South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-07
Attempt to Attack Allies Base
on Coast Fails, Says Paris
Flanders Fighting Confined
to Artillery.
EXPLOSION OF MINES
STOPS ENEMY'S WORKS
French Maintain Positions Cap
tured on Previous Days
Continued Rain Makes All
Movements Very Difficult.

Movements Very Difficult.
PARIS, Jan. driving for
ward in Alsace. the French
troops. though operating under
weather conditions highly un-
favorable. are now only two and
a half miles from Altkirch. They
have taken UP a position in a
small forest near that town. and
1t is believed here that they will
soon capture Altllirch.
With Altkirch and Thanh in
the possession Of the French the
Germans will have lost control of
the railroads running northwest
and southwest from Muelhausen,
lines that Will prove of vast i'm
Portance to the French.
PARIS, Jan. German aviators
attempting 10 attack Dunkirk, the al
lies base on the coast. have been put
to flight by French batteries, says an
official statement issued here this af-
ternoon. The fighting in Flanders,
the statement says, has been confirm
ed by artillery conflicts in which the
French have gained the advantage
over the Germans.
The Germans have apparently re-
newed the offensive in the region of
Lille. as the statement tells of the
repulse Of violent attack there.
Il
lows:
From the sea to the Lys, there
were, during the day of Jan. 8. only
artillery duels in which we had the
advantage almost constantly.
our batteries put To flight German
aviators who were flying toward Dun
kirk and eXtinguished the fire of
mine throwers.
In the region of Zillebeke the en-
emy violently bombarded the head
of the Belgian bridge To the south
OF DiXmude, in the region of Lille,
we successfully repulsed a violent at
tack bv the Germans upon one of our
trenches. This trench after it had
been lost TO us, was retaken in
very brilliant action.
Mines Arrest Works.
ITO the east Of Rheims. at the Alger
farm, the explosion of the mines
which we set off last night arrested
the works OF the of the enemy.
''In the ArgOnne. TO the west and
20 the north of Nerdun, there were
artillery combats in which the enemy
showed little activity.
I'm the WOevre the progress made
by us TO the northwest of Flirey is
more important than had been pre-
v.ously announced"
(F'lirey is on the main road from
st. Mihiel to POnt-A-MousSOn IA
miles east of st. Mihiel and nine miles
west of Pont-A-MoussOn.)
I'VE have made ourselves master Of
one part Of the first line of the en-
emy at Steinbach and at Hill No. 425
the enemy has made no further
counter attacks.
a persistent rain and the condition
of the terrain makes ali movements
very difficult.
1--WE have maintained ourselves in
all The positions conquered on pre-
ceding days. The enemy has made
willer, the other near KOlschlag. They
were Immediately repulsed.
I'VE have advanced in the direction
Of Altkirch, occupying the woods To-
Gated four kilOmeters TO the west of
that town. Our heavy artillery has
reduced TO silence that Of the enemy.
The German artillery during the whole
day bOmbarded the hospital at
Thanh"
Sends Army TO Alsace.
Cen. Joseph Joffre. the French
comrnander-in-Ch chief. has thrown an
army OF 100000 men in upper Alsace
and Lorraine in a vigorous drive
against the German defenders. Three
French columns are marching against
Muelhausen from three directions.
The first from Col. (MOunt) Bon
Homme west Of COlmar; the second
by way OF Steinbach, and the third
from Altkirch.
The French army in the valley Of
the Moselle southwest OF Metz is
engaging the German forces in the
southern part Of Lorraine.
The German attempt TO lay siege
TO Belfort, the strong French fortress
near the Alsatian frontier. has ended
were trying TO get within artillery
range OF Belfort have been driven
back across the Alsatian border and
are now on the defensive.
In Flanders as Well as upon the
greater part Of the lire in northern
France, the battle has been fought
out during the past as hours with
heavy artillery.
Bad weather is prevailing along the
Aisne and in the Argonne but despite
the rain and mud. infantry fighting in
the northern part OF the Argonne re-
gion for trenches continues
The French general STAFF. in a spe-
ciai order has paid a high compi-
ment TO the valor Of the foreign
troops, especially the Italians who
are fighting with the French. There
are some Americans in the ranks OF |
the French forces that are opposing |