South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-07
BIC FRENCH GUNS
CAIN ADVANTAGE
OVER GERMANS
Offensive of Allies Results in
Progress and Battle Comes
Near Being q Hand to
Hand Affair.

PARIS. Dec. THE heavy French
artillery is gaining the advantage over
that of the Germans, says an official
statement issued here this afternoon.
This is the first time that France has
claimed its guns were superior TO
those of the foe.
The offensive taken along the User
river by the allies continues but the
communique claims no great p.ogTess.
The Germans are resisting stubbornly
IN this region.
The official statement follows:
"In the region of the User we con-
tinue to attack some trenches which
the enemy has maintained upon the
left bank Of the canal
I'm the region of Armentieres and
of Arras as in that of the Disc, the
Aisne, and the ArgOnne, there is moth
ing to report except that in general
way the superiority of our offensive
has been demonstrated.
I'm the champagne district our
heavy artillery, in several engage
ments. has gained a marked advant-
age over the artillery of the enemy.
There is nothing new on the east
ern front, where the position of the
previous day have been maintained"
Fight at Close Range.
In four different zones the offensive
Of the allies has resulted in progress
and at many points the French and
British have carried their trenches so
close to the German lines that the
battle is being fought with hand
7 grenades hurled by the soldiers.
Official information from the front
says that the allies have gained
ground at the following points:
on the User canal, south of Dix
nude, where British and French
troops. supported by heavy artillery,
drove the Germans from their ad-
vanCed positions; north of Cambria, be
tween BethuRe and La Bassee, where
the heavy artillery of the French
caused such havoc in the invaders
trenches.
The Germans abandoned them leav-
ing many dead and wounded behind;
northwest of VerdUn, on the Apre-
mont-Clermont highway, where the
German artillery which had been
planted To command the VarienneS-
St. Manhould road was silenced and
near Dammerkirch, in the southern
ranges of the Vosges. where the
! French are moving forward large
bodies of reinforcements. Hard fight
ing is in progress around Aspach,
where the French are carrying on a
vigorous bombardment with guns
which were carried across the snow
| filled passes Of the Nosges mountains
with enormous difficulty.
Situation FavOrs Allies.
This, the 96th day Of the great con-
! 1ict, finds the situation more favor
able for the allies than at any other
time since the battle began, according
TO French military men. They claim
that the Gremans have worn them
! selves out and that the ability of the
| French and English to bring up heavy
| detachments of fresh reinfOrcements
/ 10 the front together with many big
/ guns is going 10 put a new complex
| ion on the operations all along the
/ line
I In West Flanders the British are
! striving 10 push towards Staden,
I which is only eight miles west Of
/ Thourout and five miles northwest Of
! Roulers. IT is at this point that the
! French claim 70 have demolished a
I German field fcrt.
Fire Damages OStend.
Ii is reported from Furnes that Sc
I we're fighting is in progress around
! Elverdinghe. which is on the railway
/ line connecting Ypres with Furnes.
| The Germans are delivering counter
/ attacks under great difficulties there
/ becouse the flooding of the country
! by the Belgians left only few roads
/ they could traverse In a forward
| movement and all OF these are in
/ range of the allies artillery.
Ostend has been damaged by fire.
\ bat no confirmation has been re-
I ceived Of last nights reports that the
\ entire city is being destroyed.
Evidence of the growing confidence
! in this city is the fact that the the
/ aters are opening Members OF the
/ government are coming back TO Paris
/ from Bordeaux this week