Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-14
Grown Princes
 Army Checked
THE FRENCH couNTER;ATTAck
 DROVE BACK GERMANS.
IN ARGoNNE FOREST
French Line Bent But Rebounded-Gas Laden Shells Used in 6ombardment -ItaIy Prepares to Insure Supply of Ammunitiens.

A check to the army of the German Crown Prince in the Argonne forest and the forced retirement of the Ger mans in the face of an energetic coun- ter attack by the French is told of in the latest French official communi- cation.
 The Germans, it is asserted, head aS- tackd wllh very heavy forces from ;he road between Binarville and Vienne le Chateau as far as the region of Haute Chavauchee after a preliminary bonn bardment of a violent character in which asphyxiating shells were used. The French line bent at several places under the vicious attack, but a coun- ter attack stopped the Teutons and compelled their retirement
 Artillery duels on several other sec tors of the line in France and a bonn bardS>>nt of the French and British positions in Belgium when the Ger mans again made use of asphyxiating shells, are reported in the French com munication.
 Eastern front and in the Italian war zone. Nowhere in either of these theaters has there been an engage ment of sanguinary character and no changes of importance in the battle lines are claimed by any of the war chancellor:es.
 Although she has not been at war two months Italy sees the future need of larger supply of ammunition and al factories in the kingdom are being transformed into ammunition and shell making plants. A suggestion has teen made that all capable factory workers with the army shall be sent home and that the mechanical schools shall be used for teaching men how to | Eake munitions.
 Russians Are Waiting.
 In the east the operations are enter ing a new phase, the Russians having been successful in their counter-of- fensive against the Austrians in the region of KraSnik They have taken of that town and apparently are wait ing for the Austro-Germans to make a move It is not expected that this will be long delayed, for General Won Macl1ensen has had time to receive re- inorcements and supplies of guns and ammunition for his next great effort to secure control of the Lublin ICholm railway.
 Balkan Situation in LimeIight.
 The Balkan situation is again in-the limelght as a result of the disclosures that the Austro-Gernnans have offered Rumania alternative concessions, either to continue neutral or join with the Germa9ic allies. Confidence is ex- pressed in British. French and Italian circles that the Balkan states will not join the Austro-Germans but it is con- sidered likely that, owing to the failure of Russia to hold Galicia and Buko- wina, they might decide to remain neutral. Of course, success by the allies in the Dardanelles, where they are unoff1cially reported to have gained further Turkish trenches. would change the situation.
 It is also said that the former Greek premier, Eleutherios Venizelos, in an- ticipation of his return to power, has arranged to reorganize the Balkan al- liance, of which he was the initiator M. Venizelos has been a warm SUD- porter of the entente allies, and in event of such reorganization, the Bal kan states might possibly join this combination