South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-13
Bad Weather Continues Along
Entire Western Front Rem
dering Operations Very Diff
cult, Especially in Belgium.
TWO ENGAGEMENTS ARE
RAGING NEAR CENTER
Hardest COmbatS Shift Toward
scissors and ArgOnne For
est and Both Sides Claim
Victories at Various Points.

PARIS. Jan. 13. - Violent artillery
duels are reported from many sections
OF the battle front in an official state
ment issued by the French war office
this afternoon. Violent Sighting is
still in progress northeast of scissors.
East of this point the Germans have
succeeded in making a gain In the
Champagne district near Because jour.
the French have pushed forward until
their trenches are only 60 yards from
the German lines.
Bad weather is making operations.
difficult in West Flanders. and in the
FOsges, at both ends of the battle
front. There are severe sand storms
on the Belgian coast and thick fog
prevails over the VOsges.
The official communique follows:
The bad weather which continues
almost along the entire front. renders
operations very difficult especially in
Belgium, where great sand storms in
the dunes near the sea are occurring.
"In the region of NieUport and at
Ypres our artillery has been very sue
cessful against the works of the en-
emy.
"On the Aisne. to the northeast of
scissors the lighting around Hill no.
1872 has been very severe and lasted
during the whole of the day.
Employ Large Bodies.
''The Germans employed in these
engagements large bodies of troops.
We have maintained our position on
the heights Of Pentes TO the west of
the hill. Toward the east our troops
have been compelled TO relinquish
some ground. The fighting continues.
Between scissors and Berry-Au-
Bac the fire OF our artillery has
caused in many places, explosions in
the midst OF the enemies batteries
In the Champagne district frCm
Rheims to the ArgOnne. very violent
artillery duels have taken place.
I'm the region of SOuain the salient
OF the forts, north of the farm of
BeausejOur, referred TO in yesterdays
cOmmunique, remains in our hands,
and we have established a trench at
a distance Of 60 yards from that of
the Germans.
I'm the Argonne rain and wind has
interfered with infantry action.
Between the Argonne and the Mo-
selle river there has been intermittent
cannOnade
In the VOsges fog and heavy snow
falls has hampered operations
Two Engagements Are On.
From both ends OF the great battle
front the hardest fighting has now
shifted 10 the center where two sep
arate engagements are in progress;
one northeast of scissors on the pla-
teau of Perrieres. the other in Cham
pagne between Rheims and the Ar
gOnne forest The German troops
holding the line southwest of Laon
delivered a series of violent counter
attacks against the French and Brit
ish and so desperate was the struggle
in that region that darkness found
the ground covered with dead.
The German artillery along the
Aisne is Smelling the French positions
vigorously and Rheims has again been
subjected 10 a hot cannonade
Around Perthes. Beausejour. Sou
ain, Vienne Laville and i'm the valley
of the river Tourbe, just north of the
famous old Roman road. the Germans
and French are still ar grips in
struggle for trenches commanding the
highways.
Near. .Armentieres and in West Flarf-
ders. the artillery OF each side is en-
gaging that of the other across the
inland seas of flooded lowlands. and
the gigantic Quagmires.
At a number of points on the battle
line both sides claim victory. This Is
explained to some extent. that at
points where fighting is hottest,
trenches and towns have changed
many times IN the course OF the at
tacks.
In upper Alsace the advance of the
French troops hing west OF Muel-
hauseu has evidently been checked.
Reports from Basic say that the inn
portanCe OF recent French victories
near Altkirch was underesumated.
The Germans have sent another
batch OF new aeroplanes and dirig
ibIes into Belgium. stauoning them at
Chent. II IS now learned that the
German air raid on Dunkirk was
made simultaneously with a visit OF
pres't POincare Co that city. The
French president visited the French
base hospitals there and distributed
gifts among the wounded.
Field Marshal Sir John French is
moving fresh British troops 10 tho
front to meet the German attacks east
OF Amiens.