STRENUOUS WORK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 12, 15 January 1915, Page 7

STRENUOUS WORK

NORTH-EAST OF SOISSONS LITTLE GROUND GAINED RUSSIAN OPERATIONS >- ■ HEAVY REINFORCEMENTS FIGHTING ALONG THE WHOLE LINE GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL RUMANIA'S DECISION North-east of Soissons, between Cuffies and Crouy, a counter-attack by the Allied forces was attended by slight progress, but an attempt to debcraeh. at Crouy was not successful, and near the village of Moncel they were compelled to fall back, but only a little way. Later the Allies progressed slightly north-west of Crouy, where they held their positions in face of fierce attacks. The fighting north qf Soissons (in the neighbourhood of which Over-General yon Kluck is commanding the Germans) has been very fierce. At Stuyvenskerke an ammunition depot belonging to the enemy was blown up by the Belgians, whose artillery operations have been to some extent hampered by a mist. Through several bridges over the River Aisne being carried away by flood waters the Allies' communications were endangered, but the difficulty was more or less overcome by the establishment of new positions on the south of the river. Along the whole of the Russian front artillery fire and skirmishing Were proceeding at latest advices. In East Prussia and south-east of Mlawa the Russians have made progress, while in the southern area intermittent, but unsuccessful, attacks were made by the Germans. By the resignation of Count Berchtold, its Foreign Minister, Austria has lost a tried servant. The Count declined to be any longer responsible for a policy which he thinks must mean absolute ruin for his country if persisted in. While the Germans are held up, and Austria is in parlous state, the •Russians have reinforced their troops at the front by a million men. Rumania would appear to have - definitely decided to throw in her lot with the Triple Ententa, and her troops will, no doubt, be heard of in a few weeks. She was at one time rather doubtful about the attitude of Italy and Bulgaria in the event of her breaking her neutrality, but those doubts, according to an interesting message published below, have now been set at rest. Italy has an eye to possibilities; she has prohibited the departure from the country of men under 39 years of age. Armenia, which has suffered much in the past, is said to be again a scene of terrible desolation. The Turks are indulging in wholesale slaughter.