Part 54

Dec. 8--German headquarters moved from Roulers; Germans make new attack on Dixmude.

Dec. 9--Belgians capture German trenches on the Yser by a ruse; Germans shell Ypres and Furnes.

Dec. 10--Germans evacuate Roulers and Armentieres; French win victory at Vermelles.

Dec. 11--Allies push forward; Germans rush guns to Ostend.

Dec. 12--Allies drive Germans across the Yser Canal.

Dec. 13--Allies have repulsed persistent German attacks in a three-day battle on the Lys; French gain in St. Mihiel region.

Dec. 14--French continue aggressive movements in Alsace and Lorraine.

Dec. 15--Allies advance on the whole front in movement to drive Germans from Belgium; German attacks south of Ypres repulsed and way to Roulers opened.

Dec. 16--Germans evacuate Dixmude; German defenses near Arras mined; Allies maintain offensive; Germans force the fighting in Argonne region; Allies make gains from Arras to the sea; Germans repulsed in Woevre region and in Alsace.

Dec. 17--Allies enter Westende; Germans rush more troops to Belgium.

Dec. 18--Allies take Roulers; fighting in Lille and near Arras.

Dec. 19--Allies gain at several points from the North Sea to the Oise; they lose near La Bassee.

Dec. 21--Allies extend offensive operations; they report progress in the centre.

Dec. 22--Allies press offensive; Germans shell hospital at Ypres; they claim that Allies' advance has failed.

Dec. 23--Allies make slight gains.

Dec. 24--British are using new howitzers; some German trenches have been torn to bits by French guns.

Dec. 25--Reported that the French are shelling the outer forts of Metz; unofficial truce along much of the battle front; soldiers feast and get many gifts from home; in some instances Allies and Germans exchange gifts and visits.

Dec. 26--Fog halts fighting in Flanders.

Dec. 27--Germans pushing preparations for defense of Antwerp.

Dec. 28--New Paris defenses are completed; the Rhine is being additionally fortified.

Dec. 29--Germans reinforce line in Belgium.

Dec. 31--Lull in the fighting on most of the front in Flanders and France; French take half of the village of Steinbach, Upper Alsace, which is of strategic importance.

Jan. 3--French gain near Rheims and St. Mihiel, but are repulsed near St. Menehould; floods hinder fighting; conditions in Yser trenches are very bad.

Jan. 4--Germans admit loss of Steinbach.

Jan. 5--Germans are moving big guns from Ostend; French press on toward Cernay.

Jan. 6--French make further progress at St. Mihiel; bombardment of Furnes necessitates shifting of Belgian headquarters.

Jan. 7--French make progress in direction of Altkirch.

CAMPAIGN IN FAR EAST.