The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16
s,,,isl c,bic Dcspntrh TO Tue SpS.

fJy ~ Nt''''l'@'
Germans lain at Heavy Cost
semt.oNicial statement issued in
raris this afternoon on the subject IT
the German offensive says that while
his /, intended To give an impressio,
q great activity on the part NJ tho
German forces. the engagements are
only local actions without consequence
and without equivalent gains for the at
lacking parties. The same is true. the
statement says. OF the attacks east OF
The Tahure-Somme-ry line. The French
troops could make this kind VI advance,
r. ~con,ended. hut take care not To M
50 because the gains are not I'm proper
ion to the sacrifice OF life. and such at
lacks reduce the value Of the troops
employed.
The official cummuniaut issued by the
Berlin war oifice to-day follows:
After thorough preparation by our
artillery aud mine 'hro~ers We took
,bou, 500 meters ,s14 yards. or
nearly half a mile) OF British posi-
tons southeast OF rpres. A large
portion Of the occupants. including
one officer and dozens of soldiers.
Ncr, taken prisoners.
on the Lens-Bethune o VIC oc-
euied the crater caused by "A sue
e,ss.ul mine explosion.
The enemy continued to she'll Lens
a1d Us suburbs.
South ~ the Somme the French
mad useless hand grenade attacks,
accompanied by continuous artillery
firing. ,Astiug until night.
Northwest of Rheims French gas
attacks were ineffective.
In champagne after Il strong ar
tllery preparation a weak attack;
AGAINST our new positions northwest
u Tahule was repulsed.
East Of the Meuse ;neI. was lively
f'ing against our front between Fla
has ard Ornes. \ French count
stack last night against t.e positions
vres'ed from them near obcrsap;
a..I
Penetrated Front Of 900 Yards.
The following report frcm British
ie.dauarters IN France was issued to
,rht by the official press bureau.
Last light. after a leav! honi-
tardm-ut If the whole front OF TIE
Ypr,> ,aliru. % south Of Hooge the
enemy made, several infantry attacks.
Between the Hpres-Ccin'nec canal
q. wseu the Ypres-COmincs canal
enemy hrok, into our front trench On
, frs,, o. about; TOO yards. All the
other Jacks failed.
HrtN! bo,nhardn'ni on hoth sides
ontilues.
The a]ommuniqut sued by the F'renc
War ulhcr Tonight follows
tn Gty was relatively calm la
Art, our trench caunon fired ~, the
enemy o-gsul z~dtioI@ III the sides OF
the l.u,, road.
N-.' 90 tuc Disc our batteries bonn
birl'l q train and provision convoy
IA. '.r- "a Jon At Epagn!, north OF We
sur-Nisue.
r. the northeast of scissors a de-
,'-uc',gc tirs was directed against the
ti'irdu works.
In the Argonne, at La FILE Murte,
" exploded II mine and occupied the
rat; ~
IL upper .Aleace In the course Of the
dty our artillery kept under is fire
O." 'ieru.,u positions TO the cast OF
s'ppp.s.
Bf..tah communicate
!. 'crrisal Tor recent bombardments
D. "l'uy d-ropldnes n OF our
s,ia iron. threw successfully IN the
cour'' - the night sixteen heavy
'''J' NI'r on tnc 3elodl ONE AT hVi'
dzs.II-.
Follow ny Ii. the French afternoo
,U1suillt
In tac Champagne district. at a
l"a' "a ~" east Of The roadway. be
Ne,. T,uur, and SUmme-i'y. we have
u du'u'"d , portion Of the advaIced
ter'ucs Occupied by the enemy OF
F~Lrualy Is.
In 90" lorraine district there have
oeeh sonI" encounters between patrols
IN lA" i."!llon sector.
tn" night rassed quietly ON tho re-
ma,.I'r 81 'ic front.
%h""L !" Worth Wore Violent.
TIC '"'~r"sroudcn, Of the Dnilv Ma
y hr'lsh ~ll"dluuirtsrs in Franz. wri
sl'I'r tat" of February 10, says
Nl'tu'r nr unt the Germans a
IFnJe't'ns 4 serious offensive in Belgiu
IN" fIhNd'rs ! nave no idea, but for u
','t tIc, "r -four days the Smelling n.rI
~ t0- ipres salient has been mut
'tdNI"r IMAM for months, one secti,
o' N" front line of trenches was SUI
Jected 20 a heavy fire from guns of lari
.thhr". THIS was followed by an |
iantr' and bombing attack. The a
NIlery bumhardment was continued
spIte Of ~r"prisai fire and many signs
q more determined move could be o
served
The enemy has been possessed late
win something like a mania for tren'
'~nortars. The increased use OF Il
'j"nrh mortar is of the highest impor
'ahe' u II used to push an attack.
hod a captured trench. TO protect
Nl'u0TA wal and 10 h.tripninR AoAnit ply