South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-06
GERMANS BATTLE
FOR COAST BASE
Seek to Secure FoothOId Near
Channel Which Will Enable
Them to Make Good Their
Threat to Blockade England.

LONDON. Feb. 6.-Events of great
importance are taking place along the
Belgian coast regarding which the
! official statements from both Paris
and Berlin are significantly silent.
| They have direct bearing on the an
nOUnced policy of Germany to block
ade the English and French sea
coasts and Germany's ability to main
tain submarine bases sufficiently close
to the field of their proposed opera
tiOns to enable them TO make good
their threat
For two days a terrific artillery bat
tie has been in progress in northern
Flanders according to the Sluis CORE
spOndent of the Amsterdam Handles
bladt. The continuous thunder of the
guns has been audible as far as Sluis
throughout both days. The Germans
have renewed with great vigor their
offensive along the Littoral and they
are hammering away without. cessa-
ton at the Franco Belgians advanced
positions. Their object is to make
certain their retention of positions
along the coast which will amply pro-
tect their submarine bases, principally
at Zeebrugge
But the allies continue their prog
ress in the sand dunes between LOm-
bertzeyde and the sen.
lake herman trenches.
Near Westende Friday the allies
captured two of the German trenches
!. and French aviators during Wednes-
day night dropped bombs at Knocke,
a German supply station
German aerial activity is increasing.
Four air scouts Thursday flew west
ward from Zeebrugge to reconnoiter
the allies positions on the coast line.
They were fired on but apparently
1t 4
in an easterly direction again.
British warships are patrolling the
channel to drive off submarine craft
| bent on attacking transports and mer-
lchantmen. German gunners at Heyst
and Zeebrugge are more vigilantly on
the alert. French air scout was
driven off during the day by their
fire which continued for some time.
Official reports are barren of any
but Insignificant engagements with the
single exception of brilliant achieve
ment of the French Zouaves and
African troops in driving the Germans
from a trench which commanded the
ground gained along the Arras-Lille
highway. a mine was exploded,
preaching this position and the in
| fantry. dashing from the smoke OF the
| explosion. cleared the trench. killing
or capturing every German found
| there.
Night Attack Fails.
a night attack attempted by the
Germans before Notre Dame De Lor-
cite was fOrestalled by the fury OF the
British gun fire: French troops pro-
crossed slightly north OF Beausejour,
| in Champagne and repulsed an at
| tack north Of Massiges as we'll as a
like German effort south Of Altkirch
| in Alsace. says the night official state
ment from Paris.
A German aviator hurled bombs
upon St Die. killing four civilians.
The Berlin statement refers only TO
artillery duels on the western front
and French attacks upon the German
trenches northwest OF Perthes, which
| il claims were repulsed.
OF the artillery actions fought dur
ing the day along the Aisne the Paris
| communique says the French gunnery
was most effective. Thursday the
| French batteries succeeded in silenc-
/ ing those OF the enemy at Adinfer,
| south of Arras: at Policies. northeast
| OF Albert: at Ham, northwest OF Pc
| rome. and in the sector OF Pailly,
| south of Noyon.
The night communlque states that
1 the French have made good their
positions at Bagatelle, in the Argon-
mes. where yesterday they lost by a
| German counter-attacks 100 yards Of
! trenches which was regained with
some ground in addition in two return
| assaults.
| BERLIN (by wireless). Feb. 80
| Warning was given 10 neutral skip
/ ming TODAY hv the German admiralty