The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-11

the destruction of the wire entangiements. On November %. after having been sue cessful in passing the first set of entan- elements they found a second series. By using hand grenades the enemy inflicted heavy losses on our men. Notwithstand- ing this they were successful in protect ing and holding the conquered ground, which represented an advance of 4oo yards.
 Mention should be made also of the magnificent infantry engagements which took place between November 2s and November 30 to the north of Ecurio. Our soldiers gave evidence of a courage and a tenacity that is above all praise.
 From Disc to the Argonne the west ern portion of this sector was fairly quiet during the week ended December D. On November 30 French artillery dispersed Germa ninfantry north of Fort Condom.
 On the 27th one of our batteries of 15 milimetre guns. demolished bat tery of German artillery of 1o5 mill limetres at a point west of Presles. At the same time our heavy artillery silened the fire of the enemy in the region of Rouge Maison.
 ",rhe increasing activity of our ar tiIlery along this part of the front has had the effect of reducing our daily losses among the infantrynen from an average of 100 to about 20 men a day. November 29 we destroyed a caisson, six machine guns and bat tery of artillery belonging to the enemy and silenced his artillery at Blanc Cheateau. On the 30th we siienced the German artillery sheiling Toissy.
 "On December we destroyed q bat tery of German artillery on the plat eau of Craonne, and on the following day we demolished shelter and some machine guns in the vicinity of yauc- lero. December 2 and the day follow ing we caused an explosion of several depots of ammunition and on the 4tli and 9th we reduced to silence the arr tillery of the enemy firing on the Rheims. Generally speaking, the re- plies of the German artillery have been without spirit. On December the enemy endeavored to blow up the bridge at Berry Au- Bac by making use of a boat loaded with explosives. This boat was stopped and sunk before it did any damage.
 German Successes
 "rhe only successes of the German artillery in this region have consist ed In two or three bombardments of Rheims.
 Tt is the sector stretching from the Argonne to the heights of the Mouse that the enemy has shown greatest activity. Here is a list of his attacks November 27, three attacks north of Four de Paris; November 2S, four at the same place; December 1, one at- tack at Fontaine Madame; December g. two attacks at the forest of La Grurie, and one at Fontaine Madame December 5, two attacks at the forest of La Grurie; December 1, two attacks at this same forest, one at >Fontain., Madame, and two in the forest of Bel lante, and December !, one attack at Fointaine Madame and three attacks north of Fort de Paris.
 "All these attacks were repulsed with great vigor. In the three last mentioned engagements the Germans left on the battlefield nearly 1000 dead and wounded.
 Meantime our infantry had not beer content with defensive actions. In the region of the forest of LaGrurie, near the forest of Bellante, and in the vicinity oi Fontaine Madame, infantry forces hay, delivered daily attacks and made daily progress.
 The German general staff has claimed