lied troops.

The Belgians continued in their endeavor to flood the German position
along the Yser, on January 25, 1915, and succeeded in obliging
their opponents to vacate for a time at least, and on the last
day of January allied forces consisting of Zouaves, Gurkhas and
other Indian companies made an attack upon the German trenches
upon the dunes at Lombaertzyde, gaining a temporary advantage at
an expense of considerable loss in casualties.

In reviewing the activities during the month of January, 1915, the
disagreeable state of the weather must be taken into consideration;
this resulted in terrible suffering, to which the battling forces
were subjected during the actual fighting and even more so while
at rest, either on the open field or in the questionable comfort
of an inhospitable and leaky trench.

While every effort was made by the respective General Staffs to
supply their fighting troops with such comforts as were absolutely
necessary to keep body and soul together and in trim for the next
day's work, little could be accomplished and it is a marvel how
these poor soldiers did withstand the rigorous weather which blighted
the prospect of victory, so dear to all who wear a uniform.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXXI

END OF SIX MONTHS' FIGHTING IN THE WEST

There were few military movements on the French battle front during
December, 1914, along the Aisne, the Oise and in the northern Champagne.
The fighting was mostly artillery duels and skirmishes by separate
units. In the Argonne, however, the Crown Prince of Germany was
active and there, as well as along the Moselle and on the heights
of the Vosges, many engagements were fought out resulting in varying
advantages to either opponent. Both sides had been strongly intrenched
and the ground was covered by snow to great depths, making progress
impossible except upon skis and snowshoes.

On December 3, 1914, the French captured Burnhaupt, a hill east of
Muelhausen in Upper Alsace, only to give up their advantage after
a German counterattack. On December 16 the Germans attacked in the
Woevre region and in Alsace; but were repulsed the following day.
On December 31, 1914, the French attacked Steinbach in Alsace, but
were driven out again.

The New Year of 1915 opened gently along the battle front in France
below Arras. The first large movement in 1915 began on January 8,
at Soissons. This city lies on both banks of the river Aisne