The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-11
French Colonial Troops
Carry off 7wo Victories
Fight for Ferrymans House on User Was Triumphant
Dash on Stmtegical Position, Africans Wading
Through Swamp in Heavy Storm.

on the town of Fay also served to give
proof OF the spirit with which our men
undertook offensive operations. on No
vember % French troops reached the first
barbed wire entanglem, nts of the enemy
and cut them with wire shears. They
at once intrenchcd themselves on the
ground thus gained.
During the night the enemy did not
cease constant fusillade in our direc-
ton. our snlrpsnOO crS and our pip-
neers. nevertheless, continued the de-
struction of the wire cntanglements OF the
enemy. making use oi shears and
mplinite bombs
On November 30. after having been
Successful in passing the first set % IL
tanglements. they found a second series
Of wire defences. A fusillade from ma
chine guns and hand grenldes sustained
all day, inflicted heavy losses on our
men. Notwithstard ug this. they were
successful In protecting and holding the
conquered ground. which represented an
advance of 400 yards
Mention should be made also of the
magnificent infantry engagements when
took place between November 2S and Mo-
vemDer 80 to the north OF Ecurie. In
the capture and the recapture OF very
strong system Of trenches our soldiers
gave evidence of "A courage and tenacity
that is above all praise.
From the Disc to the Argonne the
western portion OF this section was fairly
quiet during the week ended December 3.
ON November 30 French artillery as
persed certain columns of German in
fantry at point to the north OF Fort
Condo. The artillery of the enemy showed
little activity. and our troops were en-
abled 20 perfect their defensive organi-
cations
"In Champagne our artillery has been
successful to II notable degree. on Mo-
vember - one OF our batteries OF .75 MILL
meter guns demolished piece OF Ger
man artillery OF lO5 millimeters at a
point west OF PRESSES while at the same
time our heavy artillery silenced the fire
OF the enemy in the region OF Rouge
Malson.
at is interesting to record that the in
creasing activity NJ our artillery along
this par; of the front has had the effect
of reducing our daily losses among the
infantrymen from an average OF 100 to
about twenty men a day.
silence German Guns.
November 90 we destroyed caisson.
six machine guns and "A battery of ar
tilery belonging TO the enemy. and on
the same day we silenced his artillery at
Blanc Chateau Furthermore. on Novem-
Der 80 We silenced the fire of the Ger
man artillery which was Smelling To!ssy.
ION December l we destroyed bat
terry OF German artillery on the plat
eau of Craonne, and on the following
/ day we demolished "a shelter and some
machine guns In The vicinity OF Vauclesc.
| December . and the day following we
| caused the explosion OF several depots of
| ammunition and on December and > We
reduced to silence the artillery OF the
enemy which was firing on Rheims. Fur
| thermore. we bomharded certain German
! SUNNY trains in tho vicinity nf Ami Enp-
,iine and of Guignlcourt.
! The Germans have shown the greatest
activity in the Argonne and on the heights
/ of the Meuse, making twenty-four at
tacks within the period referred TO. three
/ Of which were led by flies and drums.
| The German loss in these attacks was
| 900 dead and wounded
The Germans claimed a great VIC
tory IN la Grurie wood on December I.
This is not true. The success consisted
in mining and exploding French trench
annihiating the company therein. But
the other companies maintained their
positions and after a furious hand "a
! hand struggle a new trench was seized
and held twenty-six meters behind the
/ mined trench.
The capture OF Ronhomme Pass. or
, the crest Of which the Germans had ar,
tilery which dominated the valley Of tho
Muerthe. was brilliant affair for the
chassaurs. II LASTED two hours
trumpet sounded the charge and the chas
seurs advanced. singing the 'Marseil-
laiSc one OF the ohasseurs brought q
flag to the plain facing the town hal
and pla. ed Il on the summit OF tht
heights The chasseurs lost severely.
German counter attacks northwest o
Senones have been repealed. and tn,
French troops even held hlockhous'
within ten meters OF tn. enerlys trenches
sergeant AMI four men in the block
house were kept in provisions by thei
romr,des by placing meat and bottle
OF water inside loaves OF bread anC
hurting them into the blockhouse,"