New-York tribune., 1914-12-22
EYEWITNESS Reports Con-
tinuous Progress on
Battle Line.
REPULSES TELLING
ON GERMANS NERVES
Constant Use of SearchIights at
Night Shows Their Fear
of Surprises.

says:
During the period from December Z
20 Is the ascendancy gained by our IN
fantry has placed US in position 10
make in various sections of the front
progress which seems 20 have dis
turbed the enemy. The German IN
fantry is more cautions, and continued
shining by them denotes a certain
amount Of nervousness. The fact that
they are using searchlights and hght-
ing rockets more and more reveals also
their fear of attacks.
after the expensive and useless eA-
periments Of last month, our adVer-
saries seem almost everywhere TO De
reduced to defensive measures, and IL
is we who on the whole of the front
have assumed the offensive. Also, IN
the artillery duels our batteries are
showing more and more their superior
ity. pi.o.
the enemy, who from the 1th TO the
9th inst. had contented themselves
with bombarding our lines, and partlc-
ularlv the city Of Ipres, on the lOth
inst. directed TO the south of that city
three infantry attacks against our
trenches. The first two of these at
tacks were repulsed. The thlrd
reached our first line of trenches, but
on the following night we regalned
this position. On the 18th the enemy
made another attack, which also was
repulsed.
German Trench Captured.
"On the 14th our infantry took the
offensive. in spite of the exceedingly
muddy condition of the held, and sue
ceeded in capturing German trench
several hundred metres IN length. Our
infantry here held their ground against
Gerce counter attacks by the enemy.
The next day, with the cooperation or
the Belgian troops, we succeeded IN
sallving forth from Nieuport and tax
ing position on the western outskirts
of the villages of Lombaertzyde and
Saint Georges. During all these en-
gapements the German artillery gave
their infantry very poor assistance.
"Between the Lys and the Olse our
progress has not been less marked.
The taking of the Chateau Nefmelles,
of which mention was made in our last
weekly statement, permitted us to pro-
ceed bv sapping toward the village OF
| Vermelles.
"On the 7th Vermelles. as well as
the village of Rutoire, fell into our
hands. We discovered that the houses
were mined. The explosives were IN
place. but the engineers had not had
time to fire them. In the streets we
found a number of bodies and large
quantity of war materials that had
been abandoned.
"The occupation of Vermelles by our
troops has forced the enemy to tall
back three kilometres (about TWO
miles). The same day we captured
some trenches to the south OF Oarency,
and in the region of Quesnoy we made
advances averaging from 3oO 10 9VV
metres IA metre is about three feet)'
Our skirmishers advanced as far as
the wire entanglements of the enemy
and succeeded under violent ire IN
gaining a foothold.
"On the Sth some fierce engagements
occurred on the road from Lille TO the
north of Roclincourt around barrl-
cade. which eventually remained IN our
/ hands. On the 9th in front OF Farvli-
| lers and FouquescOurt we made lresh
progress. In this section we are only
/ 100 metres bout 800 feet) from the
German trenches. In front of An
dechy we have made progress ayerag-
ING from 80 TO 600 metres.
"On the 18th to the east OF the road
to Lille we blew up by NINE Ger
man sapping tunnel. Our Zouaves and
sappers were quick in springing into
the excavation made by the explosion
Once there they bombarded the Ger
/ man trenches with mellnite petards
The same day near Lihons one OF our
mines was detonated and blew up and
. destroyed German counter mine
The encmy's sappers were thrown into
the air in the midst of cloud oil
I smoke.
"The Germans manifested their ac-
tiyity only by two attacks, one on the
11th in the region Of Fouquescourt and
the other near Ovillers. Both attacks
were easily repulsed. The German ar
tillery, which on the 14th bombarded
Mareuil. succeeded only in causing
some material damage. On the other
hand our batteries proved their su-
periority. On the 18th they smashed
the trenches and scattered the enemy
workers and also threw shells among
detachments of troops in the rear oi
the trenches.
Shells Rout Automobiles.
"On the 14th some automobiles which
had been assembled on the road from
Lens 20 La Bassee were compelled "a
fee before our shells. In spite of tho
cold and the rains, which make bog.
Of the trenches, the health and morale
of our troops remain perfect. They
show ingenuity in remedying the damp
ness Of the trenches and the crumb
lings of the embankments by variou,
systems of interlacing limbs of trees
like wicker work, and using corrugated
sheet iron roofing. the doors of house:
and planks and other timber.
"A German prisoner declared him
self impressed by the good spirits Of
the French troops, which he said con
trasted with the WEAKNESS of his com
rades. Our troops, well fed and warm
ly clad, are full of confidence.
"0n the 18th a German soldier cam,
toward our trenches, holding in one
hand some cigars and in the other Z
proclamation announcing several Rus
sian defeats. lie had no time TO max,
sound. A well aimed bullet brought
his attempt to an end.
Between the Oise and the Argonnt
from the 9TH TO the 18th there was al
artillery duel all along the front al
most every day. There was no inter
vention by the infantry except on the
night of the 7th-Sth. during a German
attack on Tracy-le-Nal, which wa,
easily repulsed. The German artillery
is set up in cities and villages. Or
the 18th the Germans bombarded Sois-
sons, and from the 10th to the 18th
Tracy-le-Nal. On the 10th the out
.H.a u l. IL