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2 . THE VITAL ISSUE
OFFICIAL REPORTS FOR THE WEEK.
March 6-An attack undertaken last night with considerable forces on the heights, northeast
of Celles, broke down with heavy losses to the French. s Several night attacks also
were unsuccessful and over 1,000 dead Frenchmenare lying before our.‘eriNt‘anglementS-
March 7-Northeast of Przasnysz a Russian attack broke down with severe lossesgtp‘ the enemy.
Northwest of Plonsk a Russian attack was also repulsed. p 5
March 8-Between the sea and the Somme there are only artillery duels. Attempts of the enemy
to advance during the night south of ‘Ypres failed. a ‘
THE WESTERN WAR ZONE.
At the present stage of fighting rain and snow
have hindered operations at many points, especially
in the Vosges, but with the approach of spring we
may expect an increase of activity, especially in the
western field of action, where for some time com-
paratively little fighting was done. Reports from
Great Britain state that for some time new troops
have been landing on French and Belgian soil by
. way of Plymouth in England. It is likewise, though
unofficially reported that large German reinforce-
ments are assembling in the center of the German
line and on the Belgian frontier of Holland. For
some time past the tactics of the Allies seem to have
been to have kept the attention of the Germans
occupied to that extent only to prevent them from
rushing great numbers to. the eastern‘ theater of
war, but yet not to engage in any encounter of de-
cisive value. The British flotilla has again bom-
barded VVestende and the Allied forces are attempt-
ing to form a solid organization in the region of
the dunes.
On March 6, the Germans inflicted considerable
losses on the British with artillery fire south of
Ypres in Belgium where they captured an English
trench in their counterattack. In general rather
lively artillery engagements are taking place around
Nieuport and Ypres. Between the sea to the Somme
and from the Lys to the Aisne heavy cannonading
is reported. - ,
North of Le Mesnil in the Champagne district
heavy encounters are taking place, the attacks of
the French on March 6 failed; they were repulsed
and the German troops maintained their positions,
Heavy continuous rain on March 7 caused a slack-
ening of the operations, and the French were again
repulsed" in their attacks near Perthes and ‘Le.
Mesnil. Five officers and forty French soldiers
were captured. In a counter-attack the Germans
later on occupied thesrnall wood north of Perthes
and the Piro trench of their position near Le Mesnil.
Further progress was announced by the Germans the
following day, when several trenches and about
sixty ‘prisoners were taken. Another French at-
tack, northeast of Le Mesnil broke down under
heavy infantry and artillery fire, the French sus-
taining very heavy losses. The following day snow-
storms interfered with the operations, but the Ger-l I
mans were successful in their night counter-attacks, '
taking 40 more prisoners, the French movements
having again ‘completely failed during the after-
noon. The German organization in this region is
one of extremely strong character; there are ve
deep subterranean chambers, armored shelters sup-
plied with revolver guns. I
i
On Thursday, March 11, Germany's official report
reads: .
“With the battle of today and those of the last
few days the VVinter battle in Champagne has come
to an end, and no future events can change anything
in the situation.
“The battle began, as reported, on Feb. 17 at the
order of the French General Staff to break through
at any cost so as to bring relief to the hardpressed
Russians in the Mazurian Lakes region. This shows
that.the intention of the enemy of breaking through
and the order of the French General Staff were I101
able to be carried out, and they have obtained 0111)’
the smallest advances, which are not worthy 0
mention. V I .
“We have taken more than 2,540 wounded pris-
oners, including 35 officers. Naturally our IOSSCS
were heavy, but such sacrifices were not in V8111-
The enemy’s losses were at least three ‘times :15
heavy'as ours, and are estimated at 45,000 in Cham-
pagne. .
“ his result was obtained by the heroic conduct
of the German troops and by the circumspection and
tenacity of their officers. General von Einemp 35
well as Comanding Generals Riemann and Fleck,
were in the uninterrupted day and night fights.
“The enemy has thrown into the field since Feb-
l6 more than six complete army corps and stupend'
ous quantities of heavy artillery ammunition 0
their own and American production.
THE EASTERN BATTLEFIELDL
The opposing armies are holding their genefal
relative positions. ‘Though the Russian numbe”
are preponderant, yet the Germans are at a SUP”
rior advantage owing to the effective use of 11 SUPC’
rior railroad system; a victory of the German 3"m.Y
would carry them to an important line of commlm"
cation which would result in disastrous losses to the
Russians. The main drive of von Hindenburg at
. present is in North Poland against. Ossowetz, will?
is a link in the chain of fortresses covering the rail‘
road line connecting Warsaw with St. Petersburg’-
Obstinatefighting continues along the entire 19‘
men Vistula front; inseveral renewed attempt? to
advance on Aug'ustowo, the Russians again faile
Fighting still continues on the Grodno-Lomza linC ,
and northeast of Przasnysz a Russian attack’bf0ke
down with severe losses. ‘At Lomza 800 and nea’
Przasnysz 3,000 prisoners were taken. In;anothef
attack on March 10th north of the. Rawa 31901,“
2.000 more were captured. The situation in R1155”
aswell as in the Carpathians is practically the same.
the Russians losing heavily.‘ In thedistrict 11637
Lupkow Pass the reinforced Russian ranks lost 011
one occasion 700 men and then again 1,000 1115‘! OI.‘
the same "day. In Western Galicia the Austrians
have gained considerable ground south of Gorlice:
in southeast Galicia calm prevails. ’