Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-16
German Attack at Soissons
Results in Recovery Of
Much Lost Ground
FLOODS PROVE AID
TO THE INVADERS
Allies Still Hoping to Hear
i That Italy Will Enter
Into the Struggle

London, Jan. 15.-The violent Ger
man attack to the north OF SCISSORS
under tho direction of General Won
Kluck, which coupled with flood
stage of the river, has forced the
French back across the Aisne, is the
most striking news of the last "a hours
from the seat of war.
The Germans have been gaining in
this locality for several days but they
had not recovered all Of the ground
lost by them. This engagement north
of Soissons is the first notable fighting
in the vicinity since last September,
when tho British army, which subse-
uuently was transferred to Belgium.
was successful in crossing the Aisne.
Snow in the Vosges mountains and
floods in Flanders still prevent any ex-
tensive operations on the eastern or
western wings, and to British obser-
yers it appears as though the scissors
district had been selected for the point
where, with reinforcements and first
line troops the Germans are planning
to display once more the hammertng
tactics so familiar during the autumn.
On the other hand some war experts
argue that the operations at scissors
may have been undertaken to compel
the allies to lessen the pressure in Al
sace
The British claim to have won a
marked success several days ago near
La Bassee, when they drove the Ger
mans from strong entrenched posi-
tions, gaining one mile in distance and
inflicttng severe losses on their antag-
onists
There has been no change of impor-
lance in the eastern arena Of the war.
Italy has been momentarily distract
ed from thoughts of war by the devas-
tating earthquake Of January Is. The
assertion is still being made in London
that the allies confidently expect Italy
to join them in due course.
German Report.
Berlin. JAM IT,, (wtreless to Lon
don)-The German war Office today
gave out an official statement reading
as follows:
Some torpedo boats appeared yes
terday off Westende. They were ac-
companied by small craft which ap-
preached to within nine miles of the
coast
French attacks on both sides of
Notre Dame de Lorrete, northwest of
Arras were repelled by US. A trench
which we took eight days ago from the
enemy near Ecurie and which had
since been occupied by portion of one
of our companies was, lost by us. The
fighting in this locality continues to
rage today.
"The northern bank of the river
Aisne, to the northeast of Soissons,
has been cleared of French troops BY
continuous fighting we were successful
in taking Cuf1es, Crouy, Bucy-le-Long,
Missy, Vauxrot and Valerie Gall to the
north and northeast of Soissons). The
French here suffered heavy losses.
Their retreat to the south of the Aisne
took place under the fire Of our heavy
artillery.
In East Prussia and in northern Po-
land there has been no change. Our
attacks in Poland west of the Vistula
are making slow progress In the cap
ture by us of one of the Russian van
tage points northeast of the Rawka,
we took 500 Russian prisoners and be-
came possessed Of three Of their ma
chine guns. Stubborn counter attacks
by the Russians were here driven back
with heavy losses to the enemy