The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-14
T RANCE
[4y Henry Wood, United Press starr
CORRESPONDENCE.

Isy Henry Wood, United Press Staff
Correspondent
i. PARIS, Feb. 13-From Arras to the
North sea, combined artillery and In
fantry engagements are progressing
with the advantage on the side OF the
allies. The fighting is especially Sc
we're in the zone from DixmNde TO
Nleuport, where the Belgians and the
French are fighting side by side; at
Ypres, where the Germans have bonn
barded the French trenches from their
aeropIanes, without doing much dam
age; at La Bassee where they have
brought up new and bigger artillery
to cope with the British, and be-
tween Lens and Arras, where num-
Der OF unsuccessful attempts to storm
the French positions have been made
From ,Arras, south to Soissons and
then east to the Argonne hegion, the
infantry has been quiet, although ar
tiIiery dueIs have been continuous
Fighting has been very severe at
Soissons where the Germans have al
most completely destroyed the CITY
hall and other public buildings. Be-
cause of the intensity Of the fire, It
has been necessary to move the Red
Cross hospital. In the Argonnes, the
fighting is increasing In intensity de-
spite the heavy snow which covers
the ground.
At Fontaine Madame, the Germans
attempted an assault In force yester-
day but were repulsed.
The Germans exploded number OF
mines under the outer line Of the
- -At ,Aek ~
Mennehoule, but failed to make any
gains. Fog and snow are interfering
with the progress OF the campaign in
the vosges and upper Alsace, but the
infantry continues to slowly press for
ward against the German main road.
ways. It is believed certain that
when the weather changes, an encr-
eetic French offensive will be COM
menced.
The general situation all along the
Swiss frontier to the orth sea coast
officially to be ."eminentiy .satisfac-
tory"
The Belgian, British and French,
veterans are! maintaining their posi-
tions despite the utmost efforts on
b
through. The allies are wasting no
men in attempted offensive opera
tions at this time. They are content
fo maintain their positions, pending
the coming Of spring.
Meanwhile the British army Of
more rnan 100000 men is being
mobilized at selected places in readi-
ness for the word to take the field
when the real Fl lifting begins. The
French reserve forces are also re-
ceivine the finishing touches.
The new army will have the great
est aerial force ever gathered. The
dirigibies and areoplanes of the Brit
lsh and French are being painted SO
they cannot be mistaken for the craft
Of the enemy, as it is now an open
secret that many British and French
airmen have fallen victims Of their
comrades bullets. The allied war
craft are to have their national coIors
painted on them and the French will
be painted yellow and the British red,
in contrast to the gray Of the Ger
mans.
At the same time, French officials
are taking every possible precaution
to change the opinion Of French peo-
pie regarding what the British are do
ing. There Is no question that public
opinion has been inclined to think
England has not been doing as much
:as she should as to her share Of the
war. Minister Of War MiIIcrand was
invited to England to get material to
change this opinion. Back here on
French soil, he is said to be not only
satisfied, but even astonished. He
has told his friends that all Enqland
is an armed camp and that the British
government is fully prepared to build
up eonscript army, or to make any
other sacrifice that might be neces-
sarw to give Russia and France all
the help avaiiable. This information
Is now being played up by the French
papers everywhere, at the request Of
the government.