South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-30
French Declare Artillery Fire
Has Become Weaker Though
BOmbardment of scissors is
Being Continued.
CLAIM PROGRESS AT
SEVERAL POINTS IN LINE
ReinforCementS for Allies Stiff
en- Resistance and HeartenS
the Soldiers in the Trenches
With New Courage.

PARIS. Nov. 3O.-The Germans are
now on the defensive in Belgium ac-
cording to an official statement issued
here this afternoon Their artillery
fire has become weaker and the
French have made progress at some
points.
An intermittent bombardment against
Scissors is being kept up by the Ger
mans. The French have repulsed a
number OF attacks in the Argonne re-
gion. The French troops in the forest
OF Apremont have been bonn barded
by the Germans without success.
There is a thick fog on the heights OF
the Meuse.
The official statement follows:
I'm Belgium the enemy is resting
on the defensive. The cannonade has
become feeble and we have made
progress at some points.
Around Fay (south of the Belgium
frOntier) we hold firmly the points
which we occupied on the 10th. In
this region of scissors there Is an in
termittent cannonade against that
town.
I'm the Argonne several attacks
uDon Bagatelle have been repulSed
by our troops. There is a thick fog
on the heights of the Meuse.
"In the WOevre region the enemy
has bombarded the forest of Apre-
mont without any success. In the
Vosges there is nothing TO report.
RcinfOrcements Aid Allies.
The arrival of heavy detachments
of fresh British troops at the front
in northern France and West Fland-
ers has been the sis2al for deter
mined offensive mOyemcnt by the
.aTA As1rN. Ar.rar for -
ais fresh from England, and by
French reserves, the allies have re-
leased vigorous pressure against the
Germans near Ypres along the SOM
me river, north of the Aisne, between
NailIy and Berry-au- -BaC and at
points in the Argonne region and the
NOsgcs.
Between Arras and Bethune the
conflict has developed into fierce
artillery duel with the big guns
laundering night and day. All the
villages on this line have been razed
or burned and Arras and Bethune are
reported To be masses of ruins
Between ROssieres and Peronne the
allies have attacked some of the
enemy's trenches, driving out the in
vaders. These victories have been
costly. however. as the attacking
forces were subjected 10 terrific ma
chine gun fire.
Gives Fighters New Courage.
The arrival of new troops from
England has greatly heartened the
troops on the firing line. \ message
from St Omer says that the arrival
of the first contingent of British ter
ritOrialS at the trenches near Arm en-
there's aud Ypres was the signal for
a tremendous demonstration. The
cheers OF the soldiers in the allies
trenches certainly reached the ears
ed considerable speculation as 10 its
cause.
There is evidence at hand to sup
port the belief of Field Marshal Sir
John French and Gen. Joffre, the
French cOmmander-in-chlet that
these fresh troops. together with the
French reserves that were moved for
ward last week, Will be sufficient to
turn the tide of battle in the north.
Among the rcinfOrCements are thOuS-
ands of cavalrymen who have been
detailed To infantry duty for the time
being.
French and Indian troops are increas-
ing their pressure AGAINST the German
lines between DiXmUde and Ypres.
They have had 90 encounter fierce
artillery fire. however. for the Ger
mans have all their trenches support
ed by heavy guns. The German bat
teries northeast OF NpreS keep up a
continual bOmoardment which rises at
times TO the fury of "a hurricane and
then dies away 20 the intermittent
rnurmur OF summer thunder. During
the height OF a recent CannOnade.
when the Germans shells at one point
were dropped at the rate of so every
Is minutes. shrapnel burst near the
grave OF Prince Maurice of Batten-
berg. who recently was killed while
dghtine with The British az Ypres.
The wooden cross above the prince 5
grave in the little cemetery AT Ypres
was shattered and the withered roses
that had made mp the wreath present
"a bv King Alfonso and queen Vic
toria OF Spain. were buried beneath
n wagon load OF dirt