OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 732, 23 December 1914, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS.

ALLIES IMPROVE POSITION

GERMAN OPFIuIAL REPORT.

FRENCH ATTACKS REPULSED

Received this day, 12.20 a.m. London, Tuesday.

A correspondent in the North of France says fighting at Nieuport has' diminished in intensity-, the Belgians not to more than ho'd their own against tlie German counter attacks at Lombaer, Zyde and Stgeorger. There is no foundation for the rumour that the Allies are within two miles of Ostend. ■ The object of the Allies' recent movements was to secure a footing on the further bank of the Yscr in order to make later offensive easier. When we have no troops further advanced ih;m Nieu-p-Tt a small German force v/'vh. guns sufficed to gnard the bridgehead. '1 he Allies pushing forward will lengthen the front and make attack easier, as there is more room for manoeuvres. A second'important-movement is occurring in the north Ypfes region. At Bix«chute floods cover the remain-der-of the country. -Thus the Allies offensive resembles two claws. Finer weather is welcomed by all the troops. A Berlin official statement says the French 'attacks at Neiuport were repulsed. We stormed and captured the Anglo-Indian trenches between Richebourg and La Bassee, dislodge ing the occupants with heavy losses and capturing 276. We recaptured lost trenches at Notre Dame and Delorette. The 'French fiercely attacked in the neighbourhood of Sonain and penetrated our outer trenches. The attack broke down under .fipe and 310 were captured. Fierce French attacks to the northwest of Verdun failed completely. The situation in Prussia is unchanged Our attacks in Poland continue,