Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-27
OFFENSIVE
MOVE IN MONTHS
AGAINST GERMANS
Follows Several Weeks AL
most Incessant Shclling
of Enemy Lines.
WARSHIPS BOMBARD
POSITIONS ON COAST
Ii Advance Continues, Teutons
May Be Forced to Yield
Verdun.
! FIERCE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS
British Push Forward Gives Them
Possession of Road From
Lens to la Bassee.
WARSHlPS BOMBARD
POSITIONS ON COAST
FIERCE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS
British Push Forward Gives Them
Possession of Road From
Lens to la BaSSec.

LONDON. September 26.-German
trenches along a front of twenty miles
between tho Belgian coast and Verdon,
and more than 10000 unwounded pris-
oners. besides thirty-two field guns and
many machine guns have been captured
by the British and French armies in
the first offensive movement on the
western front in months The allied
drive began Saturday morning. and the
lighting continues.
The offensive followed several
weeks almost inccssant hombarhment
of German positions with hiE guns,
which late last week increased in in
tensity. particularly in the sectors
where the infantry attacks took place.
simultaneously with the drive OF tho
armies. British warships and French
and Belgian batteries heavily hom-
barded the German positions on the
coast between Icebrugge and Nieu-
port
The French. who have the most i'm
portant gains to their credit, made
their chief onset against the German
lines around Pcrthes. Bcausejour and
Suippes and Champagne. where in De-
OF ground, and also north OF Arras,
where Souchcz was stornicd and cap
tured.
ALLIES CONTINUE TO GAIN
GROUND IN CHAMPAGNE
The French communication tonight
SAYS the allied forces continued to gain
ground in Champagne With the adj
vances thus recorded. this offensive has
given the French possession OF more
territory than they had retakcn from
the Germans since the latter dug them
selves. in after the battle of q Marne.
According to tho French account. the
Germans we're driven out of their
trenches over n front of more than
fifteen miles. varying in depth from
two-thirds of Il mile to two and half
miles The French in this engagement
captured 1000 prisoners ApparentIv
the advantage is being pressed still
further, as the French communication
rlakes only the hricfcst mention OF
the operation.
The Importance of this gain lies in
the fact that every yard Of ground
taken in this region wcakcns the Ger
man position around Verdun, from
which the Germans might he com
PEELED TO retire should the French sue
cecd in making any further advance.
The French also hav. :tormed and
captured Souchcz and trenches east Of
the Labyrinth" in the Arras district
which was the scene OF mucn heavy
lighting caIlicr in the year. There the
Germans had built what they consid-
cred almost inpreEnablc fortihcations.
BRtTISI COOPERATE
IN ATTACK ON TRENCHES
This attack made in co-opera-
ton with the British which attacked
on either side OF La Bassee Canal The
attack TO the south of the canal was
Field Marshal Sir John French reports,
IL complete success Trenches five
miles in width. and about 1000 wards
in length. were taken at this point
This push forward gives the British
possession of the road from Lens 10
La Bassec. which was used by the
Germans for moving troops and sup
plies north and south. and threatens
to outtiank the German troops which
hold the town OF Lens.
liill No. T0 one OF the positions
taken on the road, is less than a mile
directly north Of Lens, while Hulhch.
which also fell into tho handr Of the
British is at the end OF the road near
La Bassec. 1t is only twelve miles
from Hulluch to Lille, the capital OF
Northern France.
North OF the canal. the British, al
though they fought all day yesterday,
were unable TO held the ground gained
and had To fail back to the trenches,
which they had left in the morning
The attack. however, accomplished one
purpose. rs. accoi ding to Field Marshal
French. German reserves were sent 10
check this move, thus giving the Brit
ish south Of the canal an opportunity
to consolidate their new positions un-
molestcd.
SIMILAR MANEUVER
NEAR THE MENIN ROAD
y somewhat similar maneuver took
place to the north and south Of the
Mcnin road. east OF Ypres. and tho re.
suits were the same. North of tho
road. the British were unable TO hold
the ground taken, while To the south.
they gained about 500 yards of the
German trenches and consolidated the
ground won. So far Is reported, tho