The possession of a small village situated on German territory west of Forbach was severely contested by French and German troops yesterday with the French remaining masters of the village after the day's fighting had ended, German soldiers darted forward against French positions established in the village, which is on the edge of the Warndt Forest, but were repelled every time, Observers here point out that this clash is a proof that the recent withdrawal of French troops from advanced positions in Germany did not mean that the French General Staff intended to proceed with a systematic evacuation of French forces from German territory. Strategically important points are energetically defended when necessary, Another incident on the Western Front yesterday was the capture in the same region of a German artillery officer and his patrol. Pri. soners were also taken east of the Moselle, Operations on the whole were considerably hindered by bad weather, [the recent heavy rains having resulted in quagmires everywhere, Under these circumstances, large-scale operations by the Germans would meet with enormous natural difficulties and it is being wondered whether the fact that the authorities [in the Reich have instructed all bookstores to place maps of certain small countries west of Germany at their disposal, does not indicate that the Germans will try to force their [way through ether regions.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.