New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-27
FRENCH READY
TO MEET DRIVE
Expect New Offensive on
Western Front in
Near Future.
nv cable 20 The Tribune

pari. Dec. 26. Paris believes 1'"'
- Loc;,ninc Of a new German omen
Give ON the western front Is o"'S
matter Of days. .s
FOR the last week, while their gum
battered the Allied positions das "''N
riob, the Kaiser's troops have pee"
teeIing out the ground in France PROV
inc for a weak spot at which an a''A'N
can be launched. -, :.
u,oo +bis new assault will come Is
-+a;n II MAJ be staged on the
nor.bern front. in Artois OF "io1
ynres: along the Belgian front ""''
a,. efort to reach Calais may pe
o,tempted: in Champagne, where hefoe
h.,,lss took place in the autumn J"
=. Aroonpe. where the Crown Prince
has tried repeatedly TO loosen 'he
French hold on Nerdun, or IN 'n'
Novon sector. the sector nearest Fai's'
THAT an attack will be made at some
point along the western battle hhe !"
the very near future is taken mere Ior
Granted For a month reports nave
cone that the Germans were sending
troops and guns TO the lines III Flah-
ders and France. An, especially heavy
concentration was reported IN the
north. along the Belgian coast.
Germans Seek Breach.
In the last fortnight has come IN
creasing evidence that the KAISER
troops we're picking the spot at Wnich
the new offensive could be launched.
Raids have been attempted IT different
points in the line test raids 10 deter
mine the strength OF the Allied posi-
tions IT, some sector.
one cf these raids took place OF De-
cember u between Ipres ana Arme'-
rer.s. where the Germans attacked the
British lines in fo:ce. But Sir Doug
las Haig's men drove back the Teutons,
who canned not IN inch Of ground and
lost 5000 men. according 20 dispatcn
10 Ia Liberte" This report adds:
"The lighting was most severe ana
8 large duantity Of asphyXiatIng gas
was used. but the English lines re-
maired intact. The attack - thought
20 have been the prelude TO Az often
sive or FOR the purpose Of testing the
.trongth Of the English 'front.'
Tho German artillery has been cease
less i'm its bomoardmCrt of the French
lines. for the Germans nave adopted
the methods OF warfare which proved
so effective for the French in Septem-
Der. when the TeutOn lines IN Artol'
and Champagne were pierced. They,
too. deluge the enemy positions with
shell for a month in the effort 10 tnd
a breach, and then the infantry
charges.
An accompaniment Of these tactics is
great activity by the aviators. whose
function IL becomes % hamper the
enemy's supply roads and 70 wcesen
the communications leading 10 ne
front. An increasing number OF ar
duels has been reported in the west.
This has undoubtedir been part Or the
German plan FOR AZ offensive.
Unless weather conditions make sucn
q move impossible. then the Germans
will attempt n vigorous drive In tne
,,.est a supreme effort 10 humble the
/ Allies into peacc Germany must bat
,.r the enemy into surrender. as Won
/ T;ndenburg has remarked. and the bat
toring must be done on either the west
ern or the Russian front.
Must Forestall Russians.
The Russians are gathering their
,,rcngth FOR strong blow at the Tea
tons. But present indications are tha;
I The cars forces will not be ready TO
resume the attack until spring. Ger
msnv must strike AZ the Allies in the
Continued on page 4, column