South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-09
ariS Official Statement Says
Germans Mined and Blew Up
One French Trench But Lost
Several During Assaults.
NIGHT ATTACKS AGAIN
FEATURE OF STRUGGLE
Fierce Counter Movements by
Germans Check Allies Of
tenSiVe in West Flanders
Artillery Duel ReopenS.

PARIS, Dec. 9-In their continued
offensive against the Germans nu-
merous trenches have been captured
by the allies. says an official statement
issued here this afternoon. 1t claims
success for the allies along the great
battle front at practically every point
but one. where the Germans mined
and blew up a French trench.
The full statement, one of the long
est that has been issued, as follows:
From the sea to the Lys. during
the day of the eighth, there were ar
tillery duels.
'AlI the positions gained by us in
the last two days have been organized
and strengthened.
I'm the region of the Aisne, there
were artillery duels and with our in
fantry we made appreciable progress.
Several German trenches have been
captured. We have made progress
on all the front except at a single
point, where the enemy blew up one
of our trenches with a mine. ON the
heights of the Meuse our artillery
easily mastered that of the enemy. In
that region, as also in the ArgOnne,
we have advanced on the entire front
and taken several of the enemy s
trenches.
1T has been the same in the forest
Of Lapetre.
RepuIse Numerous Attacks.
in the VOsges we have repulsed
numerous attacks to the northwest of
SimOEes In the rest OF the NOSges
section the enemy did not make any
serous effort to attack on the elghth,
the positions taken by US last week:
"RusSia-The stubborn attacks or
the Germans against the front How
Strykow-Lodz, and a line running
from north TO south six kilOmeters to
the west OF PieOtrOkow have been re-
pulsed.
Nevertheless by reason of the ar
row-shaped position OF the line, the
Russians have felt it necessary to
evacuate LODI.
(This is the first official confrma-
tion Of the German claim of victory
at Lodz.)
I'm Galicia the Austrians who seem
TO have been reinforced by the Ger
mans. have taken the offensive IN the
region of Neusandez.
''The Servian armies are making
progress in the high valleys OF the
western Morova and on the left bank
of the Ljig river.
They have taken the heights of
Maljen. capturing numerous prisoners
and cannon OF the enemy
"In the region of KOsmaj they are
in contact with the Austrian troops"
Night Attacks Feature.
The allies offensive movement in
West Flanders, which seems to have
been concentrated in an attempt to
advance against Roulers, is meeting
with fierce counter attacks by the
Germans both north and south Of
Ypres Night attacks have again be
come a feature of the struggle in
western Belgium and so terrific is the
artillery fire that the sound of the big
guns can be heard at HaZebrOuck. 20
miles away from the scene of action.
The triangle bounded roughly by
Wytschaete. HOllebOle and Zonne-
bcke. in West Flanders. is the scene
OF a violent struggle. st. ElOi men,
toned in last nights official report as
the scene OF vigorous German as
sault lies in the center of this tri-
angle The allies have gained some
ground there and the Germans are
trying to retake il but without success
The loss OF life has been very heavy
there.
At the extreme northern end of the
line west Of Nieuport there is heavy
caunonading German guns were kept
in action against the Franco Belgian
lines all night it is reported from
F-urnes.
In that region the Germans have
been struggling vigorously TO make
what progress they could while tho
storm prevented the French and
British warships from shelling their
lines. but now that the gales are
abating the international war fleet
viii again be able 10 take part i'm the
operations.
Cavalry Sent Co Poland.
German prisoners report that the
bulk of the cavalry which had been
massed I'm West Flanders when tae
German drive against the coast was
begun. has been sent 20 Poland. ON
the other hand the big sections OF
French and British cavalry has been
turned into foot forces and the men
are fighting in the trenches alongside
Of the regular infantrymen But the
French and British still have their
horses behind the lines and i'm the
event OF a German retreat the cavalry
could be pushed forward as q van 10
harrass the German rear guard.
The French military men in Paris.
who are following the operations in
the north. declare that the attempts
OF the Germans 10 cross the flooded
zone around Dixmude on RATS and A3t
bottom boats has proved a costly fail
ure
II IS reported frcsn Hazehrouclz
that the pressure of the French and
British has becorfe So strong against
the Germans holding the lines I'm front
Of Tpres especially since Passchcn-
daele fell into the hands OF the En-
glish that German headquarters have
been removed from Roulers TO Thielt