Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-09
THE WAR TODAY

on the FrancO-Beigian front has
not developed, but reports OF prep
arations for it persist. Amsterdam
reports today that 100000 men
have been sent by the Germans to
the Belgian frontier.
From the Balkans it is declared
in one unofficial quarter that the
entente allies are preparing TO
take the offensive in SalOniki. Attn
ems reports that the central powers
plan to maintain their entrenched
positions at present, leaving MAIN
ly Bulgarians on guard, the Aus.
trian troops for the most part be-
ing employed elsewhere.
Constantinpole adyices report
setbacks for the Russians in their
Caucasia campaign and in Persia.
Russian attacks have been re-
pulsed in the former field of oper-
atoms, where Erzerum has been
the main Turkish base of defense,
the Ottoman war office declares.
In Persia tribesmen fighting
against the Russian forces are I'M
officially reported to have inflicted
a severe defeat near Sandshulak.
Heavy fighting is In progress in
east Galicia and the Russians al
ter repeated attacks on an AustrO-
Hungarian position near TarnOp-
oil, entered the point it is UNDER
stood.
According to Vienna, however,
they were afterward elected.
Artillery engagements along tn,
FrancO-Belgian front are still 60
ing on but no important changes
in positions have been reported.
Neither have the Germans begun
the great offensive movement for
which they are reported to be pre-
pairing.
Along the Austro.Italian front
the armies are continuing long
range fighting with artillery but
in the Balkans comparative quiet
prevails.
International insurance brokers
in New York have received infOr-
nation which leads them to be-
lieve that the large passenger
steamer Orissa has been sunk by
a German commerce raider in the
north Atlantic. The Orissa sailed
from AntOfagasta, Chile. on Christ
mas day, touched at Rio JanierO
on Jan. 10 and since then has not
been heard from. The number OF
passengers she carried and the ma
ture of her cargo are unknown to
the underwriters here. She is
British vessel of 5.35S tons gross.
A Geneva, Switzerland, paper
says Emperor William has COM
posed the words for a new nation
al hymn and has asked Richard
Strauss to compose the music. The
emperor, the newspaper says, aims
to replace the Prussian hymn
"Heil Dir I'm Siegerkranz,' which
is sung to the same tune as the
British national anthem.
The controversy with Germany
over the sinking of the Lusitania
is "as good as settled, according
to officials at Washington.
The London Times military ex-
pert estimates that during the Is
months of the war Germany has
lost about 100000 men. He be-
Heves that Germany now has
100000 men In the field, and that
she had about 100000 men avail
able at the beginning of the war.
This, however, he says, would
leave 100000 many OF whom are
needed internally. The report says
Germany still has 2,0O0,OO0 and
until these are used the army in
the field will not fail her.
New gains for the Germans In
the regions between Lens ana Ar.
ras, not far south OF the Belgian
border, we're announced today by
Berlin, which reports the capture
Of first line French positions along
nearly half mile on the west of
Yimy.
In some quarters the recent Ger
man assaults in this region are re.
garded as primarily defensive OPP
erations designed to win back com.
manding positions which would
give the entente forces an adyant.
age In any forward movement they
may attempt In the future.