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Show FRENCH MENAGE GERMANRAILWAYS ATTEMPT OF ALLIES TO DESTROY DE-STROY RAILWAYS USED IN BRINGING REINFORCEMENTS. Weather Conditions in Russian Poland Po-land Prevents Movement of Large Bodies of Troops and in a Measure Halts Operations. The French attacks to the north of Soisins, on the Aisne and near Perts, east of Reims, are developing develop-ing into a serious offensive. The gains the French claim to have made at these points, if followed up, would have a twofold Importance. They threaten the railways which the Germans Ger-mans are using to supply their troops in the fighting line and are a serious menace to the German forces which hold positions to the north of Reims. The French have found it impossible impossi-ble to take by Jrontal attack those positions from Ihich the Germans are bombarding Reims, but advances on either side would envelop them and force a retireent, thus giving the cathedral city much desired relief from the German shells. In the Argonne and on the heights of the Meuse the Germans are on the offensive and claim to have maae further fur-ther progress. It is reported that the Germans have sent heavy reinforcements reinforce-ments to this district to prevent the French from breaking their lines, which are very clOBe to their own border bor-der and not far from Metz. Fresh German troops dispatched to Alsace, combined with the wintry weather, have stopped the French advance ad-vance in that region. Along the rest of the front artillery is doing most of the work. Only isolated ' attacks are being attempted, at-tempted, the state of the weather and the ground making the movements of large bodies of troops out of the question. ques-tion. Slilar conditions prevail in the east and while they have not completely com-pletely stopped the fighting they have called a halt over the greater part of the field of operations. In restricted areas, along the river Rawka, near Bolimow, however, there has been fierce fighting, but according to Petro-grad Petro-grad correspondents, the Germans have been unable to make any material ma-terial advance. Severe fighting also is taking place on the Nida river, where the Austrians are opposing the Russian attempts to penetrate to Cracow. The Germans are keeping the Mazu-rian Mazu-rian lakes open with ice breakers to block the Russian advance In East Prussia. The Russian troops nold positions around the lakes and have been waiting for them to freeze over before resuming their offensive. |