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EUROPEAN WAR DEVELOPMENTS. London reports that in Russian Poland the German army, which is advancing on Warsaw over a wide front between ; the Vistula and the Pilica rivers, and which on Friday occunied Lowicz, reached on Saturday the new Russian positions along the Bzura river and southward .to Rawa, with the result that another big battle is in progress. The Russians retired across the Bzura river, destroying the bridges behind them. The Germans now are only twenty-five miles, from Warsaw. The strongly reinforced Russian army Is certain to offer stern resistance, protected by the Vistula river, which the Germans have been nuable lo cross. The Russians are continuing their opcratlqns acrainst east Prussia as if the capital of Poland were not threatened, and by counter attacks are attempting to throw off the Aiistro-German attacks in Galicia. Berlin declares that the capture of Lowicz on Friday by the German central column has compelled the further retirement of the Russian lines, which have lost twenty-one miles since the evacuation of l4dz. The lines are now scarcely twenty-five miles from Warsaw, according to dispatches received from Posen, the German army headquarters in the east. The German .pursuit is proceeding successfully along the whole front, but the Russians are offering a firm resistance in positions which were previously fortified in preparation for defeat. The resistance "of the Russians has by no means been fully broken, but Field Marshal von Hindenburg says that the Rnssian losses since November 1", including about 100,000 prisoners, have been enormous. He and General von Ludendorf, hfs Chief of staff, do not share the Optimistic views expressed in certain Berlin newspapers, which regard the Russians new as finally disposed of. Their opinion is that the Russians probably will be unable- to resume offensive operations, but that they still form a powerful army arid that there is yet much to be done before tlw Germans can establish winter quarters at Warsaw. The field marshal says the recent opeations causing the evacuation of Lodz drove a wedge into the Russian lines, thus becoming a decisive victory. Late advices .from Ietrograd are to the effect that Russian forces are still holding at bay the German Column which is seeking to cross the Bzura river at Sochaezew and advance on Warsaw, thirty miles nway. For, three, days this German army of alwut 200,000 men has boon endeavoring to cross the river and throw back the Russians, who are holding the right bank. The heaviest lighting in the west since the Germans made their attempts to force a way to the English channel is now in progress. The French and German stafeiiiehts shftw that Sundays engagements were contested keenly along most of the front from Alsace to Flanders, and on each side claims are made oC the capture Of trenches and other victories of importance. The- German war office gave out a statement in which it is declared that on Dec. 19 German troops were successful at Nieuport. occupied certain Anglo-Indian positions in Belgium and captured artllleiy- and 270 prisoners and that, trenches at Notre Dariie de Lbrette were retaken from the enemy. Near Souain the French reached some German trenches, but were driven off witli a loss pf- ;!14 prisoners and many dead. An advantage was .gained in the- Argoiine and French attacks to the northwest of Verdun failed. The statement quotes textually an order issued by Gen. Joffre to the French forces, urging them to fresh endeavor to drive the German invaders from French territory. Progress all along the line is claimed in the Frenci otlicial statement given out in Paris. There is nol one single mention of a German success or a French repulse. Gams, although, slight, are recorded in Belgium between the Lys and the Aisne, in the Champagne, country and in the Argonne. At one point an advance of 1,200, yards is recorded and at another the French ;inade 500 yards. Progress lias been made between the Argonne anil the Meuse. on the right bank of the Mouse and on the heights of the Meuse. The French heavy artillery is described as having been "successful on the Aisne, near Reims and elsewhere. Amsterdam says that the Germans have evacuated Dixmude, but that the report that the allies have taken Middelkerke is untrue. The offensive operations of the allies In thewest are being stubbornly opposed by the Germans, who in their Intrenchments and surrounded by wire entanglements, make an advance of even a Jew yards a costly matter for the attacking forces, . In J.Flanders a little ground has been gained by the allies at considerable cost, despite the fact that along the coast they have the assistance of , warships Which continually bombard tho German positions The advance has been more marked from the Belgian lierder south to the river Obe. Along the .Aisue and in the Champagne district the French artillery, which is now probably stronger than the German, has been busy keeping the Germans on . the move, but In the Argonne region it is the jennans who are on the offensive, and they claim to have made a slight advance. The general opinion of military men in London is that some time must elapse lefore the allies can expect lo make any, marked progress. The following official statement was issued at Vienna.: In. the Carpathians the enemys advanced trcops in the district of Latorcza were repulsed. To the worthwest of Lupkow pass a great battle is developing. Our attack oir the front comprising Krosne anrtZakliozyir has gained ground everywhere. In the Bilala valley our troops have advanced t Tushow. south of Tariiow. The battle along tile lower Dunnjec continues. The Russians recently appeared with stroYig" forces in Galicia. In south Poland they have reached the Nlda river." Paris says that two new lines" of German trenches are reiKirted to have been taken by French troops southeast of La Basseein the resumption of the fierce attack which is being made on the enemys position. With the allied warships aiding in the fighting along the coast by heavy bombardment of the German lues, the battle in Flanders and northern France is steadily increasing in ferocity. The London Times has stopped the insertion of code or puzzle advertisements in its want-ad columns. The reason, it is said, is fear that tile column- were being employed for the purpose of communicating messages to ie enemy in Germany. All the London newspapers go to Germany without being censored, but all private mail matter is subjected to careful scrutiny.- Royal decrees have been issued establishing a moratorium in "Italy under special conditions, for January, February and March, providing for the organization of an institute with a capital of ,000.-000, from which industrial loans may be obtained, and authorizing municipalities to unite In groups for the purchase, even abroad, of cereals, and their resale for home consumption. An ollicial communication issued by the Russian staff in the Caucasus says: "The lighting with the Turks, who had concentrated considerable forces in the direction of Van, has developed favorably for us. We have repulsed the attacks of the enemv near the village of Alagoez, where the Turks hail a great number killed." Troops from the tropics are suffering intensely from the cold in their positions in the Belgian trendies. This is especally true of the Senegalese. In many cases their toes or feet have been frozen so badly that amputations have been necessary. Persistent rumors are current in London that a German cruiser lias been sunk off the coast of Scotland. It is also rumored that two British destroyers arrived at Leitli. Scotland, badly damaged. There is no official confirmation of these reports. The British admirality has Issued a statement denying that any British warships were lost during the recent raid by a German squadron on the east coast of England. The crew of the British ship Drummuir, sunk at sea by the German cruiser Leipzig, lias been landed at Port San Antonio, Argentine, by the German ship Seydlitz. The British steamer Tryonia of the Donaldson line struck a mine off the north coast of Ireland Saturday morning and foundered. The crew was saved. A German hydroplane threw two liombs into Calais Sunday, but no damage was done. The Belgians are preparing to pay the ?9i;,O00,0OO war tax levied- by Germany. The German emperor has completely recovered and returned to the front. The allied fleet bombarded the interior forts of the Dardenelles.
