The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-10
ANOTHER SEA BATTLE REPORTED
FRANCE

TJInited Press Leased Wire Service.l
PARIS, Jan. 9-Tfe midnight Of
ficial statement of the French war Of
flee declared that north of scissors
the French progress is steadily main
tained. The Germans attempted an
offense In force during the day, but
were repuised with very heavy losses.
In the Vicinity Of Perthes, fierce
counter attacks OF the enemy have
been repuised with very heavy losses.
Elsewhere along the front the situa-
tion is declared to be unchanged.
IN THE LOST PROVINCES.
/ BY VIM. Philip simms, United Press
Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Jan. e.-Not since the Ger
mans were approaching Paris has the
capital been 60 Interested az it was
tonight. The reason was the struggle
for the "lost provinces" where Gen.
eraI Paul Pau, one armed hero OF the
present war, Is contesting for control
Of upper Aisace and the gateway to
the Rhine"
The AIsace campaign is rapidly az.
suming the greatest Importance In
the eyes of the French. Excluding the
deep sentiment that 10 felt In this
campaign, II is admitted success there
will quickly advance, clearing the
Germans cut Of France and Belgium.
II is because Of this knowledge that
General Joffre, chief of staff, has Civ
Ien General Pau all the men he can
use. Armies heretofore held in re.
serve at Nancy, Toui and Beifort are
in action.
It 10 winter campaigning with a
vengeance. The wooded hills and
mountains Of Alsace and the great
stretches OF forest are filled with
snow. But through II all the troops
are pushing ahead literally : foot II
r. tinps, with MsssSaAsen spd Aitsyireh
the first obJectives and d drive from
the Swiss frontier northward along
the Rhine against strassbura con
tempiated.
The, war Office says the fighting ID
increasing in violence and that the
Germans are being heavily reinforced.
Today's official announcement admit.
ted the loss Of Burnhaupt-Le-Haut,
south Of cernay, which was captured
earlier in the week. This, however,
is explained in that the Germans
greatly outnumhered the French. Aft
err infiieting heavy damage on the en-
emy, the French commander Withdrew
his force in good order. The fighting
in the vicinity Of Cernay continues
with the French slowly advancing.
Elsewhere on the battle front to-
nights news added little TO that Of the
afternoon. It was stated that heavy
fighting was In progress at q number
Of points but It was generally accept
ed that the Germans were assuming
the offensive with the hope that by so
doing they would lessen the pressure
on their lines in Alsace. The suffer
ings of the soldiers during the last
ten days Of near bIizzards in the
north have been terrible. Thousands
of men have been sent to the rear,
crippled for life with rheumatism,
while many have died Of pneumonia
and exposure. Many Of the victims
are being treated here IN the American
hospital. Describing his experiences,
one Of the officers whose legs are so
drawn up that doctors despair ever
again Of strengthening them out, said
tonight: "For weeks we have been
exposed to rain, snow squalls, and
blizzard conditions. All along tho
front line the men are up to their
knees in mud and their waists in wat
er. The rain comes in torrents and
the men have to stay there for eight
hours at a stretch.
MANY Of them collapse with the
cold and there have been several
cases where men have fallen over and
drowned, while their comrades were
unable to aid them"
Nevertheless military officials are
confident that the situation purely
from military standpoint, is we'll in
control. Reports published tonight by
Paris newspapers insist that evs.y
where the French are maintaining
their advantage.