Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-05
ALLIES PREPARE TO TEST
STRENGTH WITH GERMANS
CONFERENCE.-The VIII Be Supreme
Effort of JofGre to Expel
Invaders. Is.
FURY OF ATTACK WILL BREAK
Fighting Develops With Great Vieor
on Three Distinct Fronts-Frencl,
Commanders Army RS Perfect as
Modern Science Can Make It.

Especial Gable to The Times Dlspateh I
PARIS, December 4.--General Jofsres
allied forces are marching for a final
test OF strength with tho Germans. Tho
counteroffensivc, which Is to BIO the SUI
preme effort OF the French commander.
ln-chief to expei the invaders from
France. Alsace and wost Flanders Is
gradually developing. and the arrival
of the psychological moment is all
that Is awaited for the great drive.
simultaneously In Flanders, along
tho Atsne and in Alsace-on thrco die
tinct fronts where the lighting Of the
past few days has developed great
vigor-the fury OF the grand assault
is expected TO break forth.
For two weeks, ever since the CAM
<paign on the eastern frontier began
to turn I'm favor OF the Russian arms,
the strength of the allied armies has
been rolling UP In great pillows. until
to-day Joffre has mt his command n
grand army an perfect in equipment,
In training and IN morale as modern
science of war can develop.
Already unofficial reports partially
confirmed by official statementa tell OF
lighting OF unprecedented proportion.
In FLANDERS and or another great bat
The Arras engagement. terrinc
though 1t has been during the past
iew days. dwindles in Importance whom
compared With the Significance OF tito
new battle along the User.
OFFICIAL REPORTS RECORD
REFUSES TO GERMANY
To-day's official reports from the
front record rerulses to the German
attempts to retrieve their lost tori
tory between Becelaerc. five miles due
east OF fpres. and Passchendalc, seven
miles northeast OF that town. These
are points on the allics salient, thrown
out to protect Ypres from German us-
sauIt. The Infantry or the invaders at
tempted to advance under vigorous can
noradinE. pat they were met and
thrown back b. the British battalions
holding these positions
The German bombardnept was main
tanned from Ypres as FAR as the shell
swept Held OF Ronlers. The main ac-
tivity OF the Germans was evidenced
along the stretch between the rail-
way which connects Ypres and RouI-
ers. The highway between the towns
or Becel2cre and Pgsschendalc also
was the scene OF terrific conflicts II
Is along these graded stretches only
that the Germans are able to move
their Infantry, because Of the effects
OF the inundation which has covered
the low ground between with water
the north OF Arras the French troops
We're able 10 continue the work OF
strengthening the positions taken from
the Germans in the lighting OF Mon
day. particularly at yermellcs, between.
Lens and Labassec
To-niHhts official communiaue from
Bordeaux states that III this north
ern area 'onc the allies on Wednesday,
succeeded In making captive e91 Ger
mans.
NEW ATTACKS ESSAYED
ny GERMAN IxFANTRY
German infantry essayed now at
tacks against the French trenches in
the Argonne region. but all met with
failure. Most violent OF these efforts
was the assault on La Cornc, north
west of the forest OF Grurie which is
about Twenty-Five miles west of Verdun
This. like the other assaults to the
south. failed before the stubborn
French resistance.
In Alsacc the lighting IS develop
Ing with surprising activity. Official
statements from Bordeaux claim that
the French have advanced steadily In
the direction OF Altkirch. and near that
city. pnonlcial reports are that tho
offensive movement is also gaining in
the direction OF Muclhausen.
The sporadic engagements In whicb
the French and Germans have met
during the past week apparently have
In progress, and which IS reported to
be of greater magnitude than any yet
Fought on tho French right.
The strategical positions lately oc-
cupied by the French as recorded in
Official statements evidently have been
steps In tho French preparation for
tho more important conflict The
strength with which the Germans have
met the attack shows that the move
ment has been anticipated, and that
the Germans have brought I'D con-
siderable bodies OF achievements.
Unofficial estimates now place tho
number OF British rcinforcements
which have reached the firing line dur
Ing the past fortnight ct 100000. With
them at the front Is King George. The
Prince OF Wales has just Joined the
British monarch. The royal visit to tile
front has been marked by importa
conferences, and one report IS that be-
fore President Poincare returned from
his visit to the firing limo there was n
| conference in the field between tho
King, the President. King Albert, Lord
Kitchener and General Joffrc.
Certain 1t Is that tho presence or
King George has greatly hastened tho
British troops, and their lighting OF tho
past three days has been marked with
daring and dash which were remark