Evening star., 1915-03-13
BATTLE OF PRZASNYSZ
IN ITS EARLY STAGES
Teutons Claim Russians Have Be-
treated From Augustowo
Region to Grodno. 3
ARMIES ARE FIGHTING ON ICE
Austrians Dislodged From Fortified
Points at Lupkow and Smolnik.
Carpathian Engagements
Bitter.

LONDON. March I,.-lil the
east the battle OF Przasnysz, now
in its opening stages, and in the
west the operations around La
Bassee. where the Germans are
massing troops in an endeavor 10
regain the ground recently taken
by British and Indian contin-
gents. are expected to develop
into events OF military importance
during the coming week. Battles
also are raging in the Carpa
thians.
Attempts on the part OF Ger
man forces to recapture the vii
lage OF Neuve Chapelle have
failed in the face Of superior Brit
ish forces, according to todays
announcement from Berlin, al
though it is declared that to the
south OF Ypres Isolated British
attacks have been repulsed.
Gen. French Claims Progress.
Gen. Sir John French. commander -in-
chief of the British forces on the con-
| tinent, he's sent the following dispatch
| to the war office:
"A little further progress in the war
| was made today by the 7th Division in
the direction of Aubers. The fighting
has been very severe. as the enemy
opposite my right, by at least two di-
visions. We captured 6I2 prisoners.
however. and / hear there are more to
| come in.
Our aircraft have been very active,
and the railroad functions at Donand
Douai have been destroyed"
Aeros Brought Down.
Germany today declares three of the
British aviators which have been cir
| cling over the German lines have been
| brought down by accurate fire of the
kaiser's men.
The bombardment with which the
| British preceded their attack on Neuve
Chapelle and Aubors was particularly
F., effective" telegraphs the Paris Matin .
| correspondent at Armentieres. Their
work was so good around Lille that the
German neaQ4 uartGrS was moved from
that city to Tournai. foreshadowing a
general withdrawal of troops.
The Germans lost very heavily in the
fighting, for the British and Canadians
fought with magnificent bravery. Their
success overwhelmed them with joy.
All the soldiers coming back from the
front are beaming with pleasure and
singing cheerily.
Germans Depressed.
"One thousand German prisoners were
taken. Several hundred of these, in
GLIDING some officers who were cap
tured at Merville, were lodged tenn
porarily on canal barges on the LyS.
The German officers are unbending, and
are trying hard to maintain their con-
fident attitude. The men are a mixture
of very old and very young. They seem
depressed and are a sad sight. Their
well worn uniforms are bespattered
with mud.
The battle continued Thursday as
fercely as ever. The British do not
disguise their confidence in their abii-
ity to make prompt clearance TO the
northward.
French have lost heavily in the
Champagne region. according to Bcr-
lin Renewed attacks upon German
positions have all proved futile and
extremely costly to the enemy. in Ger
man opinion.
Russians have retreated from the
AuGustowo region. according to Cor
man advices, and have taken position
under the guns of GrodnU.
Germans Setting Stage.
The Germans appear to be setting Tho
stage with much deliberation for the
new attempt on PrZasnysz. the city Of
northern Poland against which their
new and formidable attack is directed,
according to advices from Petrograd
An artillery engagement now in prog
reSs evidently is intended to feel out
the Russian positions and clear the
arena for the advance of the German
infantry. Under cover of the artillery
fire the Germans are placing newly ar
rived troops.
The Russian general staff is alive to
these preparations. and expresses con-
fidence as to the outcome of this new
phase of the campaign.
Put Out Flanking Columns.
Cotemporaneously with their artil-
lery attacks the Germans are putting
out fiankinG columns to the right and
left. Russian forces have come in con-
tact with the column protecting the
German right wing in the Plonsk dis
trict, at the village of Chekanow, four
miles east of Pionsk, at which place
there was lively skirmish yesterday.
In the Carpathians the Russians have
dislodged the Austro-German forces
from their fortified positions at Lup-
kow and Smolnik, driving back their
opponents toward the mountain pass
commanding that district. it is de-
clared.
In East Galicia the efforts of the AUS
trians to turn the Russian position in
the region of Stanislau have been de-