Evening star., 1915-01-15
FRENCH CLAIM SUCCESS
AT Different POINTS
st. Paul Retaken, While Zouaves
Bayonet Way Into Teu-
ton Trenches.
BRITISH VICTORY REPORTED
Drive Kaiser's Men From Positions
at La Bassee, Says Dispatch.
Allies Still Expect
Italy's Aid.

LONDON, January I5.-Both
German and French forces are
viciously fighting for an advan-
tage of inches in the vicinity of
Soissons. The Germans, under
the personal direction of the
kaiser and Gen. Won kluck, have
been massing in this region for
the past week, and the present
sanguinary battle is the result of
the determination to smash the
allies lines and offset the menac-
ing advantages gained but re-
Gently by the French Although
the allies admit the Germans
have gained much ground by their
terrific hammering. they declare
that all of that first taken by the
French has not been lost to the
foe.
-
Germans who yesterday routed tho
French from the village of st. Paul
were in turn driven out of the town by
the French, according to the official
statement issued in Paris today. Ar
tillery exchanges rage at all points
along the lengthy battle line. In an
infantry attack in the Vosges the
French gained advantage.
II, at, xf tod la
particular mention of brilliant VIC
tory won by the Zouaves. north OF
Arras. which resulted In the capture
of several German positions at the
point of the bayonet.
To the south of Senonnes several
trenches were captured by the French
in u spirited infantry attack.
Germans Claim Successes.
Although admitting some French
gains. the German official statement is
sued today claims general successes for
Teuton arms French attacks on both
sides of Notre Dame de Lorette are de-
clared to have been repelled, while the
northern bank of the River Aisne is
said to have been cleared of the enemy.
Germans also claim success in TAX
ing the towns of Cuffies. Crouy, Bucy-
le-long, Missy as well as Banzrot and
Valerie, all north and northeast of
SOISSOnS. Inc FTencn are declared 10
have suffered exceedingly heavy losses.
Large French forces made deter
mined attack upon the German
trenches at st. Mihiel, according to the
Berlin statement, but in counter at
tacks the Germans were able to defeat
the foe and inf1ict severe losses. An
attack by the French at Verdun is also
said to have failed.
The engagement north of Soissons is
the first notable fighting in the vicinity
since last September. when the British
army, which subsequently was trans
ferred to Belgium, was successful in
crossing the Aisne.
Snow flinders Operations.
Snow in the vosges mountains and
floods in Flanders still prevent any
extensive operations. To British OBJ
servers it appears as though the Sos-
sons district had been selected for the
noint where, with reiuforcements and
first line troops the Germans are plan
ming to display once more the hammer
ing tactics SO familiar during the au-
tumn. On the other hand. some war
experts argue that the operations at
Soissous NAV have been undertaken TO
compel the allies to lessen the pressure
in Alsace.
marked success near La Bassee. where
thew drove the Germans from strongly
intrenched positions, gaining one mile
in distance and infiictins- severe losses
on their antagonists.
Victory at La Bassee.
The Havas Agency has received
dispatch from St. Omer, dated January
10. which relates to the British victory
and an advance near La Bassee. The
message follows:
'..The British. by an impetlSous attack,
stormed the strongly intrepched Ger
man position near La Baesee at
o'clock this afternoon, afteries vigorous
shelling-
"This is an important strategic point,
and its occupation represents an ad-
vance of one mile. The British losses
were slight, but the Germans lost
heavily. Many Germans were taken
prisoner ,.,
., ~, thoughts of war by the devastat-
in earthauake of January 13. The as
sertion is still being made i'll London
that the allies confidently expect Italy
to ioin them in due course.
- n.A~~ns~~