will precipitate
more stringent measures against Ger.
man trade, which was promised by
Premier Asquith in speech delivered
yesterday in the house of commons.
The Daily Mail says it believes the
government will announce complete
blockade of the German coast as a
result of which all goods to Germany
by sea will be liable to seizure.
A wireless dispatch from Berlin re-
ports that an aeroplane, presumably
French, has dropped bombs in the
harbor of Flushing, which is Dutch
territory, but no news of such an oc-
currence has been received from Hol-
land.
The Balkan states evidently are fur.
thering their endeavors to reach an
amicable settlement of their disagree !
ments before entering the conflict In
this adjournment is presumed that |
Bulgaria will get material territorial
concessions from both Serbia and Ru
mania.
Prepare For Retreat.
Berlin, Feb. 1.-THE National Zei-
tung has published a dispatch from a |
correspondent on the Russian border, I
who says the Russians are employing |
thousands of laborers to strengthen !
their second line of defense.
At the fortresses of 1vangorod, Brest-
Litovsk and Kovno men are working
day and night. At Brest-Litovsk ar
have been made to flood !
the entire district, and for distance of /