Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
CONTEST TAKES ON
REAL NATURE OF
SIEGE OPERATIONS
Open Fighting Almost Dis
appears Along Western
Battle Front.
.HAND.TO-HAND STRUGGLES
IN ATTACKS ON TRENCHES
Both French and German State
ments Contain Claims
of Progress.
ALLIES CLAIM 5Oo-YARD GAIN
Italy's Attitude In War Again
Becomes Source of
Concern.
.HAND.TO-HAND STRUGGLES
IN ATTACKS ON TRENCHES
LILIES CLAIM 5oo-YARD GAIN
Italy's Attitude In War Again
Becomes Source of
Concern.

The desperate character OF hand to-
hand lighting in assaults on trenches.
use of hand grcnades and bomb throw
ing machines. are described in a Brit
ish official eyewitness report issued
yesterday. which also discloses that
the allies are using tunnel boring ap-
the German intrenchments. 1t is said
that subtcrranean life is the rule along Il
the firing line, where defensive opera
tions have been brought to a state OF
such efficiency that the Germans have
practically ceased their efforts to break
through the line of the enemy by as 8
saults. Open fighting consequently has
almost disappeared. and the contest
has taken on the nature OF siege OPP
erations.
This report. however. covers the sit 81
uation only up to September 90, since Z
which time, as shown by recent official y,
statements, there has been heavy i'm,
fantry engagements. The announce
incnt from the French and German;
War Offices contain claims of progress
on both sides. At one time, north OF .
the Lys. says the French statement.
an advance of 500 yards-,a noteworthy
movement In view Of the character OF. &
the operations-was made. Tho in-
tense character of the fighting is ip-
dictated by the fact that the War Office
considers It worthy of remark that one \
part Of 4 hamlet remains In possession 4
of the allies aud that ferryman's
house, which had been In dispute for
a month. has been. captured.
ASSAULTS HI FRENCH
REFUSED ny GERMANS Z
TIE German statement asserts that
French assaults I'm FLANDERS were re-
pulsed. and that the German force7
made progress In the region of La
,bpsscc, Northern France In the forest
,of the Argonne and in the vicinity Of
Altktrch. Alsace. -.
Thersfwas almost no news from the I
east. In one minor operation iii East.
Prussia the Germans report 1900 RUS
slams were captured. The War Offico
gives out without comment a news
paper report that the losses among tho
French troops amount to at least so
per cent. IS 5siS'
Italy's attitude In the European war
has again become. source of concern,
In view of Premier Salandras decla@
ration that his country was in no way
bound to fight with Germany and AUS
tria. and the intimation that &c her
loyalty to treaty obligations We're guess
toned further she would disclose the q
text of the triple alliance agreements
The German governments appointment
of Prince Won Buelow, former Chan
cellor, as temporary head OF the en-
bassy at Rome Is interpreted by Rome
dispatches rs meaning that Berlin
would exert strong pressure to pre-
vent Italy from Joining forces with
the allies. ~ 4;
The newest phase OF tho war, so far
as was indicated by the dispatches, IL
heavy fighting In Alsace, where the
French have succeeded in maintaining
foothold on Germali territory since
the opening of hostilities. Compare
lively little has been heard of the
struggle there, which Is virtually a (
20 Y
apparently have begun d vigorous Of
fensive movement. The main battle lis
In progress near Altkirch, where. the
German War Office says. the attacks
of the French have been repulsed.
DISPATCHES GIVE CLOSER
VIEW OF WAR IN FAST
Dispatches are beginning to come In
from Pctrograd which give closer
view of the war In the east. They in-
dictate that the Germans who fought
their way out Of the Russian trap per-
formed most desperate and valorous
feat. The heavy force southeast OF
Lodz, which was he;nmed In, Is said
to. have cut Its way with bayonets,
step by step. for fifteen miles. In the
face of constant attacks, until twas
battle is described as the bloodieat
and most pitiless of the war.
FRENCH ADVANCE S.
-s DISTANCE OF 500 YARDS
PARIS. December 5.-The official
French communication given out din
Paris this afternoon says that north
of the Lys the French troops have
made perceptible progress. advancing
at che point for a distance OF 600
Yards. The French resisted success
fully German efforts with heavy artil-
lery to drive them back. Rheims again
has been sbombarded, and the French q
heavy artillery has been used with
success against the earth positions OF
the enemy. In the Argonne region the T
fighting Is being waged hotly The
text OF the communica ton follows.5
TO the north of the Lys we have
made perceptible progress. Our IN
fantry, making it's attack at daybreak.
occupied In one operation two lines
of intrenchments. The advance here Z
was of 900 yards.
A part of the hamlet OF Weidcn- y
dreft. one Eil2netre to the northwest
of Langemarck, has remained In our
possession. In front or Poesele, half
way between Dixmude and Ypres. we Z
took possession, on the right bank of
the canal, OF a house belonging to d ;
ferryman, the occupation of which has
been disputed spiritedly for month";
The enemy endeavored, but with
out success, to compel US. biz meansSof
a violent attack with heavy artillery. 4
to evacuate the conquered ground.
'InSthe region OF Arras and In CHAINS
payne there have been lntermittent
cannonades from one side and the
other. Rheims has been bombarded s.
with particular severity. On our part
we have destroyed with our heayys
artillery several earth fortileationss of
the enemy, "
s"InSthe Argonne the contest contipr
ues to be very holly w,aged We have
occupied several trenches and rcpuIscd
all COMMENTATORS.
4 Nm Lorraine and in -Aisace there IL 4