Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-29
FRENCH FORCES INVEST
STEINBACH, IN ALSACE
Paris Announces Progress in
Campaign to Retake Lost
Province.
RUSSIA APPEARS TO HOLD
ADVANTAGE IN GALIclA
Cars Forces Again Occupy
carpathian Passes as Aus
trian Army Retreats.

Ifldn Army ReITedts.
Russian announcements of defeats
Of the Germans are disputed today by
the Berlin war office, which states
that the attacks of the invading
armies In Poland have made progress,
and that strong Russian assaults have
been repelled No mention Is made,
however, of the situation in Galicia,
where the Russians are described
as having inflicted a severe defeat
on the Austro-Ge forces
The French campaign for reposses-
sion of its lost province of Alsace,
one of the first objectives of the
armies of the republic after the out
break of the war, apparently Is max
ing progress The unofficial reports
last night that the allies were she'll
ing Muelhausen are supplemented to-
day by the statement of the French
war office that the town of Stein
bach, upper Alsace, has been invested.
In France and Belgium the lighting
drags on, with small victories for
each side The German official an
nouncement tells of the capture of
French trench in a burned forest
west of Apremont.
The French statement admits the
Temporary loss of this trench, but
adds that 1t was retalxen later after
three counter attacks. Both Paris
and Berlin mention minor gains. with
violent fighting at various points
The French statement says that the
allies have captured the Belgian town
of st, Georges around which heavy
encounters have been In progress for
some time.
nv the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Dec. 20 (By wireless to
London, p. m.)-The German official
statement given out IA Befiih To-Day
saws the German attacks in Poland
have made progress and that Rus
sian advances have been repulsed.
In the west the Germans claim
gains near Newport and Ypres. they
defeated the French not far from Ste
Menehould, captured trench west
of Apremont and repelled attacks
elsewhere. The text of the communi-
cation follows:
an the western arena of the war
we gained some ground, after rela-
lively unimportant engagements, near
Nieuport and to the southeast OF
Ypres.
Claim Foe Loses Heavily.
Several strong French attacks to
the northwest of Ste Menehould have
been repulsed with heavy losses to
the enemy. We captured 200 pris-
= oners.
can advance in the burned forest
to the west Of Apremont led to the
capture by us of one fortified French
trench and three machine guns.
French attacks to the west OF Semi
helm have been repelled.
"No changes have taken place In
the situation in East Prussia.
"Poland, on the right bank OF the
Vistula, on a branch of the Bzura
and on the Rawka rivers, our attacks
have made progress. In the region
south of Inowlodz, strong Russian
attacks have been repulsed."
BY the United Press.
PARIS. Dec ga gain of more
than two miles in Belgium, violent
bombardment by the Germans OF the
allied positions along the main road
from Roye to Amiens, recapture OF
lost trenches after violent charges ana
counter charges and substantial gaina
in the Alsace district electrified Paris
today. Despite the snow and mud
which covers the entire field of con-
fiict the fighting was renewed today
with ferocity at many points, accord
ing to the afternoon official announce
ment from the war office.
The most pronounced gain was in
the vicinity of Nieuport There the
allied forces after series of conflicts
in which the German lines were first
battered with shells from the new
French artillery which has just been
placed in front of the enemy ana
drove the Germans back beyond St.
Georges. The battle was participated
in by a strong French force and the
losses on both sides were very heavy.
Villages shelied.
General Won Kluck's artillery has
been shelling the allied trenches which
extend along the line from Roye to
Amiens The villages of Echelle.
Staurin, Quesnoy and Bouchoir have
all been shelled in the last twenty
four hours and much damage has
been DONE The shelling is believed
here to be preliminary to another at
tempt on the part of the Germans in
this vicinity to push their lines west
ward
The lines of the trenches west of
Apremont from which the Germans
dislodged the French few days ago,
are again in the possession of the
allies. They were dearly gained, how
ever. it requiring series of three
counter-attacks before the Germans
withdrew. The fighting was pro-
Ionged and of the most sangulnary
kind.
The Frencn WOulu duVdhce OVci
part Of the ground following th3
Smelling of the German positions,
only to be subjected to a death-dealing
raking with shrapnel. which could
not be withstood. Finally, on the
last attempt, the French forces dug
themselves in almost within touch OF
the German trenches. Grenades and
explosive bombs were thrown into
the trenches, killing and wonnding
hundreds of Germans Finally, the
latter were compelled to retire and
the French, in triumph. reoccupied
their former positions at this point.
Report Gains in Alsace.
substantial gains are reported in
unper Alsace The French forces,
commanded by General Pau, have
invested Steinbacn, after a most vio-
lent battle In which they took the
ruins of a chateau northwest OF the
village. The fighting Is proceeding