New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-21
Artillery Attains Brilliant
Results, According to
Eyewitness.
ALLIES INFANTRY
TAKE AGGRESSIVE
Paris Official Resume Tells OF
Success at Many Points on
Long Battle Front.

France and Belgium was given out TO-
day by the French War Department.
The writer says:
During the last ten days detestable
weather, continuous rains IN some
parts and violent snow squalls and
thick fog in others, have hindered the
operations nearly everywhere on the
western battlefront. IN spite or the
conditions this period has been favor
able for us. Our artillery obtained
very brilliant results, and the enemy
evidently was unable to equal our fire.
The French superiority in ammunition
and supplies is being more and more
confirmed.
"Our infantry showed an aggressive
spirit in the Artois, Champagne, Ar
gonne and Alsace regions and their
operations we're crowned with success.
We thus obtained appreciable results.
That the German Official communica-
tions, after having fatty denied, have
now partially admitted that prisoners
and materials have fallen into our
hands, moreover, are the best proofs OF
our successes
The official communication discusses
in detail the activity Of the Allies ar
tillery in the region from the English
Channel to the River Aisne. 1t al udes
to the excellent work OF the Belgian
batteries and the remarkable energy
of the British artillery working in con-
cert with the French guns. Shells, the
writer says, were placed with remark
able accuracy, rendering the move
ments of the German troops in the
rear of their trenches exceedingly diff
fcult and often impossible.
German Trench Destroyed.
at the moment when French in
fantrymen advanced to storm hostile
works on the edge of the village Of
Careccy, the night Of February 6-7,'
the statement continues, sixty volun-
teer+reservists with a squad of sappers
brilliantly accomplished the destruction
Of a skilfully arranged German trench
which had been baptized the ambush
"The action commenced at 4 o'clock
in the morning with the explosion of a
mine which almost destroyed the
trench. Our men charged Immediately.
Ten soldiers leapcd into one section Of
the trench left intact and put to fight
the defenders at the point of the bayo-
net and with hand grenades or made
them prisoners, while others finished
the destruction of the trench and pre-
vented communication with the second
! line.
I'VE lest only three men killed. The
Germans lost more than half COM
pany.
son a road leading from Bethune to
La Bassee a mill which previously had
been occupied by Germans was recapt-
ured by a brilliant French charge on
February s.
"The operations to the north of Ar
Yas were characterized by splendid
bravery on the part Of the Zouaves
and African infantry, who charged
German trenches blown up by mines,
captured the enemy's principal line and
repulsed vigorous counter-attacks.
Between Sousin and BeausGjour,
where our lines were pushed forward
for more than a mile and half in
December, we again advanced on Feb
ruary Is and II, following a dozen
successive attacks, and captured Hill
No. 200. an important fortified posi-
ton, which we organized and defend
ed against impetuOus counter-attacks.
Artillery Work Brilliant.
"On February IS, in the same re-
Cion, another brilliant action, pre-
pared by our artillery, developed the
fact that the enemy was unable to re-
ply shot for shot to our guns.
"To the north of Beausejour we
captured two and three-quarter miles
of the enemy's first line trenches on
the heights, taking 400 prisoners, in
Guiding many officers.
Pursuing this success on the next
day, our troops brilliantly carried the
enemy'a second line over front of
half a mile in extent. In this engage
ment several hundred prisoners were
taken by us.
1--WE achieved brilliant successes in
the Argonne region. West of Baga-
telle, on February II, we made a gain
of several hundred yards. On the
afternoon of the same day the Ger
mans counter-attacked furiously, and
a violent hand-to-hand engagement en-
sued. For more than three hours the
contending forces used nothing but
bayonets. Our infantry delivered sew
eral magnificent bayonet charges, the
decimated enemy was finally repulsed
and the ground gained was definitely
organized.
THE fighting was even more des-
perate on February 10 and IL. At
Marie Therese the enemy delivered
strong artillery attack and showered
field bombs simultaneously with the
explosion of mines in contact with our
trenches by which fifteen yards of our
works were upheaved.
French Charge Trench.
Following an attack by large bombs,
the battallons OF infantry charged over
the excavation, the first ranks being
armed with grenades and bombs. The
companies OF our advanced lines were
decimated and were obliged 10 give
ground, entailing the withdrawal OF
the forces holding the trenches in the
rear. To the left and right our men
held their positions.
"A counter attack was executed i'm
medistcly and we succeeded in capt
uring our second line under the fire
Of machine guns which the enemy had
brought up. On the afternoon ana
evening of the same day, by successive
counter attacks, we retook more of tAe
lost ground and the trench and can
ron lost in the morning.
Our infantry inflicted enormous
losses upon the enemy. In front of our
trenches on the ground lost and re-
taken more than 400 bodies of the
enemy were counted. Facing our lines.
the first line of German trenches was
constituted by a ridge made by the
dead bodies OF their men.
an the Argonne region we were sue
cessful in the forest of lie Pretre and
made substantial gains in the forest
of La Grurie. In this part OF the line
our ascendancy over the enemy appears
70 10 HI taka al las htai,