South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-04
Several important Points of
Support Held by Germans in
Arg0nne Region Have Been
Captured by French.
THOUSANDS ARE DYING,
VICTIMS OF PNEUMONIA
Exposure in Trenches During
Stormy Weather Brings on
Fearful RavageS of Disease
and Hospitals Are Filled.

dilu IlOopltdlO ~ Z illCus
PARIS Jan. Though heavy
rains have crippled infantry opera
tions between the North sea and the
Disc river. artillery duels between the
Germans and allies continue with
great violence. An official statement
issued here this afternoon says that
at several points on this front French
artillery has silenced that of the Ger
mans, while along the Aisne and in
Champagne the French batteries have
established their superiority and she'll
cd the reserve troops of the enemy.
Several important points of support
held by the Germans in the Argonne
region and between the Argonne and
the Meuse river have been captured
by the French.
in upper Alsace the French have
taken an important height west of
Cernay, and at Steinbach. which has
been the center of fighting for more
than a week. The French have cap
tured that section OF the town around
the church and also the cemetery.
Day Was Calm.
The official statement was as fol-
lows:
Prom the sea to the Disc the day
Sunday was almost wholly calm.
The weather was rainy. There was
a duel of artillery. At some points
on the front our heavy artillery
siienced the German batteries.
"On the Aisne and in Champagne
the cannonade was particularly vio-
lent. Our batteries established their
superiority and shelled the reserve of
the enemy.
I'VE captured several points of sup
port held by the Germans in the re-
gion OF PertheS and OF MesniI-Le-
Hurlus; between the Argonne and the
Meuse we have done the same. on
the heights of the Meuse there was an
intermittent cannonade
''An attempt made yesterday by our
troops to capture BOureuilles was not
successful.
"Our progress continues in the
OF La Pretre, northwest of Pont-A-
Mousson.
In upper AIsace we captured an
important height to the west of Ger
nay. A counter attack by the enemy
was repulsed.
AT Steinbach we have taken pos
session Of the church quarter of the
cemetery"
Losses i'm Hospitals.
IT is in the hospitals that the allies
are suffering their heaviest losses now.
Thousands of British, French and Bel
gian soldiers are dying from pneu-
monia and kindred diseases brought
on by exposure in the trenches and
the stormy weather, and thousands OF
others are incapacitated by rheuma-
tsm The cold, wet weather is also
working its devastation among wound
ed soldiers many of whom contract
fever from the exposure to which they
are subjected upon the field before
they can be transported TO first aid
stations or the base hospitals.
The British base hospitals at Bou-
lOgne are filled TO overfiowing and the
same condition prevails lin the base
hospitals of the French at Dunkirk
and those of the Belgians at Calais.
Thousands of sick and wounded Brit
ish and Belgian troops are being
transported to England because there
is no more room for them In northern
France. Sickness out-rivals the
bullets of the Germans as an agency
OF death in the ranks of the allies.
Every hospital train that leaves the
front bears its cargo of sick as well
as those suffering from rifle or artil-
lery wounds. Soldiers I'm the delirium
OF IENEis 10 MuOIn the uNlItOSl care
would be given under ordinary cir
cumstances are compelled 10 ride for
many hours and even days. in dark,
damp freight cars, with only a pile of
mouldy straw for a bed. without water
food OF medicine.
Official dispatches indicate that the
French and Belgians have renewed
their efforts 10 weaken the German
grip upon the North sea coast east Of
Nieuport. and desperate fighting is
again IN progress among the sand
dunes.
shell French Lines.
Between Albert and ROye. the Ger
mans are violently bombarding the
French lines lying east OF Amiens, but
they have not succeeded in making
any progress there. Ii Is at this point
that the Germans are trying TO cut
through 20 the allies main lines or
communication.
ARTILLERY duelling continues the
most prominent factor in the fight
ing In the northern part of the Ar
gonne district. in the forest OF La
Grurie. near Nerdun. on the heights
OF the Meuse and in upper Alsace. the
German guns are roaring constantly
ina a great effort 20 check the painful
progress OF the French.
The French have succeeded In mass
ing quantity OF artillery In range OF
Altkirch. about eight miles southwest
of MuClhausen and are bombarding
that place.
There is fierce lighting around
Thann and Steinbach. in upper Alsace.
where the Germans have been rein
forced and where they are delivering
severe counter attacks in an EFFORT TO
ffeIodge the French.