New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Foe Gains Ground East Of
Nieuport, but Is Flung
Back at Once
Fighting Flares Up
Over Whole Front
Warmer Weather Brings
Wider Activity in Air
and Trenches

LONDON, Jan. 23.-Military opera
tions were resumed to-day in France
and Belgium on q greater scale than
has been attained before this year.
F'ror, the North Sea to the Swiss bor-
der the lessening in the rigors of
winter has made possible enterprises
which seem to forecast the resump-
ton of heavy fighting.
The most important operations of
the day were conducted on the coastal
sector, east of the town Of Nieuport.
where the French face the enemy, and
in the zone that protects Calais. Here,
after an intense bombardment, the
Germans attacked the front line
trenches Of the French and managed
to gain footing in an advanced posi-
tion, from which they We're almost
Immediately driven out.
The Paris communicate refers to the
action as "an important raid" and ap-
parently it was no more than that, al
though first reports seemed TO indicate
that 1t might develop into serious
u
Nieuport the battle line takes a sharp
curve westward. thus creating salient
which 1t may have been the intention
of the enemy to oOliterate The gen
eral situation on this part of the front
has undergone little change in three
years, although the German lines have
been exposed at times to heavy bonn
bardment from British naval forces.
Fierce Struggle on Aisne
Another violent action took place On
the. Aisne front north of Souain and
Avocourt, where Berlin reports that
the French attacked after strong artil-
lery preparations. The fighting here
was hand-to- hand. and only after a
driven back to their positions.
Spirited fighting developed also in
tho region OF st. Quentin, between Brit
lsh and German .raiding parties, in
which Berlin claims that the Germans
took "a great number of prisoners" as
we'll as in the Malancourt sector, where
German detachments penetrated the
French trenches and returned with cap
tives. A German raid south of La
Bassee broke down under the fire Of the
British batteries. Haig reports, while
another German attack on the front Of
Chaumc Wood, north of Verclun, was
repelled by the French. Violent artil-
lery engagements occurred at many
other points along both fronts.
Air Fighting Intensive
Fighting in the air during the last
few days has kept pace with the land
operations. In the period Of January
to 10 the French alone destroyed nine
teen enemy aeroplanes, and between
January II and 20 ten more were
brought down. bringing the known
total tor the month so far to twenty
nine. The British pilots have account
ed for at least a score more in that
time. while the German claims have
been large.
The increasing activity of the oppos-
ing armies, both on land and In the air.
seems to presage the renewal OF what
may be called offensive actions in the
near future. Although for weeks the
Western front has been held in the
grip Of zero weather and heavy SHOWS.
the cold season is not of long duration
in Northern France and Belgium, the
sPring thaw setting in often before
the middle of February.
Both the Allied and German armies
have conducted large scale operations
IN the last two years under the most
adverse weather conditions, and it is
not improbable that this will hold true
IN. the coming weeks. The Grown
Frlnce's great assault on Verdun was
begun in the first days of February.
1T the Germans intend to strike s.
major blow in France as early as pos
sible, heavy fighting may be looked
TOT within short time.