The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-12-18

Severe Raat- Hal F.55h:
.n Fld4l.:~.
FRENCH ARE NEARIiG OSI:.s-
Germans Fall Eack North ct 9pre5
and Around Arras-Ships Silence
Teuton Guns.

Teuton Guns.
London, Dec. 1S.-Accounts OF Sc
we're hand-tc-.land lighting with inc
Germans on the defensive como
from FLANDERS. The French are at
lacking with the bayonet as tneS
continue to push their offensive
against the kaisers troops.
In this region the ro.es OF the
contcnding armies appear TO have
been clearly reversed. All the recent
official communications issued by
both the allies and the GerNansTe
.er to the allied Offensive from lpres
20 the-s A British squadron Is
! Still standing off the coast and has
aided the attack in the vicinity OF
Newport, which is eight miles from
Ostend, and has been occupied by tie
French.
1t may be said that the attempt CT
the allies to push the Germans out
of Belgium has definitely begun AID
that the results SO tar recorded Ii
Flanders have converted the German
line into a series OF tenaciously he'd
positions rather than straight
front; at many points allied wedges
nave been driven in.
The operations of which Newport
is the base are regarded in Paris ss
part of the plan to drive the Germans
back to their second line OF defence
| in Belgium and to threaten thelr
entire front in Flanders by a flank
ing movement from the north. 1t Is
understood that General Joffre has
despatched a considerable force to
reinforce the troops engaged in this
| attempt.
The German press has expressed
| the opinion that operations of import
| anance are impending in Alsace
where, it is said, French reinforce.
| ments are being brought up A
new French attack from the direction
| of Toul also is expected in Berlin. It
is added that the German guns dill
considerable damage to the French
| position in the Vosges, south Of st.
| Die.
British warships continued to
| lombard the Germans on the Bel
! gian coast and put several batteries
out Of action.
Thousands OF British TROOPS are
| arriving at Havre daily on trans
| ports and are being moved to the
| north as rapidly as possible. The
| British are making the port Of Hayre
their main base of supplies. On the
| average fifteen transports arrive at
Havre daily from Southampton.
Large camps have been leased or
| the heights along the Seine for per.
iods varying from two to three years,
and barracks are being built. EXtel.
sive supply depots have been estab-
| lished at Harve.
The ofscial bulletins are as follo7
FRENCH.
"In.Belgium our troops h
ground te the from
Ypres tc Mem - hat to
the south and southeast Of BIZ
schoote.
eWe have been de.auched to the
northeast Of Arras and have reached
the sifst houses Of st. Laurent Blangy
"Appreeiable progress has been
| made at OvilieFs-La-Boisselle Mem
| metz and Mar;court in the region Of
Bapaume and Peronne.
From the Somme to the Vosges
there is nothing to report.
."Between the sea and the Lys we
have occupied several German trea.
| ches at tbs point of the bayonet; con
solidated our positions at Lombaert-
zyde and st. Georges northwest and
northeast of Newport, and organized
5le territory taken from the enemy 70
the vest of Chelume flour niles
southeast CT Ypres).
"We have made progress at some
points in the region Of Vermelles, in
France, southwest of La Rassee.
"There has been no infantry action
along the remainder Of the front, but
we report very effective shooting on
the part of our heavy artillery in the
environs of Tracy-le-Vai, On the Aisle
and in Champagne, as well as in the
Argonne and in the region Of Verdun.
"ln Lorraine and in Alsace there
Is moths, to report"
GERMAN.
"wednesday the French continued
their attack at Newport without sue.
cess. Attacks weTe attempted at Iii.
lebecke AMI La Bassee, Tut were re-
pulsed with heavy losses to the en-.
envy.
'"Tbe intention of the French to
throw q bridge over the Aisne at Sois-
sons was prevented by our artillery.
French earthwerls to the east OF
2heims were destroyed