South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-08
FIERCE GALES PROVE
AID TO INVADERS
Germans Shift Pressure Against
Extreme Left Wing of Allies
and Beat Back BeIgianS
Holding That Position.

PARIS. Dec. o.-Ine GerInanS are
developing fierce counter-attacks in
West Flanders to offset the offensive
of the allies. Along the center the
heavy French artillery is gaining over
that of the Germans at number of
points. This information was con-
tanned in the official statement this
afternoon.
The cOmmunique follows:
Throughout the day of yesterday
the enemy showed himself more active
than on the preceding day along the
User and in the vicinity Of Ypres Our
all his attacks, however.
Near Arras a brilliant attack has
placed our forces in possession of the
village of Vermelles, as previously an
nounced.
VermelleS Center.
''Vermelles has been the center Of
a hard struggle for about eight weeks.
On Oct. 16 the Germans took posses
sion Of the place and between Oct Fl
and Oct. % succeeded in forcing back
our lines.
"Since Oct. 25 we have been creep
sapping operations. BY Dec. 1 we
had reached the outskirts Of the viii
lage when our attacks resulted in the
capture of the chateau of VermelleS.
ION the Aisne and in the cham
pagne district artillery duels have
taken place in which our heavy guns
gained prominence over the Germans
1--WE have gained ground in the Ar
gonne, in the forest of Grurie, and TO
the northwest of Pont-Au-Mousson in
the forest of LaPrete.
There is nothing to report as to
the balance of the front"
Germans Shift Pressure.
Taking advantage of the fierce gales
on the Belgian coast which rendered
the British and French war fleets in
the North sea helpless, the Germans
have made a sudden shift of pressure
against the extreme wing of the allies,
beating back the Belgians who held
that position.
Fighting in the midst of a furious
storm, which drove in from the North
sea, the German soldiers. while lash
ed by wind and rain, hurled them
selves against the Belgians with such
force that King Albert's men were
compelled to fall back.
Immediately following up their ad-
vantage the Germans pushed long
range artillery westward along the
Nieuport-Furnes road and are now
shelling OOst-Duinkirle, which is only
15 miles from Dunkirk, France, one
of the two chief objectives of the Ger
man drive toward the coast.
COST -Duinkirke is two and a half
miles west NieupOrt and only nine
miles from the French border. Off
cial dispatches from the front an
nounce that the German artillery Is
bonn harding the town, but they fall
to say how near the Germans are to
the place This information has es-
tablished the following facts:
That the allied forces which We're
recently reported to be on the out
skirts of Ostend, ready to enter at
any time they choose, have been
forced to retire; that the Belgian
army. whose duty it was 20
hold the extreme left Of the allied
line. has fallen back under the as
saults of the Germans and that the
Germans are in possession of main
which is out OF reach of the flood. The
recent attempt Of the allies in the
extreme north to sly ng around the
northern of the German right flank
has been effectually checked
Storm Aids Germans.
Although the hard storm on the
coast has increased the hardships of
and British soldiers in the trenches
they have proved a benefit for the in
vaders. The British and French war
ships have been compelled to cease
their bombardment OF the coast be-
cause the rolling and pitching of the
ships rendered a cannonade impossi-
BILE.
After a week of hard fighting the
French have finally been able to oc-
cupy the village of Vermelles between
Bethune and IaBassee.
The main lines of the big German
wedge. lying from the Meuse TO a
point near Scissors, and from Sois-
sons northeastward to Armentieres
remain intact. Military experts, who
have analyzed the war tactics OF the
Prussians believe that the German
armies in this triangle are only bid
ing their time for another dash
against Paris. IL is a question. how
ever. If the Germans have sufficient
troops between the Aisne and the Disc
10 attempt vigorous offensive
against the French and British armies
defending Paris. owing 10 the with
drawals recently made 10 reinforce
the troops in the northern sphere.
An artillery duel IS in progress in
the champagne district and east Of
the Meuse the French are continuing
their attacks against the German
forces in the NOsges and those lying
IN front Of Muelhausen
a telegram from the north saws
that n German aviator few over
Nazebrouck. which IS in the French
fnes. and dropped a bomb which kill
ed IN narSnne