Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-12-16
French Make Broad Claims.

cupied the positions abandoned by
the foe. This was officially an
nounced here this afternoon. An
official statement issued by the war
Office shows that the French artillery
! continues to demonstrate its superb
ority over that OF the Germans. One
Of the German howitzer batteries has
been completely destroyed, the OFF,
cial statement says.
The communique follows in full:
"The enemy has been compelled to
evacuate the western bank Of the
User Canal to the north of the house
of the ferryman. We are occupying
that bank.
"In the region of Arras there are
artillery conflicts. In the region of
Nampcel our batteries have silenced
the batteries Of the enemy.
"In the region of the Aisne our
heavy artillery has silenced the Ger
man field artillery. One Of their
batteries of howitzers has been COM
pletely destroyed.
"To the northeast of Valley, in,
the region of Perthes, and in that Of
the Forest of Grurie there have been
artillery duels and some infantry en-
gagements which have turned to our
advantage.
con the heights of the Meuse the
enemy's artillery has been less active
On the other hand, that Of our troops
has destroyed at DeuX-Nouds (to the
west Of Vigneulles-Les-Ha HattonchateD II
two Of the enemys batteries, one Of
/ heavy calibre, the other used for fir
ing upon aviators.
''In the same region we have blown
up a blockhouse and destroyed seve-
raj trenches.
Between the Meuse and the Mo-
selle there is nothing to report.
"In the Vosges there are artillery
combats. In the region Of Sanones
we have strengthened the positions
taken the day before
Allies Gaining Impetus.
London, Dec. 13.-Both the Ger
man and French official reports con-
| tain evidence that the allies offen-
sive movement is beginning to gather
impetus, and is meeting with stub
! born resistance. The French have
been particularly active in the Woe
vre region. At several points the
! Germans have made counter attacks,
: which, the French claim, have been
repulsed
! The German report shows that
! Gen. Joffre's men have reached a
! point midway between st. Mihiel and
Pont-a-Mousson, which would indi-
cate that they had crossed the Ger
man line Of communications In these
operations the French lost heavily.
The battles in Poland continue al
most without intermission, and while
both Russians and Germans announce
successes, apparently no decisive re-
suit has been reached. The Germans
still are delivering heavy blows at
the Russian centre, where, they as
sert, they took II, 900 prisoners and
40 machine guns. South Of Cracow
the Russians claim the capture of
machine guns.
The rehabilitated Servian army
continues victorious in the Balkan
area of the war. The shattered Aus
trian right crossed the Drina into
Bosnia, where it was attacked by
the Montenegrins near Vishegrad,
and had to leave another toll of pris-
oners, killed, wounded, and war ma
terials. Meantime the Austrian
army from Belgrade has attacked
the Servian right and been repulsed.
1t is unofficially reported that the
Austrians are preparing to leave Bel
grade.
Reports from Front Conflict.
London, Dec. IA. - Vigorous
thrusts at the German line in France
were made again by the allies, but
reports Of successes in to-days Off
cial statement from Paris are not
borne out by the Berlin communica-
ton.
The French war office states Ger
man positions along the Aisne were
demolished, that in the Woevre dis
trict a line Of trenches 500 yards
long was captured, and that further
progress was made in the Argonne
and in Alsace.
The German announcement saws