New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-19
Germans Driven Back
Three Times by the
Enemy's Fierce Fire.
BELGIANS REPULSE
FURIOUS ASSAULTS
British Charge Trenches at
Neutrality-suspicious.
Shell BelfOrt.
,Rr Cahl. % The Tribune. ]


hardest assaults have been delivered.
There the Germans charged the
enemy lines three times last night, but
each time the French artillery checked
the attack with curtain of FIRE. The
attempt at an offensive was renewed
again to-day with an intense artillery
preparation and the massing OF many
troops. But before the Germans could
debouch Joffre's guns opened heavy
fire and prevented the effort.
The British, who recently won series
Of trenches around Hulluch but were
forced 10 retire by furious counter
attack, are once more hghtlng 10
straightcn their line north OF Loos.
Berlin reports repeated enemy attacks
with strong forces northeast OF Yer
melles, which lies directly west Of HUI
luch. All these assaults Germans
claim to have repulsed with heavy
losses.
Tahure Hill Bombarded.
Along the rest of the French front
the fighting has consisted mainly OF
artillery duels. In Champagne the Ger
mans are bombarding the French ad-
vanced positions, notably their trenches
on the Butte de Tahure, which threaten
On the Vosges crests spirited combats
are beng fought with hand grenades.
In Lorraine, at Leintrey, the French at
tempted an assault, but were repulsed.
On the Belgian front the Germans
apparently are making an effort TO
break through. The "Belgische Stand
art" says that terrible bombardment
was in progress along the User line
Saturday and Sunday nights. The fir
ing was especially violent near DIX
nude and Ypres.
This bombardment was the prelude
to an attempt by the Germans to break
the Belgian lines. The Belgian artll-
lery returned the fire, shelling the
enemy's communication trenches and
scattering his infantry as they leaped
from the trenches. A second attack on
a smaller scale also was repulsed.
Belgians Hold Their Ground.
This offensive took place in the Dix
Deaths Sgr Highway" which has been
stubbornly disputed by both sides. Al
though moved down in rows, the Bel
gians have been holding their own and
not yielding an inch Of ground.
German air squadrons have attacked
the fortress at Belfort, near the Asa
tian border. Berlin reports that the
German airmen encountered enemy aVi-
ators near the stronghold. Despite their
vigorous attempts TO drive back the IN
vaders, the French we've forced TO re-
tire. The Germans then dropped eight
bombs on the fortress, causing several
explosions.
FRENCH OFFICIAL.
The communication issued at Paris
this afternoon says:
Three new attacks on the part OF
the enemy against our positions at
Bois-en- Hache, TO the northeast OF
Soucnez, were completely checked
last night by curtains of fire, IN
which both artillery and infantry
participated.
To the south of the River Somme,
in the sector of Lihons, there has
been almost continual fighting with
trench weapons, while in the mean
time our batteries directed an Ell
fective fire against the German
works.
To the north of Verdun German
forces have endeayored TO occupy
the craters of certain mines recently
exploded between the lines. They
everywhere have been repulsed.
Last night witnessed very spirited
infantry fire between the trenches In
the vicinity OF Nomeny. Our artil-
lery in the same region has dis
persed groups Of pioneers OF the
enemy. particularly to the east of
Fplv and near Gremecey and Bion-
court. and it has also bombarded the
railroad station at Blamont.
The statement given out tonight
follows:
After an intense artillery prepare
ton. menaces of infantry attacks
were manifested In the German
trenches at Bois-en-Hache and the
valley of the Souchez. where large
masses of enemy electives were
gathered. Our artillery, by an ener-
getic and effective barrier fire, and
our machine guns prevented the ad-
versary from debouching. |
An artillery duel, in which we had
the advantage, took place TO the
south OF the Somme, in the environs
of Tilloloy, Cessier and Saint Leo
cade.
On the left bank Of the Aisne, to
the south Of Pommiers, our patrols
discovered an enemy ambuscade and
brought back prisoners.
IN Champagne the bombardment Of
the enemy has been very active
against the Tahure hill and the raylne
of La Goutte Our batteries, IN re-
plving on the trenches and bivouacs
behind the enemy's front, caused an
explosion Of a large munitions depot.
In the Vosges spirited combats
with grenades are reported on the
crests of Schratzmannele, and violent
cannonading on both sides In the
region of Weilerkopf and
in the valley Of the Thur.
The Belgian official communication
reads:
There has been an intermittent
bombardment OF our positions. Our
artillery destroyed an enemy obser-
walton post.
GERMAN OFFICIAL.
The statement issued by the German
Army Headquarters staff follows:
The trench work northeast Of Yer
melles, which projects far into the
enemy positions, was repeatedly at
tackled by the English with strong
forces All their attacks failed, with
heavy losses, and the trench work
remained in our hands
Attempts Of the French 10 attack
at Tahure were subdued by our fire.
A new enemy advance, with the
object Of recapturing lost positions
south Of Leintrey, was unsuccessful.
II cost the French, in addition 10
sanguinary losses, three officers,
seventeen non-commiss officers
and seventy-three chasseurs as
prisoners.
on Sehratzmannele the enemy
could not recapture a single foot Of
ground by his attacks, notwithstand-