South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-20
Severe Weather Results in Les
Sening Severity of Invaders
Assaults - Infantry Move
mentS Are RepulSed.
ALLIES ENDANGERED BY
FLOODS IN FLANDERS
French and British, Trying 10
Distract the Germans From
Weak Points, Increase Pres
sure on Positions.

PARIS. Nov sO.-Severe weather
conditions in the northern front has
resulted in a luu in the German at
taclSs in that region, both with regard
to infantry and artillery, according
to an official announcement mada
here this afternoon. There has been
a snow storm throughout the region
along the User canal and inundations
have flooded the region east Of Dix
nude.
Near Rampscapene the French
have taken out Of the water two a.
inch mortars abandoned by the Ger
mans.
The Germans have made throe Wig
orous infantry attacks in the Argonne
region, but they have all been re-
pulsed.
The official statement admits the
gain for the Germans on the right
wing OF the allies, the kaiser's troops
having Teoccupied that portion OF
Chauvoncourt which was blown I'D n
few days ago by German mines.
Official Statement.
The official statement follows:
"The day OF the 18th was charac-
teriZed by the almost complete alb
sence OF attacks 10y the enemy's in
lduLIA anu llt aTLlltIg dlldthH Dt-
came much less violent than on the
day before
AT the north the weather has been
very bad. There has been snow in all
the region OF the User canal.
ITO the east Of Dixmude tho coun-
try is covered by the inundauons. Be
fore Rampscapelle we have drawn
out of the water two mOrtars OF IA
inches, abandoned by the Germans.
There was a very intense cannon
ade at the south Of Ypres. At the
center there are no important en-
gagements 10 report.
"In the Argonne three vigorous at
tacks by the enemies infantry were
repulsed.
con our right wing. the Germans
have reOccupied the section OF
ChauvOncourt which was destroyed.
Farther 10 the east we have made
some progress"
Try to Distract Germans.
In order 20 distract the Germans
attention from West Flanders where
the allies have at some points be-
come imperilled by floods, the French
and British have begun to increase
their pressure against the invaders
positions all the way from Menin 10
Rheims.
Particularly vigorous demonstra-
tions are being made against the Ger
mans lines in the vicinity of Arras. IN
the triangle Of land bounded by the
Asne and Oise rivers and north Of
Rheims.
The allies on the Aisne have been
bombarding the German trenches al
though the fire has been much lighter
than that directed against the defend
ers' positions The French ana
British gunners are not prodigal with
their shells as the Germans are.
az
Tracy-Le-Nai on the north bank OF
the Aisne were received here today
The French had held the greater part
of the village for five days. being bonn
barded az intervals by the Germans.
The shells did little damage beyond
The destruction OF practically all the
houses in the place The French COM
mander decided 90 await reinforce
ments before pushing his attack any
further and Gen. JOnre sent heavy
detachment OF Turcos 90 stihen the
French lines.
Move Forward at Night.
Under cover of night the French
and their Algerian allies moved Tor
ward with fixed bayonets. Fierce hand
to-hand fghting followed in which
the Algeriaus hattled like demons.
Many of them threw down their guns
and drew long knives from their belts
which they welded with both hands
cutting down an opposition. The main
German position las in a cemetery.
The invaders had knocked down the
tOmbstOnes which they used for the
erection of barricades.
over the grave mounds the battle
ragged for three hours. The shouts of
the combatants. mingled with the
rattle 0f rifles and the olackncss or
the night was pierced hv the flashes
OF Games The French had chosen
particularly dark uight FOR their at
rack So that the surprise would re
complete and in the confusion detacn-
ments of troops got mixed uD with
the enemy and fought against their
friends.
Germans Give Ground.
The Germans. being ouruumnertd-
gave ground and tire French and the
AlZerians occupied their positions lt
was an the French commander could
Go 10 keep the Algerlan- from pursuing
their foes into a dangerous position
there it was known that the Gefman7
had raufd fire guns secreted for an
enhlading fire.
m f. p0ssible that the BRITISH troops
stationed near Arras may begin a tie-
or0us offensive in that region In an
attempt to cut the Germans line ~
COMMUNICATIONS The French and
British commanders. however. are
zeepin1 their plans absolutely seefef
and their future operations can oniF
be guessed ar
m is reported from Furnes that
Thursday Was "a comparatively Qmft
dav in western Belgium. Winter
weather Is prevailing in West Fland-
.re and rnarn has hpnn Il fnll UI snow