The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-15
Special Gable Despatch 10 The srS.

PARIS. Dec. 1.-THE French Govern
ment's official reports to-day contained
the most important news that has been
given out for several weeks. They
showed. despite cautious phraslng. that
the general offensive movement by the
Allies IS getting results all along the
battle front.
The three features that stand out
most prominently are the broad advance
the French have made in Alsace; the
success Of the French and British In adj
vancing tho wedge they have driven
into the German lines on the salient
of Ypres, and the intmation that the
French superiority in artillery has
forced the Germans to withdraw to the
north heavy guns they had been
operating on the heights of the Mouse.
or the three the advance in Alsace
Is the most significant The trend or
the advance is slightly northeast. The
left wing of the French in Alsace has
pushed forward from Thanh 10 Stein
bach. northwest of Mueihausen. The
centre has struggled forward along the
roads to Muelhausen until 1t holds an
important crossroads at Pont dAspach.
while the right wing has penetrated
from Dannemarie to near Eglinten, al
most directly north OF Altkirch Flying
columns are approaching Altkirch
| from the south, so that A!tkirch IL
practically invested on three sides.
on the Meuse the French superiority
| in artillery has been won af'er
many weeks of night and day can
! nouAding, and if the Official Ihtha-
ton that the Germans are moving TO
positions further north is correct II can
mean little else than an easier task IN
the future for tho field forces which
have been steadily closing In on ST
Mihiel from the west, the north, the
south and the southeast, There is great
hope here that the loop around ST.
Mihiel will he entirely closed within a
few DAYS and that the Germans will be
forced to clear out of eastern France.
French Artillery succeeds.
The retirement of the German artillery
and the capture by the French or line
of Entertainments 500 meters long IN the
forest of Montmartro was announced as
results OF the fighting yesterday, Whll'
the official reports descriptive OF Tho
operations to-day mention an unsuccess
full artillery attack by tho Germans or
the railroad station ut CommeIcy, nlh'
miles south OF ST. Mihiel.
The situation In FLANDERS, Ms sum
| married by the Govern.hent. appears u
| bee entirely favorable to the Allies. TIT
| offensive movement begun "A week ago ha'
been maintained and to-day the Frenci
| moved forward along tho Npres Cana
and west OF Hollebck-. n town which ha
| been held by the Germans for man!
weeks.
| There were artillery engagements nortf
4 the Aisne yesterday ana tho German
guns were directed against IN" frenci
position northwest OF Spup!r. The reply
OF the French guns was so effective tina
, neld tortincations Of the Germans wer'
! a. molshed
In Alsace tho Germans attempted 10
dal 90 lcgan ground taken by the stead!
iadVahcc Of the French. but We're repuse'
northwest of CrrnaY. Yesterday aite
organizing new positions, the French lin
, In upper Alsace ran from north OF Stein
! bach to pont d Aspach, to Pont de BRING
o hoeffcn aud TO the west OF kglingen.
I The report OF tonight giving brief de
tails of the operations to-day was "A
follows.
Attacks by tho French have pro-
crossed a'ong tho Npres canal and
a west Of iIollcbeke. Several violent
counter attacks have all been re
pulsed by our troops
Tho railroad station OF Commcrcy
= ca. miles south OF st. MiheD was
y homhsrdcd yesterday by batteries
Il nring from "A great distance. The
d damage IN Insignificant.
In Asacc the enemy again as