New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-04
Great Offensive Due Soon
on West Front, Say
London Observers.
5000 GUNS SENT
TO LINE IN BELGIUM
10000 Men on Way to France
Artillery Battle Gains
In Intensity.
RS Gable 10 To Tribune

London. Feb "A German offensive
Of huge proportions in Northern France
Is due soon. in the opinion of military
observers. The exceptional weather of
the last month permits a move on a
bigger scale than was undertaken re-
Gently, and reports indicate that the
Germans are taking advantage of il 70
bring up much heavy artillery as well
as fresh men. Some critics think the
hardest blow will fall on the Dunkirk-
Calais region. although they also hold
that drives of almost equal Importance
can be tried at several other points.
For many months the Germans have
been feeling out the whole line in an
attempt to find weak spot as wei as
70 worry ths British. Although prac-
/ tically no ground has been gained and
few casualties have resulted, tremend-
Gus quantities Of ammunition have
been expended BY the Germans in
Northern France since Christmas. For
days. as can be seen in this brief COM
muniques, shells have been rained
around Ypres On some days the num-
Der hurled has run up into the thou
sands. All this has been without in
fantry efforts of any consequence.
During the last few days 10000 men
passed through Luxembourg on the way
10 the French front. II is estimated
that 5000 guns have been shipped into
Belgium and probably twice that num-
Der have arrived from Germany.
New Drive Planned.
The London newspapers this morning
express the conviction that the Ger
mans are planning a new offensive on a
large scale against the left wing Of the
Allies. 1t is expected that they will at
tempt to blast a way TO Calais and Dun
kirk. by the use Of strong bodies OF
infantry supported by enormous masses
of artillery.
This opinion is backed in part by the
official statements to-day, which record
intense artillery activity along the
Franco Belgian front. Fierce lombard
ments have preceded every other often
sive.
Berlin, on the other hand, indicates
that the French may have plan in
view 70 recoup their losses of territory
near Melville, which they sustained
recently, as their artillery fire in this
sector is reported "a increasingly
heavy, possibly pressging AN infantry
movement
The Germans report occupying two
british mine crators near lIulluoh and
the shooting down OF British and a
French aeroplane near Peronne. The
British tell Of repulsing surprise at
tack near Ypres, while Paris records
German attack on the French positions
north Of the Aisne, near the village OF
Bots. "The fire Of our artillery and IN
fantry Immediately arrested the sally,
j. adds.
Artillery Is Active.
"The enemy artillery has vigorously
replied 10 the Smelling By our artillery
Of enemy positions over a wide front,
SAYS the German official.
"Northwest of Hulluoh We occupied
two craters caused by the explosion
OF British mines before our front.
an the region Of Melville the enemy
Increased his artillery fire until during
the afternoon it assumed great aetiv-
ity. Along other parts Of the front
lively artillery actively developed.
"In the region OF Peronne our air
men shot down two nerop planes, one
English and one French. Three OF the
occupants were killed and the French
observation officer was seriously IN
jured. ,,,.
There was heavy hostile shelling
during the day. II was directed
aosinst our trenches around Loos and
,Sainst Loos itself. We replied
effectively" says the British official
statement tonight.
There has been mining activity
about the Hohenzolern redoubt and
between this redoubt and La Bassee
Road This activity was mainly on our
part"