New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
ALLIES POUNDING
WINS SMALL GAINS
Occupy Saint-Georges, III
Flanders, and Invest
Steinbach, Alsace.
GERMANS STRONGER
TO SOUTH OF YPRES
Capture of Hallebeke Trenches
Important-Mountain CAM
paign Nearing a Climax.

London, Dee 2s.-Hesvy fighting in
Flanders. at various points along the
centre OF the battle line, in Eastern
France. and in upper Alsacs is men
toned in to-day's official reports from
Paris and Berlin.
The French report says that the viii
lsge Of Saint-Georges two miles east
Of Nieuport, on the road 10 Bruges)
has been occupied by the Allies, and
that they have established their posi-
tions there. The Germans, on the other
hand, lay claim 20 gains near Nleu-
port and 10 the southeast OF Ypres.
British military observers admit that
the capture by the Germans OF trenches
near Hollebeke, south Of Ypres, Is I'M
portant These trenches command an
important crossing of the River Lys, 10
which the Germans have been holding
tenaciously. and their capture gives
the Germans a stronger foothold IN
that locality, which is three or four
miles south and southeast Of fpres.
The strategic value of these positions
was pointed out recently IN a dispatch
from Field Marshal Sir John French.
The Germans, however, appear 10
find positions along the Flemish coast
almost untenable, owing 70 the sctlv-
ity of the British fleet, which shells
them frequently. They admit that the
combined fire Of the British warships
and the Franco Belgian land troops re-
Gently forced them 10 fall back still
further in the direction of the Ostend
ard Thourout road, with considerable
losses.
Three attempts were made on that
occasion. each with fresh troops ad-
yancing from Lettinghe, to stem the
advance Of the Allies through the
woods around Lombartzyde, but all
ended in failure, due chiefly TO the well
directed shells from the sea, one or
which exploded the ammunition OF
field battery. Afterward the enemy
tried TO concentrate a strong force pc
tween Zande and Schoore, further from
the range of the warships, and 20
press back their opponents on Nieu-
port. but. although on one occasion a
handful Of infantry young men sue
ceeded in reaching an advanced trench,
they we're driven out almost immedl-
stely.
The German General Stats opinion
OF the firmness or the herman NosiIlon
in Belgium generally may be indicated
BY report received to-day from Ber-
lin. saying that the official press ou-
reau has given out the following:
THE German government will permit
private traffic on the Belgian railroad
from January
As regards the fighting in the Ar
gonne and on the heights ~ the Meuse'
the French report apparently refers to
later events than those recorded IN
Berlin, for Paris tells OF the recapture
of A trench which the German com
mun,catior mentions as having been
cspturcd by tho Germans. The French
are investing Steinbach, in upper Al,
SAGE. town that has been attacked
several times since the Alsatian cam
paign again became violent.
The GoImans themselves admit the
importance of the present operations
i'm Alsace. and one Of to-day's ofhcial
statemertc. received by wireless from
Berlin, says that definite news from
that theatre of war may be expected
shortly.