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The Largest Morning Circulation la Washington 4 Shopping Days Before Christmas i' NO. 2994. WEATHER-RAIN. WASHINGTON, D. C MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1914. one cent xsrass aa4 Patau IrtlltW iv herb two cam BUT ONE-FOURTH OF CHARITY FUND I! Workers Get $1,202, but $3,321 Still Is Needed for "Opportunities." ASK FOR MORE MONEY Seek Aid for Fourteen Most Worthy Families and Individuals. OFFICERS ARE OPTIMISTIC Have Collected $1,000 in Excess of Amount Given a.tThis Time Last Year. With Christina four days off. the As sociated Charities has been given only a little more than one-fourth of the money it needs for aiding- during the coming year the fourteen families or per sons it deems most worthy of assist ance among the hundreds of sufferers in the District. For these fourteen "opportunities" the Associated Charities needs R534. Of this amount si.J03.20 already has been con tributed. Therefore. J3.33.90 still is needed, more than three-fourths of the amount originally asked. Anybody and i everybody is asked by the Associated Charities to contribute toward the B.sa.80. Any amount will be accepted from a penny to the entire sum of S3.31.80. The contribution may be sent either to The Washington Herald or the Associated Charities at 93 H street northwest The money should be sent as soon as possible. A delay may cause a would-be contribu tor to forget. Associated Charity officers are opti mistic. They point out that much has been given by Washington for European war sufferers and recall that there has' been talk of "business depression." Despite these conditions the Associated Charities have been given H.ooo in excess at the amount contributed up to this time last rear. The appeal Is Bet made with the idea of giving the needy families or individuals "a grand, glorious Christmas Day." The money asked will supply homes, food and clothing for fourteen 'opportunities" throughout the year 1915. The fourteen were selected as most worthy after care ful investigation by the Associated Chari ties of all families and persons in need in the District. Following is a list of the fourteen 'opportunities" for this Christmas, with a detailed description of each ane and CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE TRITONIA SUNK B7 MIRE. Doaaidaon I Inrr Irish ( oast- Goes Dowa -Crew Saved. off ionoon. Dec. 20. rne admiralty an -The admiralty nounced today that the British steamer Tritonia. of the Donaldson line, bound from Partington for St John. New Bruns wick, struck a mine off the north coast of Ireland yesterday morning and Is be lieved to have foundered. The crew was landed safely. S CONTRIBUTED YESTERDAY'S CHRISTMAS NUMBER OF WAS THE BIGGEST AND BEST ISSUE OF WASHINGTON'S BIGGEST AND BEST SUNDAY NEWSPAPER EIGHT SECTIONS COUNT THEM. 1. Metropolitan Section Extra calendered paper Sepia ink. 2. Magazine Section Four colors Twelve pages Full newspaper size. 3. Pictorial Review Section The war in photographs Special paper Special ink. 4. Theatrical Section All the news of the theaters. 5. Comic Section Funniest cartoon creations Four colors. 6. The HERALD'S famous original "Pink"' SportingSec tion Complete Authoritative. 7. Society and Fraternal Section. 8. The best Main News Section of Washington'sbest Sun day newspaper. YESTERDAY THE ENTIRE TOWN SOLD-OUT EARLY It's none too soon to place next Sunday's order NOW with your dealer or at The HERALD Office. BRITISH DREADNOUGHT THUNDERER BLOWN UP IN THE NORTH SEA ON NOVEMBER 7, IS STORY OF MAN WHO SAYS HE TALKED TO WITNESSES -pe.ial Dispatch to The Waaataatea Herald. Mew York, Dec. 20. A report that the British Dreadnought Thunderer was sunk in the North Sea on November 7 by coming into contact with a mine or being hit by a torpedo was brought here today by George Rottweiler, of Chi cago, a passenger on the liner St. Louis, from Liverpool. According to Rottweiler, the sinking of the Dreadnought waa witnessed by eight men, members of the crew of the Scefjord, a small Swedish sailing ship, that put into Liverpool with survivors from the Dreadnought on board. "These men were taken in charge by British officers and were kept under surveillance of an out-of-the-way sailors' mission." said Mr. Rottweiler. "I heard of the report In a roundabout way, and through a friend I managed to talk with one of the crew. He told me that the Thunderer blew up and sank (a full view of himself and his mates on the Scefjord. The crew hastened to the scene and a doxen or so of men were picked up from the water." Mr. Rottweiler said be la the European representative of the Western Metals Products Company, of Chicago. The report of the sinking of the Thunderer may be true, because the British suppressed all news of the sinking of the Audacious, sunk by a mine off the Irish coast. DISCERN NEED OF NEW SUBMARINES House Naval Committee Will Ask for Twelve in Its Budget. ECONOMY WILL PREVAIL Agitation for Increased Defenses Will Not Swell Navy Appropriations Beyond Annual Budget Efforts will be made by the House Naval Affairs Committee to incorporate in the naval budget a provision for at least twelve submarines. Secretary of the Navy Daniels asked for eight or more. The national defense hearings by the committee convinced its members that flotillas In the Atlantic and Pa cific should be increased. Despite agitation for additional na tional defenses the cry of economy probably will force the committee to keep the naval bill within J45.000.000. about the sum allowed for the navy during the current year. Hull Foer Battleships. Representative Hobson, of Alabama, will propose an amendment providing for four battleships. These will be op posed by the administration. It is al most a certainty that unless a menace develops in the international situation the bunding program will be enacted as submitted. Admiral Fiske made such, a strong statement concerning effectiveness of air craft that the committee is likely to recommend that 600,000 be expended for the navy aerial corps. Work on the bill will be begun today by a subcommittee of the House Naval Committee composed of Representatives Padgett, of Tennessee, chairman: Tal bott, of Maryland, Hobson, of A'abama; and Estopinal, of Louisiana, Democrats, and Butler, of Pennsylvania: Roberts, of Massachusetts, and Browning, of New Jersey, Republicans. The bill probably will be reported to the House about the middle of the month, and come up for consideration about February, Stabs Boy Four Times. Percy Green, colored, thirteen years old, of 1130 Union court, is at Emergency Hospital suffering from four stab wounds in the shoulder, side, hip and chest, said to have been inflicted by Wilbur Cohen, also acolored, thirteen yeais old, in a fight in Union court yesterday. G. 0. P. "BOOMS" STARTING EARLY Ohio Leads, with Four Men as Possible White House Aspirants. CUMMINS A POSSIBILITY Senator Smith, of Michigan, Has Sup port of Many Admirers as Far East as New England. 6peckl to Tiis Wajfei&ftan Herald. New York. Dec. 21. A dispatch to The Sun from Washington concerning the Re publican Presidential talk now going on there says in part: "Republican politicians in Washington are already concerning themselves in re gard to the next Presidential nominee of the party. While conceding that many things will happen between now and the convention they have not forgotten that the last few nominations were won through early activity and publicity schemes. Hence, "pussy footing" to and fro and other symptoms of the Presi dential "boom storm'' indicate that plan ning already la under way. Msy Be roaaer-ratlve. "The presence in Washington last week of Myron T. Herrlck and former Vice President Fairbanks started a lot of talk. Both are conservatives. The talk heard a few months ago that conserve tive would not he nominated is getting gradually weaker. If the business situ ation continues as it Is at present conservative will be the only one who will be nominated. Undoubtedly this has served to accelerate the Herrick move ment. "Vice President Fairbanks l another favorite with the conservatives in the party. He was cordially received on his visit to Washington last week, and there was a revival of Fairbanks talk. "Ohio has three incipient booms. In addition to former Ambassador Herrick, the names of Senator Burton, Senator elect Harding, and Gov. -elect Willis have been mentioned. There were indications that an Ohio movement In the Repub lican party might already be cutting un der the Herrick boom. Senator-elect Harding and Harry M. Daugherty, chair man of the Ohio Republican committee bad a conference with Gov. -elect Willis. The conference referred to legislative policy and State appointments. The three men parted with a perfect understanding, and It is said that the boom of Gov. -elect Willis received a decided impetus, so far ss local support is concerned. Smith May Be I aadiatatr. "There has been a lot of talk recently about former Secretary Philander C Knox. The Senate has its quota of pos sible candidates. Iowa will undoubtedly present the name of Senator Cummins If be will permit It. Senator Borah is receiving letters from many parts of the country also and riot a few of the old regulars believe he is the logical choice. His name will be voted for in the convention. That much is certain, unless he arrests the efforts of his friends. "Senator William Alden Smith will be a candidate. It is generally believed, and he has received assurances of support as tar East aa New Engand. He would be a conservative candidate. The Pro gressives are undoubtedly waiting patiently the outcome of the administra tion of Gov.-elect Whitman, of New York. He is one of the few Eastern men mentioned for the Republican nomination who seems to be acceptable to lYe Pro gressive Republicans of the West and Middle West." AUTO TURNS TURTLE, PINNING BOY BENEATH Skids When Swerved by George Maschauer and Crushes His Ten-year-old Son. John Maschauer, ten years o'.d. was crushed almost to death beneath the auto of his father, George W. Maschauer, of 23S 1-2 Twelfth street southeast, when the machine turned turtle in North Capitol near Douglas street yesterday afternoon. The father attempted to suddenly swerve the auto from the path of a street car but caused it f Skid and overturn. The man was thrown to the street and painfully cut afc bruised. The boy was pinned beneath the auto. He was removed to Freedman's Hos pital. Physicians found a fiaeture of the skull and Indications ol internal In juries. The child may die Father and sod were the only occupants of the auto. MAYTORENA HAS TOLD SOLDIERS TO LEAVE NACO His Troops Ordered to Re tire, According to Ad vices Received. ENEMY STILL SHOOTING New Provisional Executive May Be Named at Coming Convention. VILLA FAVORS GEN. ANGELES Appointments Made by Present Head Show Him Unqualified to Serve. Say Reports from Mexico. Enrique C. Llorente, confldentisl agent In Washington of the provisional gov ernment of Mexico, received yesteniav afternoon a telegram from Preside.it Gutlerres informing him of the receipt of a telegraphic report from Gov. May torena to the effect that In obedience to orders his troops hsd refrained from firing on Gen. Hill's forces during tne entire day, notwithstanding the latter had maintained a continuous fusluule on his position during the same period, resulting in the death of two men and one woman, and that In ord?r to avoid further casualties, without opportunity of returning the fire of the enemy, he had ordered his force to retire from the border a convenient distance. Gov. Maytorena added in his dispatch that his cavalry on the day previous had executed a movement against a sub stantial Carranxa force at Nacaxrl, In flicting a loss of sixteen men, including three officers, and captured a large quan tity of munitions. DluitliSrd with (.atlerrrs. Thst the convention of the leaders 'jp- posing Carranxa's rule in Mexico, which Is to meet In Mexico City on January 1, Is likely to depose Gen. Gutierrex as provisional President is the purport of Information received in Washington yes terday. The VlUa-Zapata elements will in- doubtedly control th convention, and It Is declared thev, are already dissatisfied with the man chosen by the convention at Aguas Callentes. This dissatisfaction. It is said, has srisen largely from ap pointments that Gutierrex has made dur ing the time that he has been holding the chief authority in Mexico City. Villa favors Gen. Angeles, while Zapata wishes to have Vasquex Gomes made provisional President. Zapata, by Ms ac tive campaigning against Carranxa forces in the state of Vera Crux, is regarded as earning a right to a larger share In the question. Consequently. It Is expected some sort of an agreement will have to be made between Villa and Zapata be fore there can be any choice of a pro visional President to succeed Gutierrex. CALF FOLLOWS STEER THROUGH PARCEL POST Carl Christiansen, of Burke, Va., Sells Meat to People Through New System of Shipment. An enterprising Virginia farmer is send ing a six-months' old calf by parcel post this week. This calf Is following In the footsteps of a beef steer which' this same enterprising Virginia farmer sent through the parcel post during the early part of December. It is a new step In the de velopment of farm-to-table service by mail. To Carl Christensen. of Burke. Va.. be longs this distinction of being the first man to send a steer, and now of sending a six-months' old calf by parcel post. The returns from the calf shipment have not yet been communicated to the Post office Department, but the reports of the steer experiment are all In. Of course, neither the steer nor the calf were ship ped through the mails alive, but were reduced to cuts within the parcel post weight limits, which were then distributed in small orders to city consumers as far North and East as Long Island, New York. The steer was all spoken for by a score of consumers before It was slaught ered. The entire edible carcass was sold through the mails and delivered by parcel post STURDEE'S FLAGSHIP, BATTERED, IN PORT Batde Cruiser Invincible Puts Into Montevideo, Damaged by Shells of German Warships. M one video, Dec. 30. The British battle cruiser Invincible, with Vice Admiral Sturdee aboard, arrived here today with the first story of the battle of Falkland Islands from the viewpoint of the vic torious British participants. The Invin cible, which was Admiral Sturdee's flag ship, led the British scuadron against Admiral von Spec's fleet, sinking the German flagship Scharnhorst and three others of the five German ships en gaged, waa damaged In several places by German shells, but none of the hits was dangerous. Nine officers and men of the Invincible were wounded. Including Commander Townsend, Officers of the Invincible stated that thirteen Germans were saved and sent to England. ALLIES STRIKE HARD BLOWS ON OISE AND IN FLANDERS; TURK CAPITAL IS MENACED RUSSIANS TURN AND MAKE STAND ON RAWA LINES Germans, Crossing the Pilicaj River, Batter at Czar's New Fortified Positions. GAIN IN THE ARGONNES Teutons Also Report Repulse of Allies' Attacks in Flanders. CONFIDENT WARSAW WILL FALL Danger of Invasion Not Yet Over. Ber lin Admits, but Huge Victory Is Claimed Semi-omcially. Berlin. Dec. 30 (by wireless). The fol lowing official statement was given today by the Imperial press bureau: "On the western front yesterday the enemy discontinued Its unsuccessful at tasks near Nleuport and Blxschoote- At tacks in the region of I Basses, made by both English and French troops, were repulsed with heavy losses for the enemy. Two hundred colored (Indian) troops were taken prisoners, besides a num ber of English who fill Into German hands. About six hundred Englishmen, who were killed, were found lying be fore the German front. "Near Notre Dame de Lorette. to the southeast of Bethune, a German trench more than sixty yards in length was taken by the enemy, but the Oermsn loss was insignificant. KuKlaai Offer Rrtlmsrr. .. .1... a M.BBM tKa f.mmnm ma.!.. . " T . : .J some progress sno toox tnree coins guns. Tatar is no news from East Prussia nor the Prussian frontier. "In Poland the Russian armies have tried to resist In new fortified -positions near Raws and Nldu. We are attacking everywhere. Our troops have passed the Pillca River. "The Prxemysl garrison again has with drawn within the forts after taking hun dreds of prisoners. "The English have opened recruiting tenegro and offer compensation to Al ofl'.ci s on the Greek Islands of Crete and I bania. Thtis Italy, which la now our Cepbalonls. where volunteers over the ! enemy, would find a new Balkanic enemy age of forty-five are enrolled. "Two British steamers were blown up by mines near Scarborough yesterday. " Danfrr Not Over. The following semi-official news was given to the press today: "Although certain observers still affect to believe that victory in the east will insure us against all danger of a Rus- 1 slan invasion 'for ail time' aa one com- mentator writes, it Is beginning to be realised that the victory', complete, as it was, is not synonymous with the utter destruction of the Russian posts and much remains to be done. There are still no detests available regarding the action. "Another factor warning against two great expectations In Poland Is that the retreating Russians are getting nearer their base of supplies while their pursuers sre getting farther away In a country of terrible highways. Despite this and the paucity of official reports there Is t the oh most complete confidence that Gen. vo Hlndenburg will be able to finish the work he has begun. "The Vienna official report describing heavy fighting near Krosno and along the Upper Bunajec shows that the Russians are still capable of a determined resis tance. "Private advices show that the Rus sians are retreating in the Carpathians northward from Munkaca without right ing. "Reports of the righting at many places in Flanders give rise to speculation as to whether the long expected attack of the allies msy not have begun. ' "In any event the allies continued aggressive in the last few days justifies the supposition that considerable forces have been brought Into activity by them." TATT PREDICTS WORLD PEACE. War May Be Last, Former President Says. New York. Dec. 30. "When the warring nations get through they will have learned a lesson. That lesson will re peace peace universal and lasting" was the prediction of former President William H. Taft in an address to the Young Men's Hebrew Association In Its clubhouse. Lexington and Ninety-second streets, tonight Mr. Taft came from De troit to talk to the young men. The keynote of Mr. Tart's address was "The Brotherhood of Man." Felix M. Warburg introduced the for mer president. Addresses were made by Judge Mack, of Chicago, and the Rev. Dr. Schullman. BOMBS FROMZEPPEUN KILL NINETY IN WARSAW; fcsfc sfcsfasfs BBsBaaBsBsM fcBsBstam FIFTY ARE WOUNDED; BUILDINGS SHATTERED aerial (able te The Waaklaartaa Herald. London, Dec 20. A Central News dispatch from Rome states that according to a report from Warsaw that city was bombarded yesterday by a Zeppelin. Eighteen bombs were dropped demolishing two houses and killing ninety persons. Fifty others were wounded. Later six more bombs were dropped from a German aeroplane, but small damage was done in this supplementary bombardment. URGES AUSTRIA TO DESERT ALLY Noted Vienna Diplomat De sires Separate Peace and Change of Interests. WOULD CONTROL PRUSSIA His Object Is Partition of Germany British Refuse to Allow Hint of Op and Dual Empire's Retirement from erations to Get Out Passage May Near-Eastern Politics. y C. F. BEHTFXI.I. prcil Cable to The Washington Herald. Paris, Dec. 30. The Gaxette de Leu- sanne today prints an Interview with a notrd Austrian diplomat, whose name, for obvious reasons, is withheld, advo cating the abandonment of Germany by its Austrian ally. The diplomat ssys: "Our national existence is menaced. The only issue Is for us to conclude a separate peace. "We have nothing to gaiil If the Ger man Empire is victorious, but there Is a future for us If Germany is weakened 1 and Prussia fails in her mission "We then could regain a preponder ance of Central Europe without worrying about the near East wherewith we have been preoccupied for the last thirty years. Weald Replace Genssay. "By making peace now we could bone to preserve our status quo, and because of such action would be worthy of re ward from the allies. "We could compensate Servia and Mon- against her. "We are ready to let Russia go to Con- stantinople and take what it likes from Turkey, leaving us Bukowlna, Galtcla, and Transylvania. "A pacific Austrian monarchy then would replace the militarist Germany, controlling the Germanic people of Cen tral Europe." ctimn'TW MFaVI CM I WASHINGTON MEN SELL 75,000 GUNS TO ALLIES Go from Latin-America and This Country to European Nations Deal Completed in Paris. Through the agency of a syndicate, formed to gather arms and ammunition for the use of the armies of the allied powers and in which certain Washington Interests play an important part, 73,100 modern army rifles, purchased in the I'nited States and South American coun tries, have been shipped, presumably for the western theater of war, and within a short time will be in use In the field. The details of the shipment are guarded with the greatest secrecy, snd even to the Washington members of the syndi cate their destination is not known. The exact place of shipment Is also a mat ter of mystery, except that the guns Jld not leave from a North American port The denl was consummated through a Paris banking house, and the purchase of the guns was accomplished by a rep resentative of the company familiar with the workings of the Latin-American countries, where most of the shipment was purchased. It is made up of seven mlllmeter rifles, Mausers, Mannlichers, and Remingtons, and partly represents the superfluity of the arsena's of several Latln-Amert' an governments. That a rigger part did not come from the United (states Is due to the President's decision that the country could not afford to part with her extra supply of munitions. mm RETURHS TO THE 'FROST: Has Pally Recovered from Illness, Says OflkVtal Aaaoaarrmrnt. Berlin, Dec. 30. The Kaiser has fully recovered from bis Illness and has re turned to the front, according to an oi.irial announcement made tonight by the Berlin headquarters of the general staff." Cariataaas Ante Wreaths. Blaeklsteae novelty; special. 50c; wonderful collection of blooming plants and flowers. His and H.-Adv. CONSTANTINOPLE IS GOALOF FLEET Allies' Warships Shell Inner Forts of the Dar danelles. CENSOR PULLS CURTAINS Not Be Impossible. S-perUi Cable to The Waahinston Herald. Athens, Dec. 20. News comes from the Dardanelle that the allied fleet has bombarded the Interior forts of the Dardanelles Straits and those lying Just before the town of (deleted by cen ser). The report adds that before the bombardment commenced time was given the Inhabitants to leave the town. The above dUpetch is of the greatest significance when read in connection with the following message from Berlin under 'date of De ember t: "Forty French and Britiah warships have been gathered outside of (location deleted by censor) with the evident in tention of forcing their way through. This is Impossible as the fortifications have been greatly strengthened and the water is thickly strewn with mines." Paaaase et Impassible. At the time of the receipt of this mes sage it was accepted generally that Baa point described was the Dardanelles. Since then, only a few days ago the British submarine B-ll exposed the fal lacy of the theory that the passage was impregnable by dodging und-jr the nvne fields and sinking a Turkish warship on guard. rhat the movement is one of the greatest I , importance to the allies is evident from the care the British censor has taken to delete from the dispatches referring to it any definite location or any word that might prove valuable to an enemy. The first information (and that very vague) came from Berlin. The town referred to in the Athens dispatch evidently is Chanak Kalessl. a fortified position guarding the narrowest 1 neck of the thlrty-flve mile stretch of water leading from the Medlteranean to the Sea of Marmora at the other end of which lies Constantinople, object of the allied fleets attack. 60,000 HEBREWS FACE FAMINE IN HOLY CITY v Stars and Stripes Protect British Con sulate and Bank 40,000 De pendent Upon Charity. London. Dec. 30. The terrible plight of the inhabitants of Jerusalem Is re vealed in the following special dispatch from Jerusalem: "The cloud of anxiety and distress which has been hanging over Jerusalem since Turkey decided to mobilise has culminated In horror. The American flig flies over the British consulate, meaning that the English are left to the protec tion of the United States. The Ang.o Palestlne Bank flies the same flag and on the premises of the Russian consu late the Italian colors float. "The dread Is not of massacre, but of starvation. For more than a month now of more than 0,000 Jews, 40.000 have been dependent upon charity of the world, and that charity has ceased for the time being. The second Installment of the American relief fund has Just ar rived, but Is for Zionist purposes. It was brought by Maurice Wertnelm. son-in-law of Ambassador Morgenthiu. It baa been splendid aid. bu: of course, rinnot meet the sltuatio-v Of Uilj fund. i7 vtT cent cme Jsaiem. to per I cent being spent in soup kitchens, -where a plate of soup and bread is erved once a day. The other 7 per sent is to serve as a loan fund for workmen anil also for the sale of foodstuffs at cost price. Heavy Seas Sweep Liner. New York, Dec. 30. The American liner SL Louis arrived today from Liverpool after a stormy voyage. According to passengers, big waves swept over the vessel continuously throughout Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday last- During this time all doors leading to the decks were protected, and the passengers spent their tuna in the GERMANS FORCED BACK II AISNE AND ALONG OISE New French Guns Proving Superior to Kaiser's Artillery. MARCH THROUGH DUNES British and Belgians, Re-enforced, Press Forward in Flanders. TRENCHES ARE EVACUATED Teutons Forced to Give Up Advanced Ditches Along Rivers in France. Sprriel Cable to The Washington Herald. Paris. Dec. 20. The battering; of the) new Creusot guns is fast breaking the hold of the Germans on all the posi tions they gained in their dash on Parte in August, while to the north of Flan ders and in the region about Arras and Lax Bassee the allies are galDing new ground steadily. Elaborate defensive positions estab lished by the Kaiser's armies along the River Otae and then around the angle of the 150-mile battle line to the River Aisne and eastward to the forest of Argonne have been hammered Into submission by these great cannon. The invaders have been 'forced to withdraw large bodies of their troops from the first line trenched at a nam ber of Important points. This with drawal his been steady. Indicating that the superior effectiveness of the French artillery, chronicled repeatedly In the official dispatches of the la it fortnight. Is fast establishing; the mastery of the French batteries over thos of the Ger mans, many of which has been de molished. RVIalan. Make Galas. The check administered to the Franco Belgian troops in front of Nleuport and Ixmbartz V when the Germana hurled re-enforcements in great numbers against the advan int. columns, which debouched from Nleuport now has been overcome by other considerable re-enforccraents, thrown behind the allies by Gen. Jjffre and today the French and the Belgians pressed forward for further gains, ac cording to the official statement issued this afternoon. The Belgians are re ported to have made new advances to the eastward al-ng the sand dunea. Along the Yser artillery duels still continue with an English armored train operating along one section of tha rail road to great advantage. Heavy re-enforcements have come to the aid of the Germans who are attempt ing to break throrsrh the British salient thrown out of Ypres, but despite this new strength and the difficulty of the operations due to the marshy condition) of the ground the allies have made soma slight progress with Infantry. The ar tillery here aa elsewhere has shown marked superiority over that of the In vaders. The artillery duels have been frequently and violent In this vicinity. Kiprot a Victory. In a three-day battle against the Ger mans, who were established on a front from Richebourg L'Avoue through Gf-venchy-Les to La Bassee. the allied forces have dug the enemy out of a group of their firbt-llne trenches and have so shattered their defensive organi zation that complete victory in this po sition Is thought to be only a matter of a few days. Arras has attained supreme importance as a stratgetic position with the develop ments of the last few days or since the big artillery duel of December IS, when the German batteries were overwhelmed. After a lull the artillery conflict has been renewed, and the 'jig guns are at It harder than ever. - The French position has been amply fortified to withstand ar tillery fire, and the infantry is In suf ficient strength to press home whatever advantage the French gunners may gain. One of the Important successes of the French artillery was that recorded alone the River Aisne, where the fury of the French gun Are destroyed the German concentration plan. After several at tempts to move the units of their organ isation to the concentration point, the movement ended in the dispersing of their columns to seek sheltered positions. Two Ejmbs Dropped on Calais. London, Dec. 20. A dispatch from Ca lais reports thst two bombs were, drop ped by a German hydro-aeroplane which flew over Calais this afternoon. One of the missiles dropped In the sea and the other struck near the railway station without causing any damage. Jala the Veins Savlaan Raak IS 1.1 Christmas savings club. Open Saturday nights, to 8. Adv.