Evening star., 1915-02-21
HUNDREDS OF FOE
KILLED BY ALLIES
Eyewitness So Declares in De-
scribing Engagements in
Western Arena.
FIERCE HAND-TO-HAND
FIGHTING AT POINTS
Many Yards of German Trenches
Taken in Daring Attacks.
It Is Declared.

PARIS. February 20. - An official
eyewitness account of the recent
fighting in France and Belgium was
given out today by the French war
department. The writer says:
During the past ten days detestable
weather, continuous rains in some
parts and violent snow squalls in
others and thick fog have hindered
the western battle front. In spite of
favorable for us. Our artillery OBJ
tanned very brilliant results and the
enemy evidently was unable to equal
our fire. The French superiority in
ammunition and supplies is being
more and more confirmed.
Infantry Aggressive.
our infantry showed an aggressive
spirit in the Artois. Champagne. Ar
gonne and Alsace regions, and their
operations were crowned with success.
We thus obtained appreciable results
That the German official communica-
ions. after having fatty denied, have
now partially admitted that prisoners and
materials have fallen into our hands.
are tue OeSt proofs or our
The official communication discusses
IN detail the activity of the allied ar
tiilery in the region from the English
channel to the river Aisne. 1t speaks
of the excellent work of the Belgian
batteries and the remarkable energy of
the British artillery working in concert
with the French guns. Shells the
writer says. were placed with remark
able accuracy rendering the move
ments of the German troops In the rear
of their trenches exceedingly difficult
and often impossible.
Destroy German Trench.
AT the moment when French in
advanced to storm hostile
works on the edge Of the village of
Carency the night of February 6-7,"
the statement continued, sixty volun-
teer reservists with squad Of sap
pers. brilliantly accomplished the de-
struction of a skillfully arranged Ger
man trench, which had been baptized
the ambush. The action commenced
at O'Clock in the morning. with the
explosion Of a mine which almost de-
stroyed the trench. We then charged
Immediately. Ten soldiers leaped into
one section Of the trench left intact
and put to flight the defenders at the
point of the bayonet and with hand
srenades or made them prisoners, while
others finished the destruction of the
trench and prevented communication
with the second line.
I'VE lost only three men killed The
Germans lost more than half q COM
pany.
Mill is Recaptured.
'On a road leading from Bethune to
La Basse a mill which previously had
been occupied by Germans was recap
tured by brilliant French charge Febru-
airy s.
The operations to the north of Ar
ras were characterized by splendid
bravery on the part of the Zouaves and
African infantry, who charged German
trenches. blew up by mines, captured
the enemy's principal line and repulsed
vigorous counter attacks.
Between Souain and BeauseJour
where our lines were pushed forward
for more than mile and a half in De-
Gambler, we again advanced February
- and II, following a dozen successive
attacks. and captured hill No. 200. an
important fortified position, which We
organized and defeated against i'm
petuous counter attacks.