South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-18
Paris Official Statement Tells
of RepuiSe of Two German
Attacks Northeast of Vic
Sur-AiSne.
CLOSE RANGE FIGHT
TO OCCUPY VILLAGE
Desperate Struggle for Posses
sion of BIangy CenterS Near
Blacksmith Shop Which
Changes Hands Often.

PARIS. Jan. 18.-The German Of
fensive along the Aisne has been re
sumed. but without success. The
French are maintaining their position
despite the German assaults
An official statement issued here
this afternoon tells of the repulse of
two German attacks northeast of
Nic-Sur-Aisne, which lies on the north
bank of the Aisne about 19 miles west
of scissors. In the region Of SOis-
sons there has been no change in the
situation, says the official COM
munque A storm is hampering op-
erations in Belgium, permitting only
artillery duels.
In the Argonne region the French
have captured numerous German
earthworks.
The text of the official statement
follows:
From the sea to the Disc a vio-
lent storm prevailed everywhere yes
terday. In Belgium there were artil
lery cOmbats at some points
Near Austreche, northeast of Vic
Sur-Aisne two German attacks were
repulsed.
I'm the region of scissors and of
Rheims there is no change.
"In the region of Perthes, our ar
tillery conducted a very effective fire
upon the enemys position.
I'm the ArgOnne German attacks
uDon Hill No. 132, which is west of
Roureiulles. were witt 1T result. We
ourselves took mum -rous German
earthworks To the northwest of POnt
A-Nousson. in the only portion of
the for 1t of Ia Pretre. which still
remains u the hands of the enemy
we rep y counter attacks and
maintaintu all our gains.
I'm the VOsges there was a heavy
a
Thanh without serious result"
Fight Hand to Hand.
Desperate fighting has been in
progress for two days and two nights
for the possession OF Blangy. five miles
east of Arras. According to latest dis
patches from the northern Front. the
French and Germans were engaged in
"a hand to hand struggle in the streets.
Neither side could bring its artillery to
bear against the village for fear Of
killing its own men. The village
blacksmith shop, a strong stone build
ing. changed hands several times.
SharpshOOters took up their station i'm
the beifry OF the village church while
soldiers threw grenades from the roofs
of other buildings.
Blangy is on the outskirts of St
Laurent, which has been mentioned
from time 10 time in official war Office
statements
The object of the French and Brit
ish at Arras is to cut off the German
forces holding the Cambria turnpike
and the railway line running eastward
from Arras.
From Rheims to the Swiss frontier
snow is still falling. but despite the
storm there has been desultOry fight
ing In the Nosges and upper Alsace
artillery was I'm action all day Sunday
despite the handicap of bad weather
f.4f, la 4 =
cult
The Germans are trying with all the
energy at their command TO con-
solidate their new positions northeast
OF scissors to prevent their recapture
by the French. IL is reported that
more German reserves ara being hur-
ried to LaOn for distribution along the
German front from point north Of
Tracy-le-Nal 70 Berry-au- Bac.
Battle Neritable Inferno.
Wounded French officers declare
that the battle for Chivres and Crouy,
on the Aisne. was transformed into a
veritable inferno by the rain of shells.
The noise was deafening and il was
impossible 10 tell from a distance what
was really happening. The horizon
was black with the smoke OF heavy
guns and bursting shells and the roar
OF artillery and small arms was such
as had not been heard in that section
OF France since the battle OF the
Marne. Hard lighting occurred around
a glass factory Onsthe road 20 Chaul-
nes The French occupied the build
ing and knocked loopholes in the walls
for their sharpshooters They fought
until their last cartridge was gone and
were just about 20 defend the build
ing with the bayonet when a detach-
ment OF gallant troops WHO braved
the fire OF hundreds of German rifles.
n.
a fresh supply. Eight French aero
planes made a wild raid over German
soil from Belfort yesterday afternoon
despite the snow storm. but the
amount OF damage done by their
bombs is not reported. Four flew
over COlmar and four over Muelhau-
sen.