Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-15
MILE GAIN
IS CLAIMED
BY BRITISH
German Positions Storm
ed Near LaBaSsee, 1t
Is Declared.
GERMANS CLAIM TO HOLD
NORTH BANK OF AISNE
Berlin Reports Six Villages
Captured from the French
Near Scissors.

A British victory not recorded in
the official statements from Paris or
Berlin and described as important, is
reported unofficially from st. Omer
France. It is said that on January
10 the British stormed the German
intrenched positions near La Bassee,
in France, about ten miles south of
the Belgian border, driving back the
Germans with heavy losses and ad-
yancing one mile. The positions in
volved are of considerable strategic
value, but confirmation of their re-
ported capture is lacking.
The German official statement on
the progress Of the war, in its ref
erence today to the engagements
north of scissors, in France, says the
north bank of the river Aisne, in
this vicinity, has been cleared of
French troops, and it mentions six
villages north and northeast of Sois-
sons which have been occupied by
German troops. The French suffered
heavily and retired to the south of
the Aisne under the fire of the Ger
man heavy artillery.
Today's French official statement
says that German positions near Ar
ras were captured by zouaves in a
bayonet charge. There is no i'm
portant change in the Soissons
region.
The Russian general staff expects
a concerted attack by the German
forces west and southwest of War
saw. German troops have been sent
TO the assistance of the Austrians in
an effort to relieve Bukowina and
northern Hungary from the danger OF
further Russian advances.
Near Perthes, in the Argonne, anc
upper Alsace and elsewhere along the
western front, where recently there
have been engagements, activity has
subsided. Other phases of the mill
tary situation in the west apparently
have been subordinated for the pres
ent to that in the soissons region
where the outcome may exercise 6
marked influence on future opera
ttons over q long stretch of the front
Germans strongly Intrenched.
petrograd Is confident that the Ger
man offensive movement IN Poland
haszrpertt its force and the war office
announces that Russian forces have
made gains along the Vistula. Gen,
eral Won Hindenburg's troops are
now occupying strongly entrenchec
positions, however, and there are nc
indications that they are threatened
seriously by the Russian attacks.
The Turkish forc es which pene-
trated Persia, occupying Tabriz, are
now advancing into the interior
Russia explains her evacuation OF
Tabriz as due to strategic reasons
which necessitated a re-grouping OF
her troops. The Porte is said to have
offered TO withdraw its forces from
Persia If Russia also would do so.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, Jan. Is (5:45 a m.)--Tht
Havas Agency has received a dis.
patch from st. Omer dated Jan. 10
which relates a British victory and
an advance near La Bassee of one
mile. The message follows:
1.-The British, by an impetuous at
sack, stormed the strongly intrenche6
German position near La Bassee al
. o'clock this afternoon after a Wig.
orous preliminary shelling. This il
an important strategic point, and
its occupation represents an advance
OF one mile. The British losses were
slight, but the Germans lost heavily
Many Germans were taken prison
ers''
PARIS, Jan. 15.-2:45 p. m.-The
French war office this afternoon gave
out an official communication which
says;
''Fron the sea to the Lys there were
yesterday artillery engagements, some
of them quite spirited We made pro-
gress near Lombaertzyde and neal
Becelaere. To the north of Arras
brilliant attack by zouaves resulted
in the capture at the bayonet OF the
positions of the enemy near the ROAD
between Arras and Lille.
in this same region at Targette
and at ST. Laurent, as we'll as at a
point to the north of Andechy, in the
region of Roye, our artillery secured
the advantage over that of the enemy
German batteries were reduced to
silence, two pieces of artillery were
demolished, depot of ammunition
was exploded, and field works IN
course of construction were destroyed
"At q point two kilometres Ga mile
and a quarter) northeast of scissors,
the Germans yesterday attacked the
village of st. Paul. They entered the
village, but we lost no time In re-
capturing it.
Artillery stiII Active.
"In the region of Craonne and near
Rheims there were yesterday violent
artillery engagements, during the
course of which the batteries OF the
enemy were frequently reduced to
silence.
In the region of Perthes, in the
Argonne, and on the heights of the
Meuse there has been nothing i'm
portant to report. We have de-
stroyed the foot bridges set up by the
Germans over the River Meuse at st.
Mihiel, and in the forest of ALLY we
repulsed an attack upon the trenches
taken by us January 8.
''ln the Vosges, to the south OF
Senonnes, we repulsed the Germans.
after a spirited infantry engagement.
We broke through their barbed-wire
entanglements and occupied their
trenches.
Along the rest of the front there is
nothing to report"
by the Associated Press.
BERLIN (By wireless to London).
Jan. 15.--The German war office gave
out an official statement reading as
follows:
"Some torpedo boats appeared yes
terday off Westende. They we're ac-
commapnied by small craft, which ap-
preached to within nine miles OF the
coast.
THE northern bank of the River
Aisne, to the northeast Of scissors,
has been cleared of French troops.
BY continuous fighting we were sue
cessful in taking Cuffies, Croty,
CONTINUED on Psrc g. Column -