Evening star., 1915-04-10
Kaiser's Men Deliver Many Counter
Attacks, Fifteen Being at
One Point.
BERLIN CLAIMS A VICTORY
Reports Severe Defeat for French
Between River Orne and
Heights of the
Meuse

French, with the capture of Les
Eparges, have obtained one OF
the main objects of their advance
to the southeastward from Yer
dun. The position at Les Eparges
dominates the plains of the Woe
vre, and its occupation by the
French is announced officially.
Progress from Verdun means
heavier pressure on the northern
flank OF the Germans holding St
Mihiel, while the southern flank
is threatened by the French ad
vance between Pont-aMousson
and the Meuse.
In the southern part OF this
field OF operations the Germans
are delivering almost continuous
counter attacks. They have made
fifteen assaults on one point.
Claims Defeat of French.
Severe defeat for French forces be-
tween the river Orne and the heights
of the Meuse are claimed In the official
statement issued in Berlin today. All
| the foes attacks from the heights OF
Combres, north of st. Mihiel. and on the
ALLY -Apremont front near Flirey also
have failed. 1t is declared by Berlin
that the fighting OF yesterday near
F'lirey was less violent because of the
tremendous French losses.
Success for the kaiser's arms at many
other points in the western arena are
claimed officially.
1t is evident that the French are not
only attempting to capture ST. Mihiei.
which always has been danger point
since its wedge was driven into the
line of the allies, but are at the same
time seeking to aid Russia by prevent
ing the withdrawal of German corps
for the relief of the hard-pressed Aus
trian and German forces in the Car
pathians.
Opens Allies Offensive.
The military correspondent CT the
Times says he considers that the opera
tions on the Carpathian line and be-
tween the Meuse and Moselle rivers "A
France constitute the opening of the
allies offensive in the summer CAM
paign: that they are not isolated ac-
tions but parts of the general plan.
1t must be admitted, says the
respondent, that in the earlier phases
of the war. owing to Germany's nu-
merical preponderance, there was some
thing wanting in the coordination of
the allies plans, but there is no longer
any excuse for want of harmony. 1T
must be anticipated. he asserts, that
the designs of the higher command OF
the allies in the east and in the west
will in future be dominated with "A
view to striking simultaneously and
with all the forces united.
Fighting in the East.
The Russians have some way to go
as yet before they reach the plains of
Hungary. and the Austro-German
forces are placing every obstacle in
their way. The whole southern slopes
of the mountains have been strongly
fortified and troops are being poured
into the region in dispute. 1t is said
there are now twenty-four Austrian
and six German army corps facing the
Russians. and that more are on the
way. ON the other hand, the Russians
are still bringing up reserves. and,
cording to the Austrian report OF to-
IL
regard for the loss of human life.
Admire Russian System.
The British military critics express
the greatest admiration for the man
ner in which the Russians have ham
died the Carpathian campaign. Their
advance between Polianka and Bart
field, they say, squeezed the AuStriarS
out of the Dukla pass, and from Duk'a
squeezed them out of MeZolabor
and from west to east this process has
continued until all the passes are in
the hands of the Russian emperor's
troops The critics contend that the
Austro- Germans must now return from
East Galicia and Bukowina, they
will find themselves cut off.
Losses Placed at 26,OOO.
Figures received purporting to come
from the Austrian general staf place
at $4,000 the losses in the battle on
the Dukla- Eperes front.
The Russians made important cap
lures of artillery and war munitions
in the recent fighting in the Carpath-
ians, according to dispatches to Swiss
In the county of Saros
alone they took two batteries OF
twelye-inch mortars, four other bat
teries Of different calfbers, twenty
quick -flrers, and 700 shells for the
twelve-inch guns.
Must Dispose Of Boats.