South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-25
Christmas Eve the Same rs
Other Days in the Western
Field and Several Bitter
Fights Take Place.
BIG ATTACK SAID TO
Be PLANNED TODAY
According to Allies Germans
Have Shown Stubborn Re-
SiStanCe in Last Few Days
Slight Gains Noted.

PARIS. Dec. g4-Roar of cannon.
rattle of machine guns and the sharp
spat Of rifle balls with the rumDhns
of exploding shells the deiOnauns
blast OF mines and the shrek of dead
lv shrapnel echoed from the battle
held as Christmas eve approached,
just as they had for weeks and
months past.
For the Englishmen IN the trenches
there seemed no prospect OF a peace
ful celebration OF Christmas day or
for the Frenchmen observing OF
Noel"
The word has gone along the battle
front that the Germans viii observe
the day by an attack unprecedented
i'm the present war
There is no denying the fact that
the resistance the Germans have or
fered during the past two days has
been markedly stubborn. Their arttl-
lerV has been most active in the
Flanders theater. To-day they shelled
with great violence the allies trenches
bordering the road from Ypres to
Confines and elong the road from
| Ypres to Langemarck where the Brit
ish, aided by the French. have sue
ceeded in gaining advanced positions.
No Infantry Attack
Though the shelling was most ter
! rife they failed 10 follow it mp with
an infantry attack and the action was
/ purely defensive. It's only effect was
I 10 deter the allies from attempting an
! advance.
At the extreme left of the allies line
northeast OF NieupOrt there was no
I such violent fusiIlade TO face although
/ the fighting was desperate on both
sides. Here the FTanco-Belgian forces
( are gradually threading their way
\ through the sand dunes toward Wes-
/ tende. Today 10y the operations OF
! sappers and mining OF the Germans
positions they made marked progress.
A German cOunter-attack against
J Gombaertzyde was effectively re-
/ pulsed.
on the right bank Of the User to
/ the south Of DiXmude, Belgian fore es
I assumed the offensive and drove for
ward under a heavy cannOnade. They
D succeeded in dislOdging the German
/ detachment that was holding the ap-
] proaches of an important bridge at
this point and took possession Of the
} structure.
Fighting i Vicious.
Along the battle front south from
! Ypres, along the Isys and southwark
along the Oise the lighting has been
particularly vicious.
Just 10 the southwest OF Ypres, at
the village Of SeWartelem there was
a desperate encounter when tho
British attempted to take the town.
They were met by heavy artillery
fire and almost before the British in-
fantry attack was started the Ger
mans left their trenches in a counter
I attack and the two bodies clasheg
IN the open. Fierce hand 20 hand
lighting resulted i'm the Germans be-
ing gradually forced back 10 tho
streets OF the town. They fell back
almost 20 the line of their artillery
( when they recovered and made A
stand halting the advance or the
1 British but only after the latter had
succeeded Do establishing themselves
in d group OF houses ON thc southern
side Of the village.
In the region To the northeast oE
Albert particularly at BOissclle. the
French advanced their positions
slightly while near Amiens ARTILLERY
conflicts were Wagcd without definite
results. Arras was enEeloped Iu a
heavy fox which rendered operations
impossible
Trenches Are Retained.
Brilliant defensive action by the
French zouaFes in The Aisnc region
resulted yesterday lu the retention ~
the trenches captured alonl the Puis-
saleine road on Dee. 81. THE Ger
mains attacked repeatedly and with
great desperation. but hT dugEed Gc-
termination and great ValOr the
zOuaves repelled attack after arracll
luntll the German effort was spent
To-day they apparently had not re-
covered from the losses inflicted. lar
the French we're permitted tn
strengthen their positions almost
without mOlestaliou.
To the east of Trlcy-Ie-NaL ON the
edge oi the 81 ,-ard wood the forces
of Gen. Won kluck attempted an a,-
tack which also was repulsed.
About l'rtnunH NtHHIuIN the