Show I RUSSIANS REPORT GERMAN DEFEAT DECLARE INVADERS ARE LOSING WHILE GERMANS ASSERT THEY I ARE ADVANCING I Sea of Mud In France Prevents Extensive Extensive Exten Exten- sive Operations Both Sides Claiming Claiming Claim Claim- ing the Advantage in Desperate Desperate Desperate Des Des- Struggle The Russians are claiming decided successes In their encounter with the Germans white while from German sources comes the news that the Germans are making substantial gains gains in their attack attack attack at- at at at- tack upon the Russians The highest importance is attached by the Russian authorities to the alleged German defeat at It IL is asserted by the Russian staff officers that the G Germans Germans' hope of success during their operations of the last fortnight along the northern front was based upon their confidence in breaking the Russian line at This attempt by the Germans to strengthen the position of their left wit wing g which was an Important part of their plan for a gigantic encompassing movement extending from Augus- Augus to eastern Galicia is said by the Russian leaders to have failed deft deft- I The Russians assert that the retirement retirement retire retire- I ment meat of the Germans in the north is ismore ismore I Imore more precipitate and disorderly than I any previous retreat t ix this theater or orthe orthe orthe the war They state that the Germans have abandoned large numbers of heavy and light guns guns' and have even left behind slightly wounded soldiers rs in an effort to execute a hasty re re- re- re treat This condition of affairs according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to the Russian viewpoint assumes assumes assumes as as- added significance from the fact that the Germans are said to have employed some of their best troops in this fighting There are many indications that the Germans were entirely confident of success As to the situation In France the reports from German sources are that the attacks on their front have been carried out by two French army corps and antI that the enemy everywhere has been repulsed The allies claim that heavy losses were Inflicted on the Germans in all of this fighting French success success to the I north of Mesnil was reported bv by the French commander when German counter-attacks counter on this front were repelled repelled re re- and the French maintained all their gains of the previous days Whether the Germans will be able to profit by the temporary cessation of hostilities to reform their defensive Is problematical The country already is a sea of mud and the same conditions conditions condi condi- Lions that prevent the French from continuing their offensive it is believed believed be be- also will block any German plans for reconstruction with a view to adequate preparation prepa to withstand renewed assaults when the weather conditions shall permit Farther to the ea east t in th the Meuse valley and in in the operations of some importance continue At Pont a the French claim to have taken more ground a block blockS house has been captured in the La woods a German night attack on in the mountains mountains' to to the west of Munster has been repelled and a number of prisoners taken and the gains made at Kopf maintained |