The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-18
lake Offensive for Purpose Of
Preventing Germans Send
ing Troops to Eastern Zone
Germans Forced
Back at All oints
Attacks and Counter-Attacks
Feature Day of Bloody
Conflicts Along Entire West
ern Front

Paris, Feb. t-.--The allies are
pressing the Germans hard at every
posnt In France and Flanders with
both Infantry aud srtiii~ry. Mill
t.ry critics here believe the re-
newed activity ON the westera front
II for the purpose Of forcing the
~nemy to keep his armtes there at
pr~sent strenKth and 10 prevent him
from detachtng any force TO send
against the Rus~isns.
The ofsciaI communiaue issued
tonight by the French war once
tells Of n number of notable sue
c~sses In violent attacking snd
ceunt~r-nttacking. North OF Aras
tho French troops captured two
tine. Ut trenrh~. today and held
them against all onsiauxht s. fnfiet-
ing severe losses On the tsermsna,
especially among the commissioned
onic~rs.
AZ Rheims positions previously won
have been held and organized, In
Champagne the capture of German
trenches on IA front or 500 meters is re.
ported. \, MesniI-Les-H urlus and
Beaujor many prisoners have been
taken and the battle continues. In la
,irurie wood. in the Argcnne. che
French have advanced and they have
also progressed between the Meuse ard
the Argonne. In Afsace the heights
overlooking sudel Kopf have been CON
quered. 1t. Is also Announced that
FtribourR- I'm rsrlesgan has beer bonn.
harled NY French fsiers again
.Nlic~' Offensive Continues.
The new allied offensive. continuous
Yesterday and today on the entire
front. began on Tuesday. The after
room report tells of the commerce.
mcnt Of these hostilities and laid
especial stress on a severe engage
,tsnt fought near fsefour Departs In
The Argonne Here the Germans at
lacked in force. but were entirely re-
pulsed with losses. which losses the
french war office describes as huge"
East of this district. in the forest NJ
Melsncourt, the French also achieved
success yesterday. capturing German
trenches over q front of leo meters,
Night Report. .
The official communiaue. issued by
the wa office tonight, was as fol-
lows.
From tn sea to the Disc our ar
tiliery has done some very %fficacious
ran forma,is ns- caused the explosio on
~ ammunition casissons and destroy
ed trains
North OF 4.aras we have captured
two lines of trenches and repulsed
several violent counter attacks. we
'1ase gaptured many prisoners and in.
Melted heavy losses upon the enemy:
many German officers have been kin.
d.
I'm the Rheims section near Louvre
he gains achieved during the day o.
February Is. which amounted II sew.
eral hundred meters, have been con
foiidate6 and maintained.
In Champagne we have continued
sur advance northwest Of Perthes and
have captured tho enenay's positions or
, front Of $40 meters
"Ali the German counter attacks
north Of Mesrsil- Les Hurlns and
Beauscjou- have been repulsed. We
have captured one heavy bomb throw
ar and several smaller ones and have
taken 400 prisoners. The figs,ting
here continues.
SIN the Argonne. we have eLvancpd
In the Ia C;rugriewood and maintained
our gains despite two violent counter
attacks and lively bayonet acrfon. as
result ~ which the enemy suffered
heavy losses.
THE violent attack by the Gerna ms
4 4 Sr.xxf sxs.,