Evening star., 1915-06-08
FIGHTING IN WEST
FORCED BY FRENCH
ALONG ENTIRE LINE
Slow But Steady Progress Is
Claimed in Paris Official
Statement.

LONDON. June 8. IL 20 pm
the entire western
line OF battle, except those por-
tions held by the Belgians and
the British, has been the scene o1
what would appear to be a series
of offensive movements initiated
by the French.
In the region of Arras the
French have extended the area OF
their attack while they are press
ing all along the front from the
angle OF the Aisne and the Olse
in a northerly direction as far as
the British positions near La
Bassee, where the British forces
are lying apparently quiescent.
Hard Fighting in Labyrinth"
For the past three weeks the French
have been advancing slowly, but stead
lily, in the country Immediately north
of Arras.
Here they met a determined resist
ance from the formidab BILE German work
known as the labyrinth" part of which,
however, is now in their control. The
French have been gathering in prison
ers. At Hebuterne they have taken
some 400 and at scissors $50 more.
Desperate German counter attacks.
according to the French report. have
been made, but without success and
with terrible losses to the attackers.
The German official announcement
makes but brief reference to events on
the western front. merely recording the
repulses of French attacks.
Battling Along Rivers.
Rivers figure more or less promi-
nently today in the reports from both
sides. From the eastern front the
Russians claim to have pushed their
offensive movement across the Pruth
near Kolomea. while the Austro-G Ger
mans have crossed the River Dniester
in Galicia. The River Dubysa changed
hands five times in one day, with the
Russians finally in possession.
Official advices from Petrograd give
few definite statements concerning the
situation in Galicia. 1t is admitted,
however, that the Austro-German n
forces succeeded In crossing the Dnies-
ter. river near Zurawno, and appar-
emily the Russians are still falling
back along most of this front
Victory in Baltic Provinces.
a German victory almost striking
as that in Galicia is said in Berlin to
have been won in the Baltic provinces
which were invaded several weeks ago
by the Germans. The Russian resist
ance is said to have broken down. A
petrograd dispatch. however, asserts
the Russians were victorious in the
interest battle of this campaign.
fought for control of the Dubysa river
1t Is said the fighting was SO fierce and
deadly that the river was choked with
bodies of the dead. A plank roadway
for the artillery. 1t was asserted, was
laid by the Russians across solid
bridge of bodies.
The Dubysa. although wide. is so shall
low it can be crossed on foot at some
places. The Russians and Germans met
st ford half a mile wide, north of
possijeny. where they fought all day in
the water
Charges in Midstream.
There were several bayonet charges in
,idstream and all who fell, even though
,hev were only slightly wounded. were
Troops on both sides in their
attacks and counter attacks late In the
dow advanced over the bodies of the
dead.
A Berlin dispatch says that in addi
RON to crossing the Dniester. which was
by Gen. Linsingen's army
tbroush feint attack on Zurawno. the
- SIusz. forty-five miles southeast of
Drohobycz, where they took many pris-
oners
Russians on the Defensive.
BERLIN, via London. June s-As
result of what is described in military
.;rcles here as almost complete ex-
the Russian offensive in
-,our,and is delared to have shifted to
weak defensive, against which the
Germans daily are making headway
which is only overshadowed by their
,ains in Galicla
The Russian troops in this section, 1t
i
,ra aided by laborers who have been
armed The German advance
,ortheast and south of Shawl was
.becked with difficulty by the Russians,
Ynv barely succeeded in bringing up
heir lath Corps to Mitau.
Directly before Libau the Russians
ire declared to have withdrawn their