New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17
CAPTURE TRENCH
IN PERTHES REGION
Fighting on Greater Part
of Line Confined to
Artillery Duels.
GERMANS ABANDON
TOWNS NEAR OSTEND
Allies Fail to Occupy Deserted
POSitions-NeW Dash for
Calais Expected.

IdldlS EApeCteu.
Paris. Jan. IS. The French, strongly
intrenched along the south bank Of the
Aisnc River, on either side Of SCISSORS,
have, with the assistance Of the foods,
checked any further German advance,
and big guns have taken the place Of
rifles and bayonets in the fghting In
that region. Artillery is now playing
the leading role along the whole line,
although here and there infantry at
tacks and counter attacks have been
made.
To-night's Official report tells Of
French success in the Perthe, region,
between Rheims and Verdun. General
Joffre's troops have captured q trench
and made an advance of about $50
yards north of the Besuseiour farm,
capturing a wooded position.
According to an unofficial dispatch
from the front in Flanders. the Ger
mans have evacuated all the coast
towns and villages as far north as
Mariakerke. which is north OF Nieu-
port, Westende and Middlekerke and
three miles southwest Of Ostend
These towns, however, have not as YET
been occupied by the Allies.
The Germans have made some par
ticularly severe attacks near Flirey,
east of st. Mihiel and south of Thiau-
court, but without success.
General Offensive Forescen
There has been much activity on the
part of the Germans to recover the
ground which they lost during the Of
fensive undertaken by the Allies late
in December. which some interpret as
an attempt to resume a general often
sive. With the ground in its present
soft condition many military suthori-
ties do not believe that the Germans
will make any such effort, but as sue
cess may depend to large extent upon
a surprise, they may attempt the unex-
pected.
The full text OF yesterdays Berlin
official report, received here to-day,
shows that the claim of the capture OF
$500 French troops at scissors and the
discovery of from 1000 TO 5000 French
dead after the battle, concludes with
the unusual assertion, This is the
truth"
The Germans figures are cstegori-
cally denied here. II is said that the
French troops engaged in the Scissors
battle were less than three brigades,
and that, consequently, the Berlin
statement cannot be correct.
Dispatches reaching Paris to-day as
sert that the Germans have not sban-
doned hope Of reaching Calais, and are
planning a new offensive in Belgium
and Northern France. According 10
these adyices, train after train loaded
with troops is moving into Flanders.
French Gain Near Perthes.
The text Of the official communication
issued by the War Office tonight fol-
lows:
There is nothing OF importance 10
except that our troops
have taken possession OF a new trench
in the vicinity Of Perthes and Of a wood
from 200 TO 300 metres in front OF our
lines 10 the north of Beauseiour."
The earlier official statement deals
almost altogether with engagements OF
minor Importance and artillery eH-
changes. II says:
"In Belgium yesterday there was
artillery fighting in the region Of Nieu-
port and in the vicinity Of Ypres.
From the Lys 20 the Somme; A.
Notre Dame de Lorette, near Carenoy.
the enemy reoccupied portion OF the
trenches he lost 20 US on January Il
AT Blangy, near Arras, we have con.
tinued 20 make progress. The enemy
delivered an energetic attack. preceded
by a violent artillery fire. on our posi-
tions 70 the west Of La Boiselle. This
attack was repulsed.
Artillery Gains at Soissons.
along the entire front, from the
Somme 10 the Meuse, no infantry en-
were reported yesterday. In
the sectors Of scissors and Of Rheims
our artillery obtained notlceaDle hu-
vantage at several different points, such
as the scattering OF a regiment that
was about TO reassemble. causing an er-
plosion in a German battery and the
destruction Of field works.
"In the Argonne there was yesterday
= rather determined artillery attack on
our positions al Fontaine Madame.
From the Argonne to the Nosges;
We checked completely a spirited at
tack of the enemy directed against our
trenches az Flirey, and the Germans
the crest Of the hill 10 the
north Of Clemery, east Of Pont-$-Mous.
son. This they were compelled 20 do
By the fire Of our artillery.
"In the sector OF the Vosges there
were artillery exchanges on all the
front. There was also some heavy rife