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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. It lias been learned from a diplomatic source that the Russians have succeeded in separating the German and Austrian armies, besides enveloping the left Hank of the Austrians and cutting off their retreat to Cracow. The defeated Austrians. numbering 1,500,000 men. are now retiring across the Carpathian mountains into Hungary. They are abandoning their supplies, ainnumition and ambulance trains, and automobiles in the narrow snow covered mountain passes in their headlong flight to escape tile Russian pursuit. German advices say that Emperor William, much affected by the Russian victories, has held a council of war which was attended by Gen. von Hindeuburg. the Duke of Wurtemberg, and the Austrian chief of staff. Field Marshal liarou Conrad von Hoetzendorf, to decide on a further plan of campaign. The correspondent of the Loudon Times in Warsaw telegraphs he has arrived at the conclusion that the Russian organization is at last under way in every direction and that within thirty days Germany either will have to submit to an invasion by vast Russian hosts or withdraw substantial bodies of her best troops from the western frontier. Despite the claims of the Russian admiralty that the Turkish fleet has taken refuge in the Bosporous, Ottoman warships continue their attacks on Black Sea ports. Otlicial announcement is made that the town ,o Poti. in the government of Kutals, Trans-Caucasia, was bombarded on Saturday by a cruiser of the Breslau type. The cruiser is believed to have been damaged by Russian artillery that replied. According to a Berlin telegram, Germany is making enormous preparations for a winter campaign, with tents, sleighs and fur outfits for an entire array. The Ottoman embassy at Rome announces that a Turkish army has invaded Egypt. The capture of Cracow is now regarded as a certainty in Petro-grad. The advance of the Russians to the south in Galicia and southwest Poland has been pressed with uureleutless vigor. An advance guard is reported lo have reached the river Xiszica, thirty-five miles from Cracow. The movement has cut off the Austrian armies operating soutli of Przemysl and along the river San. With the German corps supporting the Austrian forces, tlds army of the enemy is estimated at about G0O.O0O. A dispatch from Berlin states that the Russian Black Sea licet has left Sebastopol and is proceeding eastward, says a dispatch from Copenhagen. The Russians, according to tlds dispatch, have bombarded Kohlu and Slight on the coast of Asia Minor. The small German warship Gcier, which has been undergoing repairs to her machinery at Honolulu for several weeks, and the North German Lloyds steel schooner, Locksuu, which arrived there recently and was interned under the ruling that the vcss?l was a naval tender, have been placed under a guard of Inited States troops, and will be held until tne cessation of hostilities, under instructions received from Washington. Six classes of Bulgarian reservists have been summoned to the colors for a month of training. Two classes are called for each of the next three months. Another call to the colors has been issued by the Belgian government to all nationals. The summons this time is accompanied by an intimation that those not joining voluntarily may be "commandeered." A dispatch from Rotterdam says it is reported that the Germans lighting in South Belgium are chiefly volunteers and that G.000,000 volunteers between the nj;es of 1! and 2t years are drilling in Germany. The London Times correspondent at Petrograd. telegraphing under date of Sunday, says according to private advices the Austro-Gerinan armies have left Kaliscz and Czest,ochowa and that Poland is now clear of the enemy. The Russians are invading Silesia. The presence of the Russians in East Prussia and Silesia, it is believed at Petrograd. will prevent the Germans from sending any more troops to the west, if it does not compel them to withdraw some of their troops from that front. A dispatch from Copenhagen to the London Times says: "It is asserted in Berlin that Germny and Austria-Hungary now have concentrated about ."!.-XIO.OOO soldiers on the line from Thnrn to Cracow, and this is considered sutlicient to crush the Russian forces. Military authorities declare that the result of the coming battle is not in doubt and that the Russian army will be completely destroyed, ihev explain that it is necessary to allow the Russians to advance to the frontier in order to prevent them from making a good retreat after their defeat. The present retirement of the Germans is necessary, they say, in order to have the railways iinniediatelv behind the army for the approaching main battle." That the rebellion in South Africa is still far from being crushed is admitted. The British otlicial press bureau in a statement asserts that Gen. Be Wet is operating with a large force in the direction of Lindley. He and his forces have destroyed the railway line at several points. Another force of rebels is declared to have looted Harrissinith. A rebel commando is reported being pursued northward into the Water-berg district. Gen. Beyers is reported to be in command of a rebel column which is moving down the Great Heart valley in the direction of Vryburg. The general campaign against the reliels is being conducted by Gen. 15otlia, premier of the Union of South Africa. He has massed forces to cut off the rebels at several points, but it is expected that the operations will take some time. The otlicial announcement given out by the French war office says that the German offensive has been renewed at Dixniude and in the region of Yprcs and that southeast of Ypres all the German attacks have been repulsed. The progress of the allies lias been hampered by a fog, as well as the strength of the enemy it is admitted. Since the fall of the Gemnu positions at Tsingtno, the question of Japans sending an army to Europe has begun to attract increasing attention nt Toklo. The idea finds considerable support in military circles, where it is believed fitch a move would be welcomed by France. At three points in the area of hostilities in Silesia, in East Prussia and in Alsace forces of the allies are on German soil. The master of a steamer arriving at Sydney from Singapore, reports that after the German cruiser Lindens success in striking the Russian and French warships at Pe-nang, the German warship and two storeships were overtaken by a British cruiser. The speedy Emden lied, but the British man of war sank one store-ship and captured the other. A dispatch from Ottawa says that Earl Kitchener, British secretary of war, has asked Canada to furnish 100.000 men for the war against Germany. Reports reaching .Athenj declare that British and French warships are bombarding and rapidly reducing the Turkish forts at the Aegean entrance of the Dardanelles. It is believed that with the fall of these forts the allied Ileets will land marines on the Trojan plain. The capture of Telmacan, Mexico, from the Car-ranza garrison by forces under Generals Iligiuio, Agullar, Argumodo and Ruiz, formerlv federal commanders, was reported to the state department bv Consul Canada at Vera Cruz. The message says several hundred were killed and wounded. As the first relief ship of the Rockefeller Foundation nears France, word conies that thousands in northern France are on the verge of starvation. The relief will arrive just in time. Nearly complete returns show that in Washington state-wide prohibition, effective January 3, 1910, received a majority of 14.000.
