South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-05

PARIS. Feb. brilliant work by
tie African troops OF the French
army resulting in a decided gain for
the allies 10 the east of the road be
tween Arras and Lille is reported in
an official statement issued by the
French war Office this afternoon. After
the explosion OF a mine. ZOuaves and
Turcos dashed forward and es-
tablished themselves strongly in the
position where the mine had blown
up a German trench. All the Ger
man soldiers i'm the trenches were
killed or taken prisoners.
The communiquc also claims mark
ed success for the French artillery al
several points. while i'm the Argonne
two counter attacks made by the
French resulted I'm their rcgain.ne
ground previously lost 20 the Ger
mans and also in their advance be-
yond the local positions were also
successful.
The text of the official communique
follows.
In Belgium the German air
ships showed great activity yes
terday.
The communique OF last night
reported the capture Of one OF the
enemys trenches To the west OF
the highway from Arras TO Lille
10 the north OF Ecurie. That
trench hindered the troops occu-
pying the ground gained by us a
few days ago. To the east OF
the same road we exploded
mine and Immediately thereafter
detachment Of ZOuaVeS and OF
light African infantry firmly es
tabHshed itself upon the con-
quered positions. All the Ger
mans of the captured trench
were killed OF made prisoners
"Our artillery silenced the en-
emy's batteries near Adinfer.
south of Arras at POzieres,
northeast OF Albert: at Ham.
northwest of Perrones, likewise
I'm the sector Of Pailly. south OF
Noyon.
There is nothing new in the
dregIOn Of PeTthes.
"In the Argonne. there was a
single attack al Bagatelle. That
attack, which took from us a hun
dred Yards OF trenches. PROVOKED
two counter attacks on our part
which not only regained this 100
yards, but also gained ground be-
yond there
In the Nosges there were artil-
lery combats.
Ion the rest OF the front there
is nothing 10 report
German ayiatOrs bOmbarded Yer
dun the French stronghold on the
Meuse. after "a DerilOus trip over three
OF the forts defending the city on the
northwest. but their machine was
shot down and the air men were made
prisoners when they tried TO escape.
one OF the Germans was wounded
and the seroplane showed marks
from more than 90 bullets and shgap-
mel fragments SO severe was the
bombarement from the French high
oil f...
approached Verdun from the direction
Of NaTeunes that Do was lost 10 view
for "a considerable period owing 20
the smoke of the bursting air bombs
To is reported from Belf0rt that
Thanh and Cernay have been almost
destroyed by dre and shells
East Of Amiens and in the neigh
borhood Of Arras the Germans have
renewed their efforts against the
French and British. AS was pointed
out in these dispatches some time a-o.
the Germans have undertaken % cut
through tc the coast in "a straight line
from Arras In order 60 cut or the
French. British and Belgian troops
operating east of Arras iu northern
France and in West Flanders Dv
spite the FURY or the German attacks
and the valOr Of the German soldiers
the assaults SO far have an resulted
in failure. Al points where the Ger
mans made gains they soon lost their
captured ground before tho terrible
counter attacks Of the British.
Severe artillery cannonades arc zee
ported from the Aisne and West Fiau-
ders Contrary 90 their usual custom.
the Germans have been caunonading
al night near the North sea coast
This IS regarded by French military
men as an eXtraragunt waste 90 am
munition. as dispatches from 81. omer
say that the night uombardments