The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-22

where the battle front turns from a north
and south line aud bends eastward, the
French won an important victory. sue
cessful series Of charges driving the Ger
mans from their FIRST line of trenches.
Tc1t Of Might Report.
The text Of the night report was as fol-
lows:
The British troops attacked the
enemy this morning and recaptured
most OF the trenches which they had
lost. In front of Lhons the enemy
made four successive attacks In an
attempt to retake the trenches which
We had previously captured In this
region. All these attacks were re-
pulsed.
Northwest OF Puisaleinc (south OF
Noyon) we have attacked tine enemy
and captured his first line or trenches.
We have also advanced in the st.
AIard wood.
No other important news has been
received regarding the operations OF
the day.
The story of yesterdays lighting. which
was contained in the report given out
this afternoon. is detailed list OF I'm
portant infantry advances by the Allies
and includes incidents illustrative Of tho
superiority OF the French artillery. In
the last week the French guns have been
speaking to some purpose along the Aisne
and across the hills OF Champagne. and
are uuquestionably making 1t very diff
fcult for the Germans to hold their for
tilted line, the line which made 1t possible
for them to take root in northern France.
Yesterday the French heavy guns shelled
and silenced the German batteries east
Of Albert. Part of battery was dis
mounted. Near Rheims and on the Aisne
the superiority of the French artillery
was strikingly manifested.
Advance In Champagne.
or infantry movements. possibly the
most important was In the Champagne
country. Northeast OF Beausejour the
French attack wrested from the Germans
n line OF trenches two-thrds OF mile
long. while near Prosnes and Perthes APP
probable advances were made.
In Flanders the operations yesterday
we're relatively less energetic and impor-
tant. although the Government calls atten-
ton To further gains made near Lom-
baertzyde. st. Georges and southeast OF
Bixschoote.
A steaoy advance Is mentioned between
the Lys anu Inc Alone. where inc Ger
mans lost line OF trenches between the
highway OF AK Noulette- Souchez and
Notre Dame de Lorette, being driven also |
from wood near the highroad.
Around Vcrdun the French stopped Ger |
man attacks and again took the offensive |
They made progress in the forest OF La
Grurie and made progress north OF Yer
dun in the region of Varennes. Further
progress Is reported on the right bank OF
the Meuse In the movement to isolate ST.
Mihiel
The Afternoon Report.
The text of the afternoon report was as
follows:
The day OF December 20 brought
nothing OF importance in Belgium, IL
exception Is made OF some progress
in the region of Lombaertzyde and st.
Georges, and at a point to the south
east OF the Inn of Kortaker, which
IL southeast OF Bixschoote the occu-
patton OF some houses in wartelem
Aou. ef Zillebekwe, and the lombard
ment by the enemy OF the Ypres
Hospital.
Between the Lys and the Aisns
We have occupied forest near the
route between AK Noulette and
Souchez and we also took possession
Of all the first line of German trenches
between this highway and the first
houses OF Notre Dame de Lorette,
southwest Of Loos
The enemy has bombarded Arras.
Our heavy artillery silenced on re-
peated occasions the artillery of the
enemy TO the north of Carney, which
is b the east OF Albert. This artil-
lery also demolished the German
trenches and overthrow two cannon
OF battery established near Hem,
which is to the southeast of Carney.
The heavy artillery also secured ad-
vantages on the A!sne and In tho
sec.or of Rheims.
In the Champagne. in the region
OF Prosnes, Perthes and Beausejour,
os well as in the Argonne, We made
along our entire front appreciable ad-
vances. This Is particularly so to the
northeast OF Beausejour. where we
won and occupied 1900 yards OF the
tnemy's trenches. In the forest of
La ,irurie We blew up four mined
saps. and we established ourselves
In the positions thus made.
Between the Argonne and the
heuse there has been progress along
al the front. particularly in the
region OF Varennes. where the Brook
Of Cheppys has been left 500 yards in
our rear. and in the region Of Ger
court BE thincourt.
On the right bank of tho Meuse
we have gained ground at La Croupe;
ct point two klometers northwest
Of Brabant and In the forest of Con-
senvoye.
Finally, on the heights OF the
Mouse We have made slight progress
IN the forest des Chevaliers, t. the
northeast of the fort OF Troyon.
There are numerous optimistic I'M
cnclal reports, all OF which point to the
success of the general offensive move
ment II is said that in Flanders the
Allies have advanced 10 the north of the
inundated region near Newport and south
Of DiNnudc, and are able, therefore 10
attack the Germans from the west as
well as from the south II is believed
now that the Allies have recaptured Dix
mudc and are making very strong AZ.
tack against Roulers. repor; from
berlin reaches here by the way of Am
sterdam that the Germans are dispIrited
and dsheartened over the situation in
FLANDERS and have concluded that an adj
vance toward The French sea coast ia
hopeless under present conditions.
There has been no news from Lorraln.
or IRON Alsace for several days II is
concluded here that the French have es
tablished themselves in new positions and
ara waiting for severe weather 10 abate