Part 38 (1/2)

Dec. 22--Allies press offensive; Germans sh.e.l.l 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 sh.e.l.ling 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 pus.h.i.+ng 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 s.h.i.+fting of Belgian headquarters.

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

CAMPAIGN IN FAR EAST.

Oct. 30--j.a.panese attack Germans at Tsing-tau; Indian troops aid j.a.panese.

Nov. 1--Desperate fighting at Tsing-tau; city is in flames.

Nov. 4--j.a.panese capture German guns and 800 prisoners at Tsing-tau.

Nov. 6--Germans surrender Tsing-tau fortress.

Nov. 7--Formal capitulation of Tsing-tau; j.a.panese will administer city.

CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA.

Oct. 28--Belgians defeat Germans on Lake Tanganyika.

Oct. 29--Allies take Edoa.

Nov. 4--Germans defeat British in German East Africa.

Nov. 7--Belgians aid British forces in the Congo.