The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-12-25
BeIuIan and French Troops In
Flanders Are Reported To Be
Closing In On German Forces
From Opposite Directions
KAISER'S MEN COMPLETELY
sMoTHERED PY ARTILLERY
With Sixty Heavy Guns concen-
trated Upon Enemy's Trenches,
General loire Gives His Staff
Officers Exhibition Slaughter
MlH Wa .--

N1H sa~ ,
(Assoclated Press by Commercial Pa,
cifc Cable)
nARIs, DEcEMBER a5.-cHRIsT-
4 mas morning finds the Allies oc.
cupying positions in Flanders
well in advance Of those held forty
eight hours ago, the advance being
pushed slowly but surely. foot by foot
with every move calculated towards the
permanent possession Of the territory
occupied. Much Of the advance is be-
ing gained through che work Of the
sapperA who are continually bringing
the Allies lines Within easy striking
distance Of the. enemy.
The Belgians yesterday began work.
ing down from the direction Of Mid
delkerke towards Dixmude, on the right
bank Of the User, the direct crossing
Of which from Peryyse to stuyven.
ksnskerke has been found impossible
becauso, 70 ths aoodsd lowiands. A.
the Same time the French advanced
towards Dixnude from Bixschoote, east
Of the hooded sections.
GERMANS MAKE TWO ATTACKS
The Germans made two attacks upon
the French lines along the Aisne, near
Perthos sur Hurlos, being repulsed in
both instances. Like success attended
the Allies at vile sur Tourbo. where
the Germans attempted an advance
and were thrown back with serious
losses.
In the forest fighting at Apremont.
in the Argonne. our artillery complete
iy smothered the enemy, " says the Of
fetal communique, "and we gained sew
eral trenches. Our guns likewise silenc-.
ed several German batteries. "
In connection with this activity of
the French artillery. a report has
reached here that on Monday General
Joffre, commander in chief Of the Al
lies. summoned the Russian and British
military attaches TO his field quarters
with the message. Come and yon win
see something never before seen in any
war
TEUToN COMMANDS WIPED OUT
The observers were conducted to a
position near Arras, where sixty heavy
guns were concentrated on short seq
mont Of German trenches at known
ranges. At the command, the whole
battery opened furious fire simultan-
eonsiy and sustained It for fifteen min
utes. .sts
At the end Of quarter Of an hour
the firing ceased and charge Of infan,
try was ordered and carried out. AS
the regiments rushed across the inter
vening space between their lines and
the German trenches, there was no
counter-chasge. not a shot nor CLEAN
Of bayOnet In the German positions.
They found the trenches scored as
though huge plough-Share had torn
the soil TO pieces. The holes were fllled
with dead and wounded soldiers, many
Of them buried by the ground thrown
up by the shells. s
Some wounded prisoners were taken
but not a man escaped.
TREMENDOUS NEW GUNS
The iat,st British army reinforce
ments bro sJht with them many new
guns Of tremendous size and power
They are fourteeninch howitzer, and
they win outrange the famous German
forty-two-centimete mortars
Immense reserves Of shells and am
munitiOn are being prepared close TO
the battle line, 70 be used in the ad-
vance as the Allies press forward In
Belgium and France. Field hospitals
which win accommodate many wounded
are also being arranged,