South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-05
Paris Statement Declares Ap-
preCiabIe Gains Have Been
Made Against the Germans
North Of River LyS.
FIGHTING ON BELGIAN
AND GERMAN GROUNDS
Chief Zones of Operations in
West Are Now Outside of
France, Latest Reports From
Battle Front Reveal.

PARIS, Dec 5.-Successful results
of the offensive operations by the
allies in the north are announced in
the official communlque issued here
this afternoon. 1t states that appre-
ciable progress has been made against
the Germans north of the river Eys.
The French infantry. making an at
tack at dawn captured with one
charge, two lines of the enemy's
trenches and made a gain of 800
meters (abOut One-third of a mile.)
The fighting has become apparently
terrific. the various opposing forces
advancing from village to village. The
statement says that the allies hold
part of the village OF Weidendreft,
northwest Of Langemark.
The official statement follows
Ito the north OF Lys, we have real
lied appreciable progress. Our in
fant,y attacking at dawn took with "a
sing 6 charge two lines of trenches.
The sain was 500 meters. a portion
OF the hamlet OF Weidendreft, one
kilometer northwest of Langemarck.
remains in our hands. Before
POesele, half way between DiXmude
and Ypres, we have taken on the right
bank OF the canal a road house, over
which there had been sharp lighting
for month,
The enemy has tried without sue
cess. with a violent attempt OF heavy
artillery 10 force us 90 evacuate the
ground we have won.
In the region or Arras and in the
champagne district, there have been
intermittent CannOnades here and
there. Itheims has been bombarded
with particular intensity.
For our part we have destroyed
Va
earthworks.
''ln the Argonne region the fighting
is very hot all the TINE We have
captured numerous trenches and have
Iepulsed all counter attacks.
I'm Lorraine and Alsace there is
nothing important 10 report"
Fighting out OF France.
The two chief zones of operations
ON the great battle line now lie outside
of French soil, although there Is still
severe lighting at points between the
Meuse and Lille
The vigorous demonstrations Of the
allies all along the line from the North
sea to the southern foothills OF the
Nosges are gradually, but surely
growing into a pronounced offensive.
According 20 official and unofficial re-
ports from the front, the hardest
nghtinss is now taking place upon Bel
gian and German soil. In " est tlan-
uers the British have gained three or
four miles of ground northeast of
Npres, in the southern ranges of the
Nosges the French are eXerting more
vigOr than they have at any time since
the invasion of AlSace in the early
stages of the war. The allies thus
gained at both ends OF the line.
The German forces that attempted
to invest Belfort were met 10y
French army which moved eastward
6ef nf N
and Muelhausen- The consequence is
that another big battle is developing
west OF COlmar.
Hold Strong Positions.
The French troops hold strong posi-
tions on German soil TO which they can
fall back. If necessary. 1t is report
ed from Basle. Switzerland. that the
sound OF heavy CannOnade can be
heard from the German border
The main struggle Centers on a line
extending near Altkirch, Dammerkirch
and Sennhein.
Near Altkirch the German guards
made fearful b. the heavy lombard
Iuent. fled from a big asylum for the
insane which housed 40 inmates. The
lunatics. rendered frantic 10y the thun-
der Of the big guns, tried 10 break out
and many OF them were hurt. Soldiers
finally took charge of the situation
and took the unfortunates from the
firing zone
a dispatch from Basic SAYS that
great preparations have been made at
Strassburg to prevent French troops
from advancing. Many lines of
trenches have been dug IN the valley
of the Bruch and the forests and
parks have been levelled TO facilitate
that defense. The suburbs OF the city
are being flooded. Whole districts
about Muelhausen have been mined
Lessen Dangers.
The French operations east OF the
Nfeuse are being carried on with such
vigor that the dangers confronting
Verdun are being lessened daily. The
Germans are bringing up reinforce
ments i'm Alsace, but the French are
confident that their offensive IN TINS
region will sweep the kaiser's forces
back 10 the Rhine valley defense.
France is showing her determination
nv putting every class OF reservists in
the field Boys OF is are being called
10 the colOrs for drill work.