Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-05
10TH CLAIM VICTORY
IN SAME. ACTION

IL.
LONDON, February At is impos-
sblc. in View OF the absolute contradic-
tions In the French and German oil :
cial reports, to get n clear idea of what
is happening In these FIRST days OF
February along the battle line extend :
ing from the North Sea TO the Vosgcs.
To- day. as on other days. both Paris
and Berlin claim victories OF consid-
cradle importance, and as has happened
before. both claim victory in the same
action.
This particular battle. almost as hot
~ contested In the official reports as on
the field itself, took place ut point
north northwest OF Massigcs. Here,
according to the French report. the Ger
mans gained some Roadway by the eN-
plosion OF mine under the French
trenches. but the entire position was
retaken.
According to Berlin. the Kaiser's
French trenches on front two miles
long. taking seven officers and col men
prisoners. and capturing nine machine
guns. nine smaller guns and much war
material The report also says that
the French made several counterat-
tacks during the night, but were re-
pulsed In each Instance.
The consensus OF opinion is that such
lighting as Is going on at scattered
points along the line is OF desultory
character. and absolutely of no bear
ing either on the general result OF the
war or the plans of the hostile forces
for spring.
For the most part both French and
German troops are pretty we'll dug in
for the winter, in strongly intrenched
and comfortable positions. and the
commanders on both sides realize tina,
the worst enemy they face Is disease
which will be increased If the men are
forced to too hard campaigns during
the bad weather Of midwinter.
SKIRMIsHES BETWEEN
PATROLS on SKIS
on the other hand there must he
enough lighting or other activity to
keep tho men from going stale" and
an interesting sample OF this sort Of
activity Is reported from the Eosges.
where both sides tell of tho first skirm-
shes between patrols on skis. The
deeper snow here. however is begin
ming to melt and there seems little like
lihood that the ski cavalry" will ever
be developed on any large scale by
either army.
To-niEhts official statement from
Paris tells of renewal of the artil-
lery duels along the Flanders front
and down as far rs point north Of
\rras. The capture of German trenches
along front about an eighth of Il
mile long is also reported from the
highway between Lille and Arras,
while tho L'rcnch, War ONCE says the
French artillery in the valley OF the
Aisne Is doing. wonderful work. hay
inS silenced several German batteries.
exploded travelling caissons OF ammu-
milton and dispersed aviation corps and
put them TO fight
No news from the fighting front has
been as significant to London. however,
as to-nights official pronouncinmcn : O
from Berlin. In which the German ad :
'niralty declares all the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland war zone
on and after February IS.
This In taken to be the second step
in the campaign forecast by Admiral
Won Tirpitz, war against all ships
approaching the British Isles. The de-
struction few days ago Of British
merchant ships by German submarines
was generally regarded as the first stem
in the Won Tirpitz plan. and the days
announcements that even the waters or
the Dutch coast will be made danger
Gus for hostile or neutral shipping is
accep pied as another move In the cam
paign 10 stnrve the British Isles by
keeping all vessels away from them.
no matter what flag might be flown.
This admiralty announcement is OF
course, the chief topic OF conversation
in England tonight, and the general
FEELING is one of confidence that the
British Admiralty Will soon find a way
to nulltfy tho effect OF the German
warning and probably 10 react so on
Germany Itself that her statesmen will
wish they had not made the announce
ment in the hrst place