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EUROPEAN WAR DEVELOPMENTS. It is reported In Berlin that more than 100.000 prisoners were taken by the Germans when they captured I.odz. Russian Poland. No otllcial report lias yet been received concerning the number of prisoners ami guns captuied. Warsaw is now the goal of the German armies in Poland following the fall of I.odz. This is made clear in an otllcial German review of the military situation which says concerning Warsaw: "If the investment of Warsaw should result from the present operations it would rob the Russians of their most IiniKutant railwav communications and put them in a serious position. The operations in Poland, which have developed into the bloodiest battles in the history of the world, are declared to be approaching a decisive climax. That news of decisive action in the east mav be expected any day is shown by latest reports from headquarters that everything is proceeding according to program. Tins can mean only that the operations thus fa.r have lveen successful." Tills success of the Germans, largely because of what preceded it, is considered by British military experts a really remarkable achievement. Less than a fortnight ago the army to which this victory has fallen was surrounded by Russians and cut its way out only al the last moment, losing great numbers of men and many guns. Yet it was able within a few days to reorganize, take the offensive, and defeat the Russians defending Lodz. This was made itossihlc by the network of strategetie railways on the German side of the frontier, over which reinforcements can be sent where they are most needed. The Russians, on the other hand, vigorously attacked on both wings, were unable to send fresh men to stiffen their center to meet the German wedge, and wore compelled to fall back. There will be undoubtedly much more fighting before the campaign in this district is concluded. The great numbers of reinforcements which the Germans have brought up rrom the western front has resulted in continuous lighting on the eastern front. The battle: line from East Prussia to Cracow is :!00 miles long. Eleven German army corps are said to be around Iidz. In East Prussia and Cracow the Russians are pushing forward vigorously. In East Prussia the. liiost important Icature is the siege of the fortress of Lotzen. which the Russians left untakon on their early dash in East Prussia, thereby enabling the Germans later to turn the tables on the invaders. South of Cracow the Russians are advancing steadily while the movement into Hungary is progressing. A Russian force numbering 270.000. under command of the Bulgarian General Radko Dimitrieff, is reported to have arrived before Cracow and to have begun a bombardment of the suburbs to the southeast of the city. It Is believed in London that as long as the Germans are compelled to keep up the strength of their army in the east in the campaign against Russia, they will be "unable to assume the offensive in the west. There is a report, however, that the Germans have keut the pick of their western army in the Aisne valley, whence- at an opportune moment they can hurl it against the "French lines and make another effort to get through to Paris. Taking advantage of the preoccupation of the Germans in the east, the allied French. F.elgian and British forces have begun an offensive movement in the west. The sillies are now virtually in possession of the left bank of the Yser canal, and in northern France, particularly in the neighborhood of La Rassee. where the Germans bold a strong position, tlie allies are beginniug with a heavy cannonade to feel their way eastward. The same process is being followed along the whole front. Heavy tiring was heard along the Belgian coast indicating that the warships of the allies again were bombarding German positions. Hie Germans are reported to have advanced to within two miles of Nienport. neuvy artillery has been rushed forward and they are making a determined assault on the town. This is the furthest western point they have been able to reach. Increased activity on the part of the Germans in Relgium was reported in the official statement given out at Paris as follows: "Dnriug the lav of the 7th the enemy was more active than the day before in the region of the Yser and in the neighborhood of Ypres. Our artillery has answered back with success. In the region of Arras a brilliant attack-has given ns possession, as we have announced, of Vcrmelles and Rutoire. Vermelles had been for nearly two mouths the scene of desperate fighting. The enemy had taken footing there on Oct. 10. and from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25 succeeded in. forcing us back from that locality. From the 25th of October sapping and mining operations brought us back until we were again in close contact, and on ine first of December we reoccupied the park and chateau of Vermelles. In the region of the Aisne. and in Champagne, there have been some artillery engagements, and our heavy artillery dispersed several gatherings of the enemy. In the Argonne, forest of Oniric, ami to the northwest of Pont A-Mousson, forest of Let Pretre, we have gained a little ground. Along the rest of the front there is nothing to report." The recapture of Plock, the Vistula river town between Warsaw and Wloclawek, by the Russians, is announced in a dispatch received at Pctrograd from Warsaw. This indicates that the right wing of the Russian forces, which ten days ago reached Goinbin, Is engaged in a Hanking movement aimed to cut off the Cumuius railroad communication with Thorn, their base in East Prussia. The capture of Wloclawek would accomplish this aim. Plock is twenty-seven miles southeast of Wloclawek, but the Germans an; undoubtedly preparing to light olt this Hanking movement, and the clash on the trout here may he even llercer than that which has marked the struggle on the Loilz-Lowicz front. The Russian coniinauiier in the Caucasus reports that no important engagement with the Turks occurred on .Monday. The Russians admit that the Germans have captured and hold Iulz. The Germans have advanced to a point forty miles from Warsaw. The otllcial statement issued by the German headquarters says: "On the coast of Flanders, the bad conditions of the roads, made worse by the recent torrential rain, is causing great diliiculty to the movement of our troops. To the north of Arras we have made some slight progress. The statement made by the French regarding an advance, in the forest of Argonne is not in accordance with the facts. For a long time past no French attacks whatever have taken place there. On the contrary, we are continually gaining ground slowly. The day before yesterday, a French liosition at -Malincourt. east of Varennes was captured. The greater part of the garrison fell on this occasion. The remainder, two officers and nliout 150 men. were taken as prisoners. A French attack on our positions to the north of Nancy was repulsed yesterday." Baron Kato. the foreign minister, addressed the Japanese diet yesterday regarding the progress of the war and the problems growing out of It as the result of Japans participation iii it. He said that he regretted to announce that the war in Europe was far from a termination and that as yet there were no prospects of peace. Speaking of the relations of the Japanese empire and the allies Harou Kato said that a frank exchange of views had taken place and that the relations had been cemented more closely than ever before. "Tho relations with the neutral jiowers also are excellent," the foreign minister added. Tliu following official announcement has been Issued by the Austrian war otlice: "The fighting in the Russian war theater is not yet decisive. The Austro-IIungarlan and German troops In the district southwest of Pidtrkow Poland attacked tho Russian troops advancing northward across No wo Ra-domske and forced them to retreat. In West !a-licia important battles are proceeding, but no result has been reported. The Austro-Gerinan troops captured 1,500 Russians in that territory Sunday, in the Carpathians the battles continue, and from some points the enemy lias withdrawn strong forces behind the mountains." An official communication issued at Budapest stated that the Russian forces which invaded northern Hungary had been repulsed. The statement follows: "The enemy, who entered the counties of Saros and Micmplin are everywhere in full retreat. Our troops are already in Galician territory at several points. Only two or three communities in Hungarian territory are in the hands of the enemy." According to telegrams from Sluis, Holland, tierce fighting has been resumed on the Yser. The Germans, according to the same dispatches, are taking renewed precautions against the bombardment of Zeebrugge by British warships. Windows and ha! conies in the houses at the seaside arc being provided with sand bags and machine guns to reply to such an attack. An official German statement says: "In northern Poland, the German troops.-are-closely pursuing -the retreating" enemy to the east aiid to the south of. Lodz. , Besides the extraordinarily large and sanguinary losses reported Monday, the Russians have lost up to .the present about 1,500. prisoners and sixteen cannon with, ammunition carts." Fifteen Russian regiments and ; seventy vessels loaded, with provisions and ammunition have arrived jat-a Servian town on. the Danube river, near Nego-;tln, after a trip through the Black sea. Tills is the itirst aid Russia has sent sore-pressed-Servia in the. war and comes in response to direct appeal bv King Peter. King Peter of Servia, who has been ill for months, llias assumed command of the Servian army and. says a Nish report, has checked the advance of the Aus-itriaus, inflicting heavy losses on them. The Austrian reply to this is that "the occupation of Belgrade necessitates the regrouping of our troops." Authentic information lias been received at Buenos Aires to the effect that the German lieet, finding itself outnumbered, has left South American waters for South Africa. The report said the Germans were outnumbered by the British and that Japauese warships were coining around from the Pacific. The British prize court has settled an interesting legal point by ruling that the entire cargo of oil of the British tank, steamer Roumanian, which sailed on November 17 from Port Arthur, Tex., for Hull, was subject to seizure because it was German owned. The Portuguese government is preparing to send 4,000 more troops to Angola, Portugense West Africa. It appears Germany lias armed great numbers of Portugense African natives, which arc commanded by German officers and provided with artillery. Pope Benedict XV. is urging that an understanding be arranged between the warring factions under which a truce will be possible during the Christmas holidays. It is said, however, that his holiness lias little hope for the success of his efforts. King George conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on Generals .Toffre and Foch while he was in France, and the- Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George on seven other French generals. A dispatch from Cettinje says the Austrians delivered a series of violent attacks in the region of Grahevo, Montenegro, during the. last few days, but wero repulsed with heavy casualties. A dispatch from Stockholm reports that the entire crew of twenty men of the Swedish steamer Norra-Sverige perished when the ship struck a mine off the Finnish coast. A dispatch from Petrograd says it Is admitted there that the Russian left wing in Poland is falling back. The Russian left wing has been menacing Cracow. It was announced in Berlin that Kaiser Wilhelm is suffering with bronchial catarrh, and will therefore postpone his return to the front. Earl Annesley was shot and killed by the Ger mans while flying over Ostend Nov. 5.
