Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-12-23
Infantry Makes Spectacular
Attack Taking Trenches
in Bayonet Fight.
GERMANS REGAIN
AND LOSE POSITIONS
General ven 1tluck'S Forces RepuISpd
in Attempt 90 Drive French Back
nj Puisaliere- Severe Losses
Sustained b, Both Sides.

Paris Dec. 22.-With vigorous ar
tillJry fire. supporting infantry action
in which tho bayonct was used with
deadly effect in a number OF man-ro-
man encounters, thc allies today made
gains in several localities of great
importance. wherever they were on
the offensive, and, in those positions
where their troops were called upon
To resist the German counter attacks,
the Teuton bordes We're rolled back
and the allies line maintained in
tact.
A lull, induced by exhaustion. has
come upon the battle field in Fland-
ers and in the extreme northeasteriy
corner OF France. where the energy
spent by the combatants during the
past week was prodigal and not high
ly profitable, although the allies have
advanced their line at several points
TO positions better suited to offensive
operations.
On the French right. however, i'm
portant gains We're made against the
forces formerly commanded by the
German crown prince.
The invaders We're driven back from
the right bank Of the Meuse in the,
first important attack made by the
French forces on that side Of the riv-
or.
Sappers Work Well.
North Of the forest of Melincourt,
French scouts and sappars crept up
to the wire entanglements of the enc
my under cover of darkness after
successfully evading the rays of the
n hi tsrbt I,xl
in cutting several avenues through the
wire engagements protecting the
earthworks.
They accomplished their poriIous
task before dawn, and at daybreak,
while a heavy mist still hung over
the field, the French guns and quick
firers directed disastrous fire upon
the German trenches. At the conclu
sion Of this terrific prelude, the
French infantry debouched from their
positions and attacked from beyond
the entanglements.
After the first rush, they Rugged
the ground while the big guns rat
tied their fire upon the pits once
more for a pre-arranged period of
three minutes. Quickly following the
| cessation of the artillery fire, the
French sprang through the openings
made in the wire meshes and over
whelmed the occupants of the
trenches witka vigorous bayonet at
tack whi21~ won the trenches, but
only af1H severe losses on both
sides. H'he German losses, however,
| were he heavier
I'd flights official statement records
another hard won gain in this re-
gion.
| Germans Essay Comeback.
During the late hours of yesterday
the French infantry and marine
fusiliers attacked Doureuilles and
gained a foothold in the first line of
the German trenches. Today the
French attacks were continued with
the result that progress was recorded
at this point and at point to the
west Of Vauquois. The wood of Pom
zenvoiem also was the scene of hot
forest fight. Here the Fernch had
gained a foothold just inside the edge
of the forest on Sunday, but yesterday
the Germans directed terrific coun-
| ter attack before the French were
able to strengthen their position eff
Effectively, and the latter were forced
to retire. Later in the day, however,
they returned to the attack and re-
took the trenches, which now have
been effectively organized for sue
cessful resistance
General Won Kluck's forces assayed
another attempt to drive the French
back at Puisaliere during last even
ing, according to delayed report
made public tonight by the wire CT
flee. Several violent counter attacks
were directed against the French pits
before the stubborn and effective re-
sistance of the occupants forced them
to desist through exhaustion.
On the left center of the allies