New-York tribune., 1914-12-02
CROWN PRINCE TO
COMMAND in WEST
100000 Fresh Troops Now
Being Rushed to Front
Through Belgium.
[By Cable to The Tribune.l


London, Dec. 1.-The German IN
fantry to-day attacked the Allies
trenches to the south of Bixschoote, be-
tween Bethune and Lens, in Flanders
but were repulsed.
1t is reported unofficislly that violent
lighting was in progress to-day along
the User Canal. Inhabitants of all WI
lagos within one hours march OF the
User battlefront have been sent away
Although some military observers De-
lieve the enemy will be content to nold
their present positions until the battle
in the East is over, the report saat the
German Crown Prince is about TO take
command in the West gives fresh color
70 the theory that general advance IS
being planned.
According TO this report, thirty thou-
sand troops arrived in Belgium last
week. and arrangements have peeeh
made for the reception of one hundred
and twenty thousand more.
Whether this possible advance will
be directed at the Allies extreme left
or further south, at Arras, where there
is ALREADY considerable activity, re-
mains to be seen. 1t is believed, how
ever. that the southern route would be
more practical because Of the condl-
tions in Flanders, which make the
- artfllarN fnnst
impossible. The cannonading that now
goes on intermittently is with lighter
pieces. with which the Allies seem to
be better supplied than the Germans.
Zeebrugge and other Belgian ports
now held by the Germans are being
fortified against a renewal of the at
tacks by the British fleet.
The French War Office says that
there has been an appreclable advance
in the Argonne region.
[By Cable TO The Thbune.I
In Belgium (nsme of place deleted By
censor). Dec. 1.-If the troops OF the
Kaiser are to reach Calais by December
10, they have a very busy nine days In
front of them. In spite of all state
ments to the effect that the enemy Is
retiring on the line between Dixmude
and the coast, it il by no means GER
tain that they will depart without max
ing another attempt to break through.
What may be said is that the longer
they delay, the harder their task Will
be. As il is. the German heavy guns
have disappeared rom the firing line,
in all probability because the mud Is
fast making il impossible to move
heavy pieces in haste. Now the Allies
have only lighter artillery to face. and
this is particularly active only at in
tervals.
Recently the German artillery began
with extraordinary suddenness ter
r;fc bombardment of the French in
.renchments. Il started about o'clock
and lasted until nearly midnight. From
n considerable distance 1t was possible
to see flashes. which occurred probably
AT the rate of twenty minute, and TO
hear the incessant booming. Along the
rest of the line the German guns were
quiet.
The French batteries. excellently con-
cealed. replied with less violence, but
with considerably more precision. The
flashes revealed the German
nositions. and the clever French artil-
iervmen went about their work coolly
and steadily. The next day showed
that some German guns had been
siIenced once and for all.
This little incident serves TO show
how erratic is the foe with whom the
allied armies have TO deal. And il is
because the Germans do not hesitate to
attempt the impossible that il is be-
lieved there may be renewal Of the
attempt to break through the Dixmude-
Nieuport line. Their only possible
hope of success depends upon their big
guns, and at the present time Flanders
is a sea Of mud, into which big guns
would inevitably sink. Soldier for sol
der, Belgians and Frenchmen are quite
the equals OF the Germans, and the
light artillery of the Allies is very
plentiful. Robbed OF the use of their
big guns the German offensive must
fail.
While the Allies have been making
sure OF their defence, they Rave at the
same time made possible an advance in
force. The retaking Of Belgium is