onsisting 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 and was in the
possession of the French. The French forces attacked during a drenching
rain, pushing up the rising ground to the north with their heavy guns,
regardless of the soft ground which rapidly turned to deep mud and
slush. They succeeded in carrying the first line of G