New Britain herald., 1915-02-08
GERMANS CAPTURE ALLIES POSITIONS IN
 ARC0NNE REGION
French War Office Claims German
 Attack Near fODtaIae Madame ! Was Repu|Sed.
VIOLENT ARTILLERY ENCOUNTER . TAXES PLACE NEAR LA BASSff

Premier Asquith Announces in House
 of Commons That British Losses in
 the West Up to February 4.Includ- ing Killed, Wounded and Missing,
 Were Approximately One Hundred
 and Four Thousand Men.
 The German army in the Argonne attacks which have made that sec ton of eastern France one of the most bitterly contested battlefelds of Europe. The official German state ment of today announces the capture of a portion of the allies positions in the Argonne. The French war , office says that one German attack was repulsed and that the fighting is still in progress. In northern France near La Bassee, there was a violent artillery engagement yesterday. but along the western front as whole 1t was com paratively quiet.
 Slackening of the attack along the Warsaw front by the Germans and their transfer of troops to East Prus- sia are expected in Warsaw to lead to 8 general onslaught by the Russians. in the endeavor to clear Poland of the invaders. A forward movement already has been undertaken in one section of the line, near the Bzura River, and Is reported to have won some successes for the Russians.
 British Losses IO4,OOO Men. < Premier Asquith announced in the house of commons that British losses In the west, up to February 4, in- cluding killed, wounded and missing, were approximately 104,0 900 men.
 Ambassador Page made report to Washington on the use of the .Amer.- can flag by the stea mship Lusitan nia. afr. Page has received no report from the British government and bases his communication on the stories of Amer lean passengers on the Lusitania to members of the staff of the American embassy.
 German Official Statment.
 Berlin. Feb. 8, by wireless telegra- phy to London, 2:55 D. m.-The war department this afternoon gave out an official statement on the progress of the fighting, which reads: "'The fighting for our positions south of the canal and southwest of LaBassee con- tinues. Part of the short trench talk en by the enemy has been recaptured.
 "In the Argonne we wrested from our opponents a portion of their forti- fled positions; otherwise there has n ch of i11on top in r, region.
 "On the East Prussian frontier, south east of the Plain of the Lakes, and in Poland, on the right bank of the Vistula, tn here have been a few un- important and for us successful en- agreements of local importance. Other wise there is nothing to report from the east.
 French Official Statement.
 Paris Feb. 8, 2:55 D. m.-The re- port on the progress of the war given this afternoon by the French war office, follows:
 From the sea to the Disc: There Twas an artillery duel yesterday of considerable violence in the vicinity Of Cuinchy, to the west of La Bassee
 ITO the southwest of Carency, we were successful in a surprise attack on 9 German trench, which had been blown up by one of our mines The defenders of this position were either killed or taken prisoners.
 "On the Aisne front and in Cham pagne yesterday saw an intermittent tom bardment. The accuracy of our artillery fire was evidenced at several places. To the west of Hill 191, north of Massiges, our batteries checked an attempted attack on the part of the enemy.
 "In the Argonne German attack in the direction of Fontaine Madame was repulsed. At Bagatelle a violent infantry engagement started by the Germans has been going on since yes terday morning. According to latest reports all our positions were being maintained.
 "On the rest of the front there is nothing to report
 Austrian War Bulletin.
 Vienna, Austria, Feb. 8, Via Am- ssterdam and London 3:35 P. M-The Austro- Hungarian war press bureau today issued the following description of the recent fighting in the Car pathian mountains:
 The battle for Dukla Pass ended favorably for us. Owing to difficult ties of transport only weak Russian artillery forces participated, but the Russians had concentrated near Duk- la Pass strong infantry forces which advanced against the heights.
 Halted By Snowstorm.
 without regard for human mate
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