European War Developments, Daily Racing Form, 1914-12-14

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EUROPEAN WAR DEVELOPMENTS. The German official press bureau lias given out the following for publication: "Tlie most important factor in the latest report from the eastern theater is that or the taking of Przasnysz. Although this in itself is unimportant, it shows that the Germans north of the Vistula have begun an active offensive. The town mentioned lies in tlie direct line of communication between Willenberg and Warsaw, showing an advance directed against tlie fortified Narew line. If this line should be broken the Germans would be in tin; rear of AVarsaw and able to exercise a deciding inlluence on the Polish campaign. The news from South Poland and Galicia, despite certain successes of tlie Germans aiid Anstriaus, leaves no doubt that severe resistance is being encountered everywhere. It is evident that the Austrian forces in tlie Carpathians are too small to clear Hungarian territory at once, hut must attack and repulse one column after another. Tlie Austrian report that 10,000 Russians have been captured, but they fail to say within what period, making tlie report meaningless. The operations in Servia are meeting with dogged resistance at some points, but are proceeding to the southward of Belgrade. The Russian evacuation of Lodz occurred secretly and in the night time. Consequently it was accomplished without lighting. The evacuation was the outcome of the previous three days battles, when the Russian loss was enormous. Their abandoned trenches were tilled witli dead. Our losses were much less than those of the Russians. In the dash of the reserve corps through the Russian lines only 150 of our men fell. It is estimated that the Russian losses in Poland, including the SO.000 prisoners taken by us, amount to at least 150,000. The prisoners are now being taken to Germany. Not even after the battle of Taimenburg did our troops have to inarch over so many Russian bodies as thev did in the lighting around Lodz and Lowicz. The Russians suffered most severely from tlie lire of our artillerv. It is significant that on the height to the south of Lutomiersk, west of Lodz, no less than SS7 Russians were buried. The town of Lodz suffered little damage during the lighting. Some of tlie suburbs and factories beyond the town sustained property losses, but tlie town itself was practicallv undamaged. Tlie Grand Hotel suffered no damage and the electric tramway system is now operating as in tlie time of peace." . Petrograd advices are that the German plan of campaign in Poland has been disrupted by repulses on the northern and southern extremes of the line; while in the vicinity of I.owicz and east of Iidz the Russians are maintaining their positions. On the north the advance of General Francois from tlie vicinity of Mlawa has been checked, it is declared. It is officially claimed that a portion of this force was repulsed and tlie Russians followed up their advantage by pursuing tlie retreating columns. Following tlie advance of the Germans into the region of Przasynsz a general reconnaissance of tlie enemy was begun. Their forces operated eastward from Mlawa, their right Hank resting upon the railroad running from Novo Georgievsk to the East Prussian frontier. The Russian forces defending the Narew line, however, advanced and are reported to have pierced the German front in at least two points between Ciechanow and Przasnysz. which has resulted in severing communication between tlie German columns. North of Lmvicz repeated assaults of the Gemans have been repulsed, Petrograd declares. Repeated attempts to storm the Russian trendies weiv repulsed. The forces south of Pietrkow are still engaged without decisive results. The attempt of the Aiistro-Getman forces south of Cracow to break the Rusian line has resulted in their complete rout according to the Russian claims. Buenos Aires reports that the German cruiser Dresden, one of tlie squadron engaged bv the British warship off Falkland islands, and which took to tl!ght, has stranded on the Argentine eoast near tlie port of Ballegos. It is believed that the British tleet under Vice-Admiral Sturdce forced tlie Dresden into a corner and. rather than light against overwhelming odds, ibc- German commander ran the cruiser ashore. Three hundred beds for the wounded in the Falkland naval engagement have been requested by wireless messages received at Montevideo from tlie British licet. According to wireless, the wounded will reach Montevideo today. It is supposed that practically all of them are Germans, rescued bv the British warships from the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Leipzig and Nurnberg. Telegraphing from Nish, Servia. the correspondent of the Ilavas News agency reports that the Servians have repulsed an Austrian force with heavy losses at Kosmai, thirty miles south of Belgrade.


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