OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

VIOLENT ATTACKS REPULSED BY THE ALLIES ' , Paris, February 17. A communique states: "\\e repulsed the violent attacks of nt least three battalions near Four de Paris (west of the Argonne), inllietin:' heavy losses and taking manv prisoners. "We captured a hundred metres of trenches in the Bois de Melancourt. , (Rec. February 18, 8.60 p.m.) 1 " , ' Paris, February IS. Official.—"Our artillery lias destroyed many bivouacs and .ammunition convoys between the sea and Lhc Oiso; captured two lines of trenches north of Arras, inflicting heavy losses; carried nioro positions near Perthes (on the Aisnc); progressed in the -Bois de La Oniric, inflicting verv severe losses; and .-i|bo progvoiloodl at acvornl points bot«' cc u. (,h c AvguUuu nud MuUic. Ulid aUo >U Alsaca."

"RUSSIANS' BACKS TO THE WALL" DESPERATE BATTLE IN BOKOWM . AUSTKO-GERMAN ATTEMPT TO CUT THE LINE ' OF RETREAT London, February 17. Mr.. Martin Donohoe, war correspondent for the "Daily Chronicle,'' witnessed the Austro-German attaok on Czernowitz (in Bukowina). Two columns crossed the Sereth River. in the Storaneynetz region (to the south-west of Czenowitz), meeting with appalling losses, on Monday, and threatening to cut off the Russian retreat from Czernowiti. , • The fighting became desperate. The Außtro-Gcrmans, reinforced by a column from Galicia, renewed the attack on Tuesday at three points. Regardless of losses, they gained the bottom of the valley and attempted to ascend a snow-clad slopo . , The Russian artillery swept the enemy away as wave after wave advanced, leaving thousands daad. Isolated groups flung themselves at tfle parapets and trenches, but thj Russians, with their hacks to the wall, were fighting with sublime courage. Later, the enemy cut the road from Czernowitz to Rumania, the Russians hurrying tip reinforcements. It is computed the enemy numbered three army corps, well supplied witli artillery.

THE RUSSIAN RETIREMENT FROM THE MASIIRIAN LAKES GERMAN OFFICIAL' VERSION'OF "OPERATIONS. London, February 17. A Berlin official message claims that, after nine days' battle on the Masurian lakes, the Rnssian army was thrown across the frontier with great loss. Fifty thousand. prisoners, forty cannon, and sixty machine grins were 'message the Germans have occupied Plock: London, February 17. > An official message from Berlin stahes that the Kaiser was in the midst of the fighting line in the Masurian lakes district. Only the remnants of the Rnssian Tenth Army escaped into the forest. RUSSIANS OUTNUMBERED TENFOLD. (Rec. February. 18, 11.30 p.m.) Petrograti, February 18. There are now eighteen German Army Corps in East Prussia. The Russians expected such a manoeuvre, and being outnumbered tenfold, retired betimes, their Light Horse carrying on a. running tight, _ _ After laying waste the entire region, both' armies are disposing themselves in .the flat, thick forest country. The marshes are under deep enow, which is now beginning to thaw. (Rec. February 18, 11.15 p.m.) Petrograd, February 18. • A'commcurique states: "Fighting on the right bank of the Vistula'is proceeding with extreme desperation. Only encounters in. the patrols -have occurred in the Niemen region. Wo repulsed attacks in the Lubne-Studeune district, taking 1400 prisoners. "We sustained impetuous attacks, repulsed with heavy loss, at Wyszkow, where almost a whole German battery was bayoneted. , ■ RUSSIANS STRONGLY ENTRENCHED ON THE BZURA. " . London, February 17. Correspondents with the Russians, describing the strength ol' the. positions on the Bzura, state that cosy officers'dug-outs were furnished with sofas, writing tables, pictures, and oil lamps. FOOD CENSUS ORDERED IN AUSTRIA "" London, February 17. Austria has ordered a food census to be taken. Famine is increasing to an alarming extent,, and a State monopoly is considered the only way, of fending it off temporarily—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. RUSSIAN OPERATIONS IN ASIA MINOR

. ADVANCE INTO T.UKKISH TERRITORY. : London, February 17.' Petrograd reports: -"The' Russians have reoccupied Borcha, which the Turks had captured and converted into a very strong fortress.' and which they stubbornly defended. "The Russians ha/o entered Turkish territory at several points in th©' Transhorok region.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. ITALY MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE WAR London, February 17. Signor Bissolate, the leader of the-Moderate Socialists. fa\ oars Italian intervention. He declares that from elemental reasons of the defence/of the national rights she must participate in the war. . What will finally decide Italy, occording to the "Messaggero," inspired by the influential Signor-Bissolati, deputy for the Quirinal division of Rome, may. be defined as lier need of closer uuion with the Stated of the Balkans. The Balkan peoples, in order to give stability to the league, require the help of a greater power unsuspected, of interested and ambitious designs to the detriment of their development. .Italy is geographically designed for such a mission. Italy made a profound diplomatic blunder ill abandoning the Balkan cause at the outbreak of the first Balkan war, according to the "Messaggero." She made a mistake again in opposing a Servian port on the Adriatic. Neither should Italy have opposed Greet claims to Epiras and the_ Aegean Islands. The recognition of those aspirations is a necessary condition withoutwhich the Balkan league can not be reformed because otherwise Greece and Servia can not be induced to compensate Bulgaria and thus gam her adhesion Moreover if Italv proposes to reconstruct tho Balkan league', she mustact with Servia'in conquering' Bosnia and Herzegovina and in securing an outlet on the Adriatic from Austria. Italy must also appear as the sincere and distinterested champion of the principle of nationality. Ihis she can not do as lone as she lavs claim to the Dalmatian coast,, which is overwhelmingly. Slav and as lone as she maintains her doubtful conduct regarding tho isles nf tfiA Aotrean She could not put herself at the head of the Balkan league recomposcl on'a national basis if she violated the principle of Slav and Greeknationality. _ ■