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EUROPEAN AVAR DEVELOPMENTS. Following is the text of a French statement: "From the sea to the Lys we made progress by sapping operations in the dunes and we repulsed an attack in front of Lombaertzytie. At Zwartelcn, to the southeast of Yprcs, we occupied a group of houses and we drove back as far as the southern part of this village a counter attack. The Belgian army pushed forward certain detachments along the right bank of the Yser to the south of Dixmude and organized a defensive work, protecting the head of a bridge. To the east and to the southeast of Amiens, especially in the suburbs of Lasslgny, there have been artillery exchanges. In the region of the Aisne tlie zouaves held back a number of attacks: they remained masters at a point near the road of Pnis-leine of the German trenches occupied by us December 21. In Champagne we strengthened the positions taken by us in our advance of the night before in the region of Creonne and Rheims. In the vicinity of Perthes all of the counter attaeks of, the enemy on the positions conquered by us December 22 were successfully repulsed. To the northwest of Xles-nilles-Hurlus we occupied German trendies for a distance of 400 yards and we drove back a counter attack. In the Argonne we took possession of a piece of ground in the forest of Ia Grurle, and in the vicinity of Bagatelle We repulsed a German attack. In the forest of Apremont . our artillery demolished and caused the enemy to evacuate several trendies. In the Woevre district the French artillery reduced certain German batteries to silence. In the egion of Ban do Sapt, to the northeast of St. Die, our infantry advanced with a rush and established itself on the territory thus gained." The following statement from t lie general staff of the Russian commander-in-chief was issued: "On tlie Bzura river, about three miles below Sochaszew. our troops on tlie night of Dec. 2." utterly routed the strong German forces which had crossed to the right bank of the river. A German regiment was almost completely annihilated, and in addition lost live machine guns. We captured live ollicers and .-.IT soldiers. All through the day of Dec. 23 th; Germans made tierce attacks in the region of Boll-mow, but were everywhere repulsed. Stubborn lighting also prevailed that day in the region of 1 low-Lodz below that point. We succeeded in throwing back the German column which had crossed to the right bank of tlie Pilica. On Dec. 22 and 2:; violent lighting took place all along the front on the Nida river. It was especially stubborn on the lower Nida between AVialica and Nowemiasto Korezyn. During these two days we captured to the north of Pinczow fifty-seven ollicers and more than 3,000 soldiers. To the south of the Vistula we maintained our successes of tlie previous day. Here we took 1,500 prisoners. In East Prussia, near Przemysl. and in-the Carpathians no important changes have taken place." A French official statement deals with the situa tion in the eastern theater of war as follows: "In Russian Poland, oh the Bzura river, the Germans have maintained themselves in two positions. On the contrary, at a point north of Sochaczew they were driven back to the river, which Hows to tae southwest of this town. Their efforts to debouch from Bolimow resulted in failures. At the present time the Germans are essaying to cross the river Rawka to the southeast of Skierniewicz. To the south of Rawa the Germans are resisting stubbornly a pronounced Russian offensive movement being delivered along the northern bank of the river Pilica." Princess Patricias regiment, a part of the Canadian contingent, which has as its honorary colonel tlie daughter of tlie governor general of Canada, has left England for the front. This regiment will shortly be followed by tlie Scottish regiments ol Canadas army, after a course of training in Canada and on Salisbury Plain. Tlie rest of the 30.000 men are reaching tlie concluding stages of their training, and it is fully expected that the whole contingent before many weeks will be on the continent. The Washington Post gives great prominence o a news dispatch Stating that overtures for peace between Russia and Germany are already under way. Tlie statement attracts great attention in Washington simply because it is published in the Post, whien is owned and edited by John It. McLean, known to have dose personal relations with eminent diplo-1 mats. Paris hears that Austria has made independent peace overtures to Russia through Vienna bankers uiKUi the basis of the concession of Galicia to Russia and Bosnia to Servia. Tlie proposal is favorably received, but is held in abeyance until it is known what the attitude of Italy and Roumania will be respecting such concessions. A Turkish ofliicial announcement of Caucasian operations follows: "Between Olti and Id our troops gained a decisive victory. Tlie battle is being continued with fresh, successes. We have captured 0,000 prisoners, iucluding a colonel, and a large quantity of ammunition and war material." The population of that portion of Alsace extend ing from near Altkircli to near St. Die, a strip of territory of alnuit twelve miles, enjoyed a French Christmas for the first time since 1S70.
