Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-14
The statement follows:


The statement follows:
"a German attempt against small
French post north of Pargny-F1lain
(Aisne 'front.' was repulsed. There
were lively artillery actions IN the
region east Of Rheims in the Cham
payne. In the large raid yesterday
American batteries gave very effect
i've support. French troops organ
lied the positions captured on that
day in sthe region southwest Of Butte
du Mesnil The number OF prisoners
taken by the French exceeds 150."
American gunners are trained by
the French before going into active
service on their own front. The Amer
lean batteries referred to in the French
official report probably are some OF
those undergoing this instruction.
The official French statement OF
| last night reported large raid on
front Of about 100 metres In the
Champagne near Butte du Messil, in
which the French penetrated as far
as the German line The American
sector is in Lorraine, some distance
to the east of this point.
Berlin Admits Loss.
Berlin, Feb. IA (via London)-ln
their attack yesterday on the Cham
payne front near Ta-ure the war Of
fee announces, the French obtained
a footing in a salient of the German
positions.
French Front, Friday. Feb. 1 (Cor-
u correspondence of the Association Press).
, Like two boxers seated IN opposite
corners, taking deep breaths and be-
/ ing sponged down while awaiting the
next round. the German and French
, British armies on the frontiers OF
ii France and Belgium at the present
I moment in their opposing positions
, are preparing for the reopening OF the
, gigantic struggle which went on
: throughout 1917 and ceased only tenn
: porarily while time" was called by
, winter.
. Each army has probably fairly ac-
curate idea of the others strength.
The French and British know they
,have facing them 155 German divi-
sions, IS of which are in front OF the
French and 70 in front of the British
lines. (Since this dispatch was writ
/ ten there has been a considerable In
, crease in the German strength on the
western front A cable last night
from this same correspondent said the
Germans now on the western from
had ITS divisions, or about 2,100.00l
d men)
d To give the total forces on the allies
e side might possibly afford some indi
). cation to the enemy. -
e Time of Next Drive I'm Doubt
l. Whence the initiative may come
:. when weather conditions permit re-
u sumption of fighting on large scale
+ cannot for the time being be predict
e ed; but it appears probable that thest
millions of soldiers must again come
y to close grips early in the year.
n Comparison with boxing contes
: is not exactly correct for in the in
tervals between the rounds each arm!
= continue to harry each other. Eve
II since the battles of Malmaison ant
;. Cambria minor enc6lnters have takel
place almost constantly, each sid
e trying to find out the weak spots 0
the other, or making feints to discove
the intentions of the opposing army
In Lorraine, in Alsace, before Verdun
y in Champagne and even around 81
l. Quentin the Germans have attempts
le trench raids of more or less import
% ance very frequently during the pas
{ few weeks, sometimes with strong AZ
1T tillery support, on other occasion
purely surprise attacks by infantr
units. In all cases they have bee
unsuccessful, while the French
&c their iEroads into the German. line
&c have generally been able to carry Of
e. their entire plan of reconnaissance
at and have returned to their lines on
u after destroying the enemy's worl
IN and usually bringing back with the
ed a batch Of prisoners.
French Hold Good Positions.
The results OF all these small cor
bats can be seen only after the &c
\ eral engagement has begun. For Il
\ present the French armies occul
\ very favorable positions. AS seQu
I to all the heavy fighting in the q
y they obtained possession OF humble
OF the highest points and the best o
seryatories and they have since he
them with the firmest Of grips q
even in some places improved thu
, positions. There they await the CO
, tinuatIon Of the battle with the gre,
est confidence.