New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-13
JOFFRE TRIES TO
CUT FOES LINES
Similar Strategy Aimed
at i'm Battle Between
Rheims and Verdun.
KAISER'S TROOPS
GAIN IN ALSACE
Repulsed in Frontal Attack
North of Big Fortress-Win
Trench Near Perthes.

Paris, Jan. - The French attacks
to the north Of Scissors, on the Aisne
and near Perthes, east OF Rheims, are
developing into a serious offensive.
This was met to-day by a German
counter offensive so violent that to-
nights official communication states
the result is not yet known. Several
German trenches were carried ycstcr-
day. The fighting in the Scissors re-
sion is about sixty miles northeast of
Paris. the shortest distance from the
capital to any point on the battle
front.
The French. by the last report, still
hold the plateau Of Perrieres and
height of considerable strategic value.
known as spur 1872"
The gains which the French have
made at these points, II followed up.
would have a twofold importance. They
threaten the railways which the Ger
mans are using to supply their troops
in the fighting line and are a serious
menace TO the German forces which
hold positions TO the north Of Rheims.
Frontal Attacks Impossible.
The French have found il impossible
to take those positions from which the
Germans are bombarding Rheims by
frontal attacks, but advances on either
side would envelop them and force a
retirement, thus giving the cathedral
city much desired relief from the Ger
man shells, from which il has suffered
so much.
OF equal Importance to the fighting
at scissors, from a strategic point Of
view, is the engagement now progress
ing with great violence in the neigh
borhood of Perthes. Here, at lie Fortin,
just north of the Beausejour farm,
and practically half way between
Rheims and Verdun, the French have
been forced back a short distance and
the Germans have organized their new
position with trench. This fortifca-
ton, however, appears to be in some
what precarious location, as the French
still hold the salient.
The Germans arc not depending
wholly upon their activities in the
Beausejour area 10 narrow the circle
cf defenders around the fortress OF
Verdun. According to the official re-
port, they have made two unsuccessful
attacks on the heights Of the Meuse
one at the Forest Of Consenyoye, d-
rectly north of the stronghold; the
other in the Bouchot woods, near by.
Germans Reinforced.
Il is reported that the Germans have
sent heavy relnforcements TO the Ar
gonne and Meuse districts TO prevent
the French from breaking their lines,
which are very close to their own Dor.
der and not far from Metz.
Although the official reports contain
no information concerning the opera
tions in Asace, unofficial dispatches
say that fresh German troops dis
patched TO that province, combined
with the wntry weather, have stopped
the French advance.
Along the rest Of the front the ar
tillery is doing most of the work. Only
isolated attacks are being attempted.
the state of the weather and the
ground making the movements Of any
large body Of troops out Of the ques-
tioE.
The Official report issued b. the War
Office tonight, dealing entirely with
the fghting north Of Scissors. follows:
"To the northeast Of Scissors the
enemy throughout all last night vio-
lently bcmbarded our positions on the
plateau Of Perrieres and on Spur 1872.
with the object Of taking the latter
MONT he delivered to-day a strong at
tack. the result Of which is not yet
known
"There is no other event Of impor-
tancc 20 report"
Take Trenches at scissors.
The earlier official statement, which
describes the engagements along the
centre and eastern wings, says:
From the sea 10 the Disc there was
Yesterday an intermittent cannonad-
ing. fairly violent at certain places.
con the Aisne. 10 the north Of Sois-
sons. determined attacks have been de
livered against the trenches occupied
by US the sth and the 10th Of January.
The enemy yesterday attacked our po-
sitions several times We repulsed
him and We took possession Of more
trenches
From scissors 10 Rheims there
we're artillery exchanges. Our heavy
pieces Of artillery responded eniea-
ciously TO the batteries and the mine
throwers Of the Germans.
an Cham pagne. In the region OF