CEASELESS FIGHTING IN POLAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2327, 8 December 1914, Page 5

CEASELESS FIGHTING IN POLAND

VIOLENT STRUGGLE SOOTH OF LODZ ENEMY REINFORCED FROM WESTERN FRONT ByTel«grajli-Fiwes 'Aseoolatioa-Ooiijilirlit '.'■;. Petrograd, December 6. Private messages state that the Germans have withdrawn nine Army Corps from France, and are replacing them with second-line 'troops. The Russians, nevertheless, hold the Germans,, keeping them fighting day and night. The Germans are seeking to seize Piotrkow (spelt also Petrikau), about 28 miles to' the southward" from Lodz, whore the fighting is. extremely violent, and at Czestochowa they are preparing for a long siege, the town, being turned into a fortress. . .■ . ' . There being complaints that the Hungarian Plains have been largely left open to Russia's attack, Hungary has officially requested Germany to send two or three Army Corps there. The relations between Austria and Hungary; are much leas cordial. . • ' V ("Times"- and Sydney "Sun" serrices.) . . London, December 5- ' The "Bourse Gazette" states that Petrogad; predicts- a concerted movement 'shortly of the Allies on both the eastern and 'western fronts for the purpose of stopping Germany, shifting troops between the frontiers. SERVIAN CAPITAL MOVED FROM NISH TO MITROVITZA Nlsh, December 8. ■* The Servian capital has been transferred to Hitrovitza. Early In the war the Servian capital was transferred from Belgrade, onl the Danube, the defence of which'was impracticable, to Nish, 130 miles to the southward. Mitrovitza is about sixty miles south-westward of Nish, in territory acquired from Turkey x after the late Balkan war. ,' v .. ' (Reo. December 7, 9 p.m.) ■ . Salonika, December 7. _ • 'A telegram states that the Servians have occupied strong positions in the mountains near Kragsoevatz. , ■ Nlsh, December 7. . : Official.—"The Servians have repulsed the' 'Austrians, capturing two generals, 2400 men,' and four complete batteries. It is denied that the Ser» vian Government is leaving Nish. : ■•"■■ • AN APPEAL' :' MONTENEGRO IN' DIRE STRAITS. -'.■■■ (Rec. December 7, 9 p.m.) : ' - ■ Petrograd, December 7. King Nicholas of Montenegro has telegraphed to the "Bourse Gazette" that one-third of the Montenegrin Army has fallen -on the battlefield, and that the country's means ate exhausted. He will be grateful for assistance in money, and kind. c DESPERATELY TO REACH A DECISION.'! • ('(Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) . ■ (Reo. December 7, 6.50 p.m.) . ■ | . London, December 6. The "Times," in a leading article, says of the situation: "The enemysmashed unhappy little Belgium with'positive exultation, but seems to shiver with, apprehension at the thought of tho thunder of our guns amid their own towns; meanwhile, in the mud of Poland, the armies are still struggling desperately to reach a decision. If the Russians are silent, the Germans are., significantly silent too. Berlin listens vainly, with growing impatience, for reports of new triumphs." .■ j ■'■..■ ■ .' FIVE DAYS IN THE RUSSIAN MOUSE-TRAP. ("Time" and Sydney "Sun" Berricee.) (Rec. December 7, 5.20 p.m.) ' . . . London, December 7. '-, The German losses during the five days spent, in the mouse-trap near Lodz are estimated at 100,000. The inhabitants of Cracow aro fleeing in great numbers, and going to Berlin, where their presence is causing discontent among tho working-classes. .... > The Germans are believed to be desirous of wintering along immense entrenched lines extending from the Vistula to Cracow. POLAND BATTLE STILL UNDECID'ED ■' , ~ GERMANS ESTABLISH A : STRONG WEDGE. (Rec. December 7, 11.5 p.m.) London, December 7. The "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent states that on Friday the Germans, heavily reinforced, carried on aggressive. offensive operations for three days. The Germans are in a strong position, and difficult to dislodge. 'They have established a wedge, the base of which runs from Thorn to Kalis? , ., with tho apex on Lowicz. They thus control the only xailroads on i The Germane lost 160,000 of their effective strength at the battle of Lodz while the Austrians lost 100,000 iu the .coincident operations between Czestochowa and Cracow. The German wedge, at its base, is 90 miles, from Kalisz to Thorn, and the whole distance is tapped by strategic railways. From Kalisz, on the frontier to Lowicz, the apex, is about 87 miles, and from .'lhom to Jjowics about 85 uiilae.

REINFORCEMENTS FROM THE WESTERN FRONT. Petrograd, December 7. Correspondents state that five array corps and five cavalry divisions reached Katisz from the West front from December I onwards. The Overmans are attempting to hold the centre with two or three army corps, while the flanks, each consisting of four or five army corps, have attempted turning movements. • ~ r The Russian commanders are glad to fight at a Histance from tne merman frontier, where the strategic railways greatly ass&st the enemy. The Russian soldiers are delighted at tlio opportunities for hand-to-Miici fighting with the bayonet, owing to the frost mailing- the Germans steam plough trench-makers of little use. Many instances are recorded of wonderful Russian dash and bravery. One Tegiment charged a German howitzer battery. Its centre broke before a hellish fire, but the flanks cut down the gunners, captured the howitzer, and cloared 'the way for the infantry. Tn an attack on a, village at Kurpin, Germans who were taking refuge were burnt alive when the Russian.shells set their huts on fire. _ _ _ The Siberians marched sixty miles to reach the dominating the country south of Lodz, and finding the Germans in possession, they gave themselves no time to entrench, but begged their ■commanders to allow them to storm the heights that same night. The Geranans repulsed their first attacks, arid attempted an offensive move, but the Siberians, with a counter-' offensive, hurled .-the Germans "form the heights, leaving piles of dead. i Lodz has been bombarded for several days and nights, and fighting has occurred in the suburbs, from which small bodies of Germans have been driven back. GERMANS CLAIM TO SAVE CAPTURED LODZ. 'A' Berlin communique claims that the Germans, have occupied Lodz, and that the Russians are retreating, having suffered severe losses. <