The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-08
FRENCH FORGE
AHEAD IN DRIVE
TOWARD RHINE
Captnrp Heights Dominating
Strinbach- Occupy Alt
kirrh Forests.
GERMANS REFUSED
N LILLE FIGHTING

Nb|t.F. UfHe fffp1ffW 70 w ~ W
r,r,. Jan THE two detectives Of
~. Nuci offensive as disclosed In the
,a,..f couuurpues issued by the French
w.. office to-day are undoubtedly the
.s..p,urc of Lille. in northern France.
,od Tho occupation OF Alsatian towns on
tfc -oad 20 the Rhine.
The exact situation as regards Lille
p,s been much Of mystery since the
e,.t German invasion. It has been re-
ror,d that the French soldiers were
messing hard upon the capital OF the
psp.r,uelt az the Nord, but there has
hs,r no surstantiation Of this movement
ron, official French sources until the past
low DAYS when the reports OF Gen. JofIre
have shown that the progress IN that re-
zion has been very marked 1t has been
.,po-tcd uuofli tally that the Allied forces
,.rc actual, IN possession OF part of
me city.
Al present the Allies are advancing
,.oI, along the highroad from Armen-
Heres 10 Lille. with the object OF inter-
nostng 4 strong force across the lines of
communications between Lille and
RouIers They nave constructed trenches
10 the east OF Armenticres on the great
highway and are getting ready for the
,o.d 10 strike at the German lines in
France. Tin, Germans have been making
counter attacks in this region, but, ac-
cord.ng To the War Office announcement
this afternoon, they have been repulsed
after meeting with some initial successes.
The advance from Armenteres is moi
the orly one which the Allies have at
tempted vt different times they have
advanced against the ROulers-Lille line
rom points further to the north. and
severe Hghtug has been reported at
Betelaerr. Chcluvelt. rasschendaele nd
othc- towns IN the neshborhood OF Yprcs.
Grrmnns Take Offensive.
The war Office report issued tonight
indicates that the military authorities
ere have received no word from Gen.
JoNre Of the action 'c-day with the
.Nccptou OF 4 general offensive by the
Germans at Lass gny. in the Disc; in the
Nrsourc. near We dun. and in Alsace.
Tie night report follows:
Violent German attacks arc re-
ported this evening in the region Of
Llsslguy. also In the Argonn., at the
G. ..Iug OF tho road from Four de
Paris 20 Narenncs and the Haute
Cu,, 1rhcc road IN the region of
N''aNn. ana Oh the crest NuitH uolnl-
mates St,inhach in Alsacc.
s. e these attacks have been re-
pulsed.
>s To- tho status OF the French advance
AcaIisj the Nsatian strorEholds II II be-
.t,.a acre, although official confirmation
Is lacking, that tho grand plan of the
French leaders is to push through Haute
Asara rs rapidly ~ circumstances and
tho heather viii permit and to strike hard
-
Rhine Tins the militav! experts argue,
WIZ have the effect of drawing the attcn-
ton e the German Generals from The
western fields. where the action Stlll con-
.ml's fcgcely. and will compel them to
send new forces to the protection OF
BsIcu. with the consequent we 'kcnlng OF
their uss m France and Belgium. In
h region Of Stenbach the Allies con-
TIM, 20 hold the heights which they won
N TUESDAY The Germans attacked yes
tcgdav o. the west of Wattweiier. north
yves. OF Ccruay OSonnhciml. and at Kohl
sohae, Too tho same neishborhood, but
V,.. beaten back,
Further 20 the south. and as part OF
The southern movement against the Rhen-
sh provinces the French advanced in the
direction OF ft,irch. occupying the fore, Is
'"st Of the town and silencng the Ger
nau hclv, artillery. The afternoon state
men says:
During tho dag Of January 6, there
o..I.Jod from the sea to the Lys
u.luiu- other than artillery hshtlrg
H. watch we had almost always the
ol'au'aco.
cur batteries put to flisht certain
Go.mIu ayIttors who were coming
~ tine direction of Dunkirk, and they
compelled - cessation Of the fire Of
Go man mine thrpwers in the region
o. Htlebeke.
Tho enemy bombardcd violently
tho Belgian bridge head to the south
O. biNuudc.
in the rcHon Of Lille We repulsed
Vt0 success "a violent German attack
o. ono OF our trenches. This trench.
lost 1y us at The outset, was recap
tuicd with great hrillancy and by
exploding mines We demolished a
portion OF the German field works.
To the east Of Rheims. on the
Aver farm, we exploded some mines
yesterday evening. This resulted in
'1e stopping Of the eaemy's field
Vo'h
Between the Somme and the Asne
t'.e has been nothing to report eN-
cgpl artillery engagements.
Iu tine Argonuo, to the west and
70 the rorth Of Nerdun, there were
yesterday artillery engagements in
ruj the enemy did not show much
activity