New-York tribune., 1915-01-23
Joffre's Men Repel Three
Counter Attacks in
the Argonne.
FIGHTING IN ALSACE
IS HAND TO HAND
French Hold Positions Around
Thann in Face of Determined
Assaults by Enemy.

Paris. Jan % In the desperate
fighting which. with few exceptions, is
now confined 20 the eastern end Of the
battle line in France and Alsaee. each
of the opposing armies, according 20
to-day's official reports. has practically
Offset the advantage gained by the
other
East Of Nerdun the Germans have
made two slight advances, in one re-
taking the trenches around Apremont,
near St Mihiel. which the French capt
ured day before yesterday. and IN the
other gaining small portion Of
trenches in the Forest OF lie Pretre
from the column which is threatening
Metz.
In the Argonne forest. on the other
side of Verdan, the Germans made
great efforts TO break the French line,
without success. Near the village of
Fontaine Madame the invaders were
driven back twice, and az another point
Of defence, called Marie Therese. the
French were holding their positions
after a desperate fight lasting all day.
Fight Hand to Hand in Alssce.
Probably the most violent engage
ment Of the whole front is now in
progress around Thanh, in Alssee. al
though the cificial reports give sesnt
information. The French army in this
region is apparently firmly fixed. as
the Germans, operating from the great
fortress OF Muelhausen near by a.
b Sc. have been fruitlessly attempting
20 expel them for several weeks. The
French, however. are still within a
couple Of miles Of Cernay Sennheiml.
which has been their immediate obJee-
tive in their attempted movement on
Muelhausen.
The hattie in the Hsrtmsnn-Weiler-
kopf hills, in this region, according 70
the official reports, is actual hsnd-,os
hand lighting.
II is reported that the second son Of
the German Emperor, Prince Eitel
Friedrich, has arrived al Muelhausen to
take part IN the operations.
Artillery exchanges in which the
French were successful occurred be-
tween Ypres and the 0ise. near Berry
au-Bsc, and in the Nosges.
French Hold in Argonne.
Following is the official communies-
tion issued by the War Office tonight:
ITO the south OF Aprcs (Ypres'J the
enemy has been more active than pre-
yiously. Last night there was some
rife and cannon firing.
In the region Of the wood Of 81.
Mard We silenced German battery.
"In the Argonne some very fierce at
tacks have taken place near Fontsine
Madame, at a hed work called Marie
1herese and to the south OF Fontaine
Jamiette Al Fontaine Madame we re-
pulsed the enemy after two vigorous
counter attacks. A. the Marie Iherese
work the lighting went on throughout
the day. II was conducted with extreme
energy by both sides When night came
we were holding all our positions.
Some night attacks attempted By the
enemy IN the region Of the Hartmann
Weilerkopf hills did not succeed. Ac-
cording to the latest reports the fight
ing was still going on there
The Official report issued earlier in
the day contains the War Ofice's sd-
mission Of German gains al Apremont
and in the forest Of lie Pretre. The
test follows:
"ln Belgium the enemy yesterday
bombsrded NIeuport with a fair degree
Of violence. Our infantry made some
slight progress 70 the east OF the Lom-
baertzyde highway Between lpres
and the 0ise successful operations on
the part Of our artillery against field
works, batteries and detschments OF
infantry Of the enemy took place yes
terdsy.
From tbe Oise 20 the ArSonne: The
situation In the vicinity OF scissors
shows no change Near Berry Bsc
a trench, which we we're compelled 20
evacuate following a violent lombard
ment. was recsptured b. US. In the
region Of Perthes the enemy delivered
an attack during the night OF January
20 20 2l az q point northwest OF
Beaustjour, but without success
Yield Apremont Trenches.
Between the Meuse and the Moselle
To the southeast Of 81. Mihiel, IN the
Fores, Of Apremont, an exceedingly
violent bombardment made 10 imPossi-
bic for Us 20 retain the German
trenches occupied by Us yesterday for
a distance Of $50 yards.
ITO the northwest Of Pont-a Nous
son. in the Forest OF lie Pretre, the
enemy yesterday reesptured portion
Of the trenches taken oy Us January
20. but We are maintaining ourselves
az ell other points OF this position.
"ln the Nosges the enemy hurled
against s, Die six projectiles of gres,
calibre without. however, doing any
serious damage.
Al poin, between Mount Bon
homme and Mount Schiueht there has
been ar artillery engagement IN which
the German batteries we're reduced 10
silence.
In Alssee infantry hght!ng in the