New-York tribune., 1914-11-24
FRENCH GAIN IN
/ FIGHT AT FRONT
German Actions Slacken
i'm Battle Which Be-
comes a Siege.
AVIATORS GREAT
AID TO ARTILLERY
Enemy's Batteries Frequently
SiIenced and Lost Positions
Quickly Retaken.

Paris, Nov PA semi-ofiicial state
ment, giving some Of the particulars
Of the fighting at the front in Bel
gium and France from November 10 70
2l, was issued here tonight. II says;
These last few days, except on GER
tain points. have been characterized
by a perceptible slackening of the Ger
man actions. On the other hand, our
artillery and infantry have gained on
the enemy noticeable advantages in the
regular siege war necessitated by the
eonhgurstion of the country and the
positions Of the two fronts.
"From the sea TO the Lys our ar
tillery. thanks TO the information sup
piled by cur aeroplanes, was able to
reetify its fire and succeeded many
times in silencing the German ar
tillery. .
con November II. in the region Of
Ypres. we destroyed several German
guns. and on the 18th and goth OBJ
tanned the same result az Nieuport. IL
was through our artillery spirtedly re-
turning the FIRE of the enemy that on
the 10th we silenced the German bat
teries which were Shelling the Ypres
station and the road from ESperinghe
TO Ypres.
German Shells Fail TO Burst.
Several times il seemed as though
the German artillery lacked ammuni-
tion. Some German shells failed TO
burst. and we found that they were
missiles such as are used on the prac-
tice ground.
In the last FIVE days our infantry in
this section ha lost none of its posi-
tions; often il has gained ground. The
partial attacks of the Germans always
have been repulsed while, on the other
hand, our offensive movements have al
most always resulted in strengthening
the ground we occupy.
"On November Is, north OF Letses,
the zouaves of the Moroccan brigade
recaptured at the point of the bayonet
a wood triangular in shape and difficult
TO hold. They have thus far succeeded
in retaining IL.
"The German trenches occupied by
the zouaves were filled with bodies.
More to the south, on November i,
the British found in another trench
1900 dead. The losses 70 the enemy
continue 70 be very heavy.
Quick in Counter Attack.
at must be noticed that when our in
fantry weakens under the violence OF
an attack il is the first 70 undertake a
counter attack. Thus, General Nidals
troops. I'm the ~egion of Ypres, retook
on the night of November l7-1S a wood
which they had lost during the day.
They made il a question Of pride not
20 postpone one moment the retaklng OF
the position.
"Sun further south, on the line from
Armentieres TO the O sc, November l5,
16, II. Is, 10, 20 and 21 were quiet in
general. Our artillery scored some
happy victories. On the 18th It dis
persed and destroyed a company Of
German bomb throwers who were at
tempting 20 throw bombs into our
trenches.
Toward Beaumont our infantry, on
the 10Th. did not obtain all the results
it expected, but our artillery played
havoc in the German treDches and wire
entaglements without the enemys -uns
returning the fire.
"This success has made us tae las
ters OF posit ons from which we domi-
nate the German defences.
From the Oise 10 the west OF the
Argonne there have been several rather
severe engagements. Our guns have
inflicted upon the enemy serious losses.
Ammunition Blown Up.
east Of Rheims was an ammunition
storehouse. which was blown up.
"On the 18th, near Well Arcy (Old
Arcy) our heavy artillery demolished
.three German guns and exploded 8
caisson The same cav. north of Cra-
onne, our guns silenced the fire from
several of the enemy's batteries.
"The next day, near Amifontaine, q
German camp. located by our batteries,
, was compelled 10 move.
"The 18th, near Rouge Maison, we
put in bad condition a section of the
lO5th Regiment Of the enemy and de-
molished extensive earthworks near
the farm Hurts.
November 20. near Vailly, we pre-
vented the continuation by the Ger
mans Of trenching operations which
had been commenced there.
"All these successes confirm the
confidence Of our artillerymen in the
efficiency Of their FIRE.
Brilliant Success for Infantry.
"On the 18th the affair at Tracy-le-
Val was a brilliant Success for our in
fantrv. IL was near II o'clock when
the Germans attacked. They lombard
ed the village with howitzers and then
threw two battalions upon its northern
side. Their attack, sudden and in
mass, carried the Germans at first to
the public square and then to the
church. and enabled them to take from
US a mitrailleuse.
"But this success, quickly gained
was as quickly broken down. One Sec
tion Of the Zouaves charged. They com
Errr hNr ~ M y 0 d
the mitrailleuse, and then, reinforced
pushed forward past the church and
the square, driving the Germans back
to their point of entrance into the
town. They were trying to break
through to the east.
an this new repulse the Germans
left behind several hundred men dead
or wounded. Our losses were less than
200 men.
another example the same day of
the sting Of our foot soldiers: In the
vicinity Of ST. Hubert two Of our com
panies, suddenly attacked by two bat
talions, were driven from their trench
es, but the next morning they recov-
cred all the lost ground and in addition
took so prisoners.
Airmen Defy Weather
"On the front of the Oise and the
ArgOnne our aviators have been able,
in spite of the rain az first and then
the sharp cold, 10 do some good work
We have seen the services they have
rendered TO the artillery in directing
its fire. They also, twice upon the
Aisne and TO the east of Rheims, com
PEELED the aviators of the enemy 20
interrupt their missions and return to
the German lines.
From the Argonne TO the Vosges
,nunnernns actions have taken nlace in