South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-31
Furious Hand-to-Hand Conflict
Marks Entry into City-Ger-
mans Make Gain in Cham
pagne District. Paris Admits
GERMAN NIGHT ATTACa
REPULSED IN FLANDERS
Attempt of TeutOnS to Recap
ture Position of BeCeIaere
Taken by Allies tuesday,
Results in Failure.

PARIS. Dec. 9l-The French
army which has been investing Stcin-
bach. in upper Alsace has entered the
city facing the furious hand-to-haud
conflicts with The Germans in the
streets. Official announcement 20 this
effect was made by the French war
Office today.
At the same time it was admitted
that the Germans have made gain n
the Champagne district. 20 The west OF
la Ferme d'Alger, where two lines of
French trenches were blown up.
AT Mcsnil-les- -Hurlus % miles
southeast of Rheims the French have
taken the trenches of the German Sec
ond line.
IN the Argonne The French ble.v
up mine and occupied the eNcata-
tion
Between the AIeuse and 1Ios,uo
German trenches about $50 meters in
length, fell into the hands uf tha
French.
The official statement follows.
From the seas as far aS Aisnc thc
day has been rather calm with The
exception of few artillery duclS at
some points.
in Champagne TO the west of l.a
U \
lery. on the Sector of Rheims) the
enemy had. during the night blown up
two of our trenches and afterWard
made an attack against them. which
was repulsed.
Take Sccond-Iinc Trenches.
To the north OF Meshn-lcs- -IuTlus
we have taken the trenches OF the sec-
Ond line of defense of the enemy.
In the same region 20 the north of
Leferme de BeauSei0ur we also cap
tured some trenches. The enemy made
counter attack. but m was rcpulscd.
and we ourselves took the offensive Inn
our turn winning some ground.
I'm the same region. and more 10
the east. the German forces. which
were advancing 10 make a counter at
tack. We're caught between the fire
of our artillery and rolled back
I'm the Arsonne. near Fontains
Madame. we blew mp mine and oc-
cupied the excavation. at the same
time making slight progress.
Between the Meuse and MoScllc .n
the region of the forest Of MOrtcmart.
10 meters more or less of German
trenches have fallen into our hands Iu
upper Alsace. our troops have entered
the town OF SteiIbach .and captured
One-half OF 10 after q terrific house
TO house com bat"
RcpuIsc Counter Auack~
Counter attacks delivered hy tne
Germans i'm an attempt 10 recapture
the position on the Becelaere-Pas~-
chendaele road in West FlanOtrs,
which was taken by the allies ON Tues
day have been repulsed. The Ger
mans attacked at night. hut were
driven off by the French and British.
who had erected fresh earthworks
along the highway.
The point OF German support cap-
-H
woodland. one mile and half south
east Of ZOmcbecke. which had been
used by the Germans tO screen some
of their artillery. III lies north of the
roadway and about five miles and "a
half east of lDre~.
The German omoardment Of ~.
Georges continues
y gigantic artillery duel Is in prog
ress along - miles. stretching from a
point east OF Arras 90 Rosieres- En-
Santerre. east OF Amiens. About 1000
guns are IN action there.
The Germans are again bomharding
Rheims
Along the Argonne the hottest dsht-
ing is centering around le-Four-de
Paris. the forest Of Grurie tthe burned
forest) ~. Hubert and Apremont- Au
these places lie between the Ai-ue
and Aire rivers at the extreme north
ern part OF the ATgoune forest. ape
proXimately 2O to "A miles west 0f
Nerdun. The Germans are trying to
cut their way southwark by means of
bayonet attacks and sapping opera
tions. until ther can reach the lines
Of communication touching Nerdun 0n
the west.
Cold TOlloW~ storms.
The French forces attacku- the
Germans west of Nuclhausen have
made progress at upper AspaCh 600
upper Alsace
cold weather has followed che
storms which swept over the greater
part Of the battle front for three days.
The abatement of the storms has been
followed by aerial activity on both
sides
n is reported from Calais that part
of the city II Duukirk was burned hv
fires started by the boml~ OF German
airmen who raided the citE killing
about I persons
German prisoners. especially these
from the northern front are in pitifll
condition. Their clothes are raEL
and dirty and their bodies are covered
with vermin Many OF then are SUI
fering from frozen hands or feet.
Many of them collapse when they get
away from the firing line
The battle has now been IN progress
ITO DAYS and tomorrow the operations
will stretch over into the new year
NEW YORK. While cutung The
gizzar9 ef turkey Samuel SChwcif-