by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent

This is the Oregon Statesman’s “Synopsis of the War Situation” from the Associated Press for Christmas Day:

Christmas finds the warring nations along the battle lines in France and Belgium, Poland and Galicia striving with unabated courage to gain an advantage which might mean the turning point in the long series of engagements on those fields.

In the west, the French report the usual slight progress at various points while the Germans make similar claims.

In the east the Russian commander in chief, in the latest official statement, reports the rout of the strong German forces which had crossed to the right bank of the Bzura river, Poland. All the Russian announcements bear on the violence of the fighting and record the taking of many prisoners.

Now that his efforts to effect a Christmas truce have failed, and in the belief that his hopes of bringing about an exchange of all prisoners of war will prove futile, Pope Benedict is bending his energies toward preventing unnecessary suffering by arranging for the exchange of wounded prisoners whose injuries will prevent their going to the front again.

Celebrations in honor of the Christmastide are being held in London, Paris and Berlin and in the trenches where the weary men keep a close grip on their guns while enjoying the good things that have been provided for them by the people and governments.