South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-09
Inspired Article in Berlin Paper
Declares Nation RepudiateS
idea of Hostile Acts Against
Neutral Nations Ships.
HARDEST FIGHTING IS
IN THE ARGONNE REGION
Paris Admits Combat Has
Taken on Confused CharaC-
ter with Outcome Doubtful
But French Maintain Front.

BERLIN (via Amsterdam), Feb. g..
-Englands charge that Germany
has resorted to piracy continues to
stir the Indignation of the news
papers. The Vossiche ZeituTg prints
an officially inspired denial of the ac-
cusation. In connection with com
ment upon a Washington dispatch
published in London stating that the
United States will protest against the
German blockade program, it says.
"Of course this English notion of
the opinion in the United States does
not represent the real American
doubt that there is nothing Germany
repudiates SO much as the idea OF
piracy or hostile acts on the CONNER
Cial vessels Of neutral countries.
PARIS. Feb. g.-The hardest fight
ing in the western theater of war is
going on in the sArgOnne region where
German and French troops are con-
testing for the victory in a forest
near Bagatelle. The result of this
combat has not yet been decided. ac-
cording TO an official cOmmunique is
sued at the war office this afternoon.
which SAYS that the battle has taken
on a very confused character. III as
serts. however, that the French have
succeeded IN maintaining their front
The German artillery on Monday
bOmbarded Ypres and FUrnes in
Flanders and also rained a fire of in
fiammable prOJectiles upon scissors,
apparently attempting to set that city
afire in order to drive out the French
troops Furnes is understood to be
the headquarters of the Belgian king
and his staff. A slight gain for the
French troops along the highway be
tween Bethune and LaBassee is
claimed by the report
The text of the report follows:
I'm Belgium there was an intermit
tent artillery battle yesterday. Ypres
and Furnes were bombarded.
The Belgian army destroyed
farm from which the defenders fled
Along the Bassee
highway we reOccupied a mill where
the enemy had succeeded in estab-
fishing himself.
"SOissons was bombarded with in
flammable proJectiles.
"On all the Aisne front and in
'hampagne our artillery effectively
replied to the German batteries
In the Argonne the battle raging
around Bagatelle developed al one
of the thiCkest parts of the forest and
therefore assumed a very confused
character. The front was maintained
in general on both sides.
The effective forces engaged on
Feb. were not more than three or
four battalions on each side. During
the day of yesterday, only one of our
nattalions was engaged
In Lorraine and the Nosges there
We're artillery engagementS."
Praises for CamoneerS.
several strategic bridges built by
German engineers in the flooded dis
trict of West Flanders. north of Dix
nude, have been wrecked 10y French
artillery So accurate. SO efficient
has become the fire OF the French and
British artillery. not only i'm Belgium.
but in the valleys of the Disc. Aisne
and Meuse rivers. that Gen Joffre.
Commander-in-chie of the allied
armies. issued a special order at main
headquarters in which high praise was
given TO the cannoneers.
Col. SwintOn. on the staff of Field
Marshal Sir John French. who writes
the EYE witness" narratives, declares
that the fire of the British gunners
hitherto unknown in that branch OF
the British service.
Omcial dispatches tell of an un-
broken artillery duel I'm West Flan-
ders. while heavy gun fire is also re-
ported from the Aisne.
Between Albert and Bethune the
Germans are continuing their attacks
against the allies field works.
Both sides are again claiming small
successes in Champagne and the Ar
Eonnc.
In the WOevre district the French
are attempting 20 resume their ad-
vance against the German line OF
communications between Metz and st.
Mihiel.
In the Nosges and upper AlSaCe de-
sultory fighting is going ON i'm snow
storm.