New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-08
Great Struggle of War Be-
ginning Along Front
Around YpreS.
FIGHTING SEVERE
ON EASTERN WING
French Claim Successes at
Nancy-Big German
Guns at OStend.
lBy Cable TO II, Tribunel


counter attacks were made at various
points on the winding battle front
through Belgium and France to-day,
both official and unofficial reports
showed plainly that the main struggle
of the present phase of the war was
taking form around lpres, where the
fighting continued with undiminished
fury.
There the Allies continued to take
the initiative, with the consequence
that the advantage lay with them.
On the line between Ypres and Ar
ras both armies are bringing forward
! immense forces of artillery, the Ger
mans TO clear a path for a dash
of hundreds of thousands Of men
through the valley Of the Canche and
on to the French coast; the Allies, To
prepare the way for q charge the,
hope will bear the shattered mass Of
the kaiser's legions back across the
/ border.
Three new German army corps are
known to have been distributed behind
the first line to add weight 20 the an
ticipated sweep toward the sea, while
both the French and British forces
have been strengthened by huge addi-
tions of mobile units.
Gains Claimed by Both.
To-day's official reports from both
sides claim advantages in the Ypres re-
gicn. The Allies declare they have
advanced to the southeast Of the town;
the Germans, according TO the Berlin
communication received here, say they
have effected successes TO the south
west.
In the meantime the retirement o.
the Germans from the Nieuport dis
trict and the protection afforded by the
inundated lands have given the Bel
gians, on the extreme left OF the Al
lies front. their first rest after three
months Of continuous lighting.
The Germans seem 20 have realized
that they cannot proceed further west
tecause Of the cooperation of the war
ships with the land forces, and that
route either around Ypres or further
south must be found if they are to at
tain their ambition OF reaching Calais
and Boulogne.
North of Ypres, that is, between 1t
and Dixmude, neither side appears TO
be making any great efforts and no
decisive result has been achieved. It
is in the direction of Roulers and the
Lys that the Germans are row operat-
ing with all the forces at their dis
posal, with the object of driving the
Allies back on Bouogne. The Allies
now hold the advantage on their centre
and right wing. In this direction the
enemy's extreme positions are at Wyt-
schaete and Messines, facing west
Allies Have Better Ground.
Running from KENNEL toward the Lys
the hills rise 70 a height Of 400 feet
above sea level, and dominating posi-
tions near KENNEL are in the hands of
the Allies. The valley Of the Lys,
through which the Germans are ad-
ysncing, is only fifty feet above sea
level, so that the Allies have the bene-
fit Of the stronger ground.
The struggle in the valley Of the
Scarpe continues with undated inten-
sity. The Germans are still making
desperate efforts against Arras, and
az times shells have fallen into the
- - 81
minute. Ut the French lines are
established and they are skllfully
making every possible use Of the hills
on the west, and the small rivers
Crinchon and Scarpe, which flow near
by, so that the Germans, despite re-
peated attacks, have failed 10 make
any impression on them. French ar
tillery from well chosen positions
sweep the plain over which the Ger
mans are obliged 20 advance, inhlct-
ing severe punishment.
Allies Claim Successes.
The official announcement given out
to-day here says that the situation rs
relatively quiet on the River User be-
low Dixmude.
The statement sets forth that French
. and British forces have successfully
repulsed German attacks along almost
the entire front. Reference is made
specifically to Dixmude and Bixsehoote,
where counter attacks were repulsed;
10 the southeast of Ypres. where the
French and British have resumed the
offensive, and TO Neuve Chapelle. where
the British forces drove the Germans
back.
Day and night attacks between Arrass
and the Disc have been checked. and
near Vailly the French recaptured posi-
tions previously wrested from them.
In the Argonne other attacks were r.
pulsed, and here the French claim
progress.
Northeast Of Nerdun Two villages
have been captured. and 20 the south
cas-. Of Verdun and to the southeas.