New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-02

London, Jan. New Years Day,
ushering the sixth month Of the war,
saw desperate fighting al along the
western battle line
The fighting in Flanders and North
ern France has been confined largely
TO artillery engagements, except near
B6thune, where the Germans claim
they have taken a British trench.
They admit, however, the loss Of Saint
Georges, near the Belgian coast, which
the official report from Berlin says it
was decided not TO attempt to retake
owing to the high level of the water
there. The artillery attacks, which
have been going on for several days,
have not diminished in severity or fire.
quency.
In the Argonne region, where the
battle has been almost continuous for
weeks past. it has been the Germans
turn 10 make a little progress, as an
Offset to which, however, the French
declare they have held their advance
in upper Alsace, particularly at Stein
bach, where the fighting has been very
severe.
French aviators have again visited
Metz, this time bombarding the railway
station.
On the whole the situation seems
virtually TO have reached a position of
stalemate. Neither side has been able
to make any great impression on their
antagonists line and, both being very
strongly intrencned, it is considered
not likely that either the Germans or
the Allies will attempt another general
offensive in the near future
The close of he fifth month of the
war finds Germany still in occupation
Of virtually the whole OF Belgium, an
important tract of French territory
IN the western theatre of hostilities
ard a considerable slice of Russian
Poland along the eastern battlefront,
thousand miles away. II would APP
pear, nevertheless, that Germany for
the present az least is unable to make
further Roadway.
British commentators to-day call at
tention TO the fact that the initiative
for the moment seems TO be in the
hands Of the allied commanders. and
the recent German public utterances to
the effect that Germany is waging q
defensive war TO save her territory
from invasion is accepted here as an
indirect admission that to battle on
two fronts a thousand miles apart has
caused an unanticipated strain on even
the great resources of the empire.
There are, however, no illusions in
London as TO the difficulties confront
ing the Allies. IL is recognized that
the task of recovering the territory
seized by Germany is little less for
midable than the undertaking of Ger
many when she found herself engaged
in warfare against a multiplicity OF
enemies. Hence the postponement Of
the allied offensive on grand scale
until such time as the Allies are able
to nut more men in the field.
In the meanwhile each side is con-
tinualy feeling the strength of its
opposing lines. General Joffre, the
French commander in chief, is for the
moment exerting his greatest pressure
on the extremities of the long front
extending from the Channel to Alsace.
On the east wing the French are
Cnce more in possession of portion OF
Steinbach. village of much strategic
Importance, which they occupied early
in the war. Against the German right
wing the Allies are slowly pushing.
Along the sand dunes bordering the
North Sea in the direction of 0stend,
which the guns Of the British fleet
prevent the Germans from occupying,
the Allies have marked advantage.
Large armies now training in Eng
land will be ready to be thrown across
the Channel as soon as a more rapid
development of the offensive move
ment of the Allies is considered de-
sirahle