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Show I STOFIMS HAMPER J - IBJFEMfE ' WINTER WEATHER PREVENTS ML' OPERATIONS ON LARGE SCALE ON WESTERN BATTLEFIELD. jj French Claim 3lfght Gains In Franco M and Belgium, While Germans Re- ,J port Capture of an Important jj Russian Pooitlon. W Tho oxtromely rainy winter, tho ffH worst Europo haB experienced In JjjH years, causing Hoods in the river val- !H B of tn0 contlncnt ns wo11 aa thoso 'HJ of England, has prevented any opera i AT tlons on a large scalo on tho western UW liattlefront, and has seriously intor- HJ ferud with those In tho east. HJ Thero have been heavy artillery en- HJ gagoments from tho sea to the Swiss HE borders, and occasional attacks by HI tho Infantry of tho opposing armies, Hj which, when not repulsed, have added HJ n few yards to tho territory in tho Hj possession of the attacking force, but IK havo always proved costly adventures. Wm The French have gained a llttlo US ground between Albert and Itoye, just H north of tho point whero tho lino ffljj turns eastward, and to tho cast of jnjj Rhelms and southwest of Verdun, HE whero the attempts to make tho Cor- HJ man positions at St. Mihlol, on the E Jlouse, untenable, are proceeding 2 slowly. They have also made some HE advanco in Alsace, but have suffered Hf a repulso to tho northwest of St. Mm Alcnehould. HJ In the cast Uie Germans havo cap- jHF tured tho Important Russian position H of Borjlmow, but elsewhere they have H7 oeen unablo to make headway against HJ tho Russians who, ns defenders of V well fortified positions, are aided by H the wet weather and muddy roads H which hinder the German movements. Tho AttstrianB claim to havo chock- cd the Russian advance near Gorllce, on tho south Gallcian railway, west m of Paslo, but apparently the battle 1 hero has not yet oecn concluded. 1 Tho Russians, on tho other hand, I ' havo taken tho Austrian positions J near Uzsok pass, which should open I another entrance for them through h tho Carpathians into Hungary, while the Austrian retreat in Bukowlna is ! described by tho Russians ns a rout. f Tho Turks havo crossed tho Russian border in tho Caucasus, and according accord-ing to their own account, have defeated de-feated tho Russian garrison at Arda- j j Ban. They aro, however, displaying X anxiety for their remaining possessions posses-sions In Europo by feverishly fortify- jf lng the whole coast lino. What they jj . fear is not disclosed, for it Is consld- i ured hardly possible for tho allies to land a sufficient force to prove a men-aco men-aco to them. It is possiblo that they anticipate an invasion from another ,, source. l! Indications point to the possibility I .of the Balkan states, which are now I neutral, taking a hand In tho war. i |