Evening star., 1914-12-31
ADVANCE OF ALLIES
STEADY, SAYS PARIS
Aggressive Attitude Continues
With Even Increased
Energy, Is Claim.
GERMANS ARE REDUCED
TO DEFENSIVE POSITION
Every Effort to Recapture Lost
Ground Repulsed From December
16 to "A, Report Asserts.

| 16 to "A, Report Asserts.
| PARIS. December 31.-There has been
| given out in Paris the following offl-
cial recital of the principal events OF
| the war between December Is and De-
cember "a:
This period of nine days resulted in
consolidating the successes won by us
during the ten days preceding. Our
aggressive attitude has been continued
with even increased energy; every
| where the enemy has been reduced to
a defensive attitude. The violence of
counter attacks has been evidence that
he accepted this attitude reluctantly.
The checking of every movement made
by him in his endeavor to recapture
ground lost to us made our advantage
the greater.
1T is proper to say that at various
points along the front, particularly near
Arras on the western boundary OF the
Argonne district and near Ferdun, we
have made ourselves the masters OF
important points of support.
Soldiers Fight With Fists.
THE operations to the north of the
Lys have been attended by great hard
ships because of the bad weather. The
cold liquid mud in which the men have
had to move has gotten into the
breeches of their rafles. This made 1t
impossible to shoot. The lighting con-
sequently has been with the butt end
of muskets. and even with fists
According to an expression used by
one of their leaders our soldiers are
literally blots of mud. There has been
organized for them a system by which
they can bathe and change their clothes
when they leave the trenches. This
they appreciate very much. Their un-
failing good humor helps them to sup
port in a wonderful way the very hard
life that this rigorous winter is inf1ict-
ing upon them.
I'm considering the operations during
this period of days along this part of
the front we can divide the territory
into three parts:
THE region before Nieuport: the re-
gion to the north of Ypres, and the re-
gion to the south Of Ypres. In front Of
Nteuport there is on enc side the sea
and on the other flooded country. Be
tween them are the sand dunes. Here
it is that'we have made progress.
Details of Progress.
moved out of Nieuport as far as the
December 16 we advanced as far as the
sea, occupied the lighthouse and made
more than 100 prisoners. December II
we reached the point where the Lom-
baertzyde road crosses the dunes. This
day We also made certain progress more
to the south, i'll front of st. Georges.
December 10, further progress; we ad-
vanced 200 yards along this entire
front. December 20 we occupied Ger
man trench, and December II we made
a further onward rush, gaining $50
yards in the direction of Westende. The
enemy delivered counter attack De-
cember 22, but was repulsed.
= 'All the ground gained by us remains
in our possession. The German marines
and the German coast artillery have
not been successful in recapturing from
us the positions we have taken
December 20 to the north of Ypres
the fighting concentrated near Steen-
straets and near Bixschoote, in the
vicinity of the korteker Inn, and at
point further to the southeast where
captured i'll one engagement several
trenches. four machine guns and made
$50 prisoners and advanced 500 yards
During December IS we took one by
next day the inn came under our con-
troll.
Capture of Forest.
I'VE swept up the surrounding coun-
try and took possession of a forest,
certain houses and redoubt On the
22d of December we gained another 100
yards. The enemy delivered counter
attacks, but in vain. The operations
of December II and Is represented to-
gether an advance of more than 700
yards.
ITO the south of Ypres near Weldoek
and near Zwartelen we gained De-
cember 16 4 total of 400 yards De-
cember II and the days following we
continued our advance, capturing two
machine guns, certain caissonS and
several groups of buildings.
"tDecember q. ~ and e3.) At this
point also the ground presented great
difficulties. 1t was necessary for our
men to fight in the water; neverthe-
less our advances were continuous and
never once did we falter
From Lys to Disc.
1n the region of Lens and of Arras
there occurred several very brilliant
actiops which, in their entirety, pre-
sented the same characteristics as
those which developed to the north of
the Lys.
ITO the north of Lens in the region
of Bermelles We made gains not far
from Notre Dame de Consolation on
December 16, running from 200 to 800
yards. On the 18th further rush for
ward won us 100 yards in one direction
and 500 in another Our total advance
December Is was 500 yards. Decem
Der % we made further progress Of
$50 yards. which brought us to the
junction of the roads from Loos to
Rutoire and from Loos to Vermelles.
"In this fighting our artillery was
strikingly successful. In spite of his
efforts at resistance the enemy was
compelled to abandon his ground.
ITO the south of Lens there was
fighting in the region of Carency and
of Notre Dame de Lorette. Here the
territory even on the heights is clayey
and filled with springs. Trenches be-
come inundated as soon as they are
dug.
Use Gun Butts.
"As happened in Belgium, the rifles
became mud covered and the men made
use Of their butts. December % the
trst German trenches at Notre Dame