The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-09-30
ALLIED ARMIES
DEFEAT GERMANS
ANGLo-FRENcH TROOPS RETAKE
SQUEEZE. FROM TEUToNs.
BOTH SIDES LOSE MOST HEAVILY
Official Statement Issued at Berlin
Admits Repulse - French Push
Enemy Back on Fifteen-MiIe
Front-6ritish Gain.

London, Sept. 27.-The greatest vic
tory for the allied arms since the bat
tie of the Marine, when the strategy
of General Jotfre and Sir John French
saved Paris, has crowned the first
move of the great Franco British drive
to hurl the Germans from France.
Almost a'year to the day since that
great battle, which marked the end of
the German advance into France,
Joffre and French have hurled their
legions at the German line with vio-
lence for which they have been
months in preparing.
AS result, the German position,
which extends in the form of a right
angled triangle from Ypres south to a
point northeast of Compeigne. thence
directly east through Reims to a point
north Of Verdun, is in imminent dan
ger of development and humiliation
unless the allied drive is stopped
short. The Germans only chance of
safety lies In Strengthening out this
line by retreat to the Belgian border
that will eclipse in magnitude the ia
nous retreat from the Marine.
10000 Germans Captured.
In the two days since the great al
lied offensive began, striking at the
extremes Of this great German triangle
with the purpose of thanking both an
giles, the French and British have cap
tured 10000 unwounded prisoners.
The French, on the southern line Of
the German triangle, have smashed
their way for two and a half miles
through the German line on front Of
fifteen miles, while at the northern
end near Arras the British army has
captured five miles of trenches and
broken the German line in some places
for depth of 1000 yards.
The German war Office admits the
loss of Loos and Souchez and the re-
tirement of the Germans for more than
a mile over a wide section Of the front
| The greatest intensity of the French
attack is being covered on the lower
or left flank Of the German line in the
Champagne region, where the French
on Friday drove the Germans from
their first line of trenches in the most
furious battle which has taken place
in France since last autumn.
Underground Positions Lost.
Saturday and Sunday the advance
was continued with greater vehem-
enCe, indicating that General Joffre's
well-laid plan contemplates giving the
Germans no rest until they have lost
all their trenches and field works.
How perilOus the German position
has been rendered can be seen by the
fact, as reported in the official com
munique issued in Paris, that the pow
erful system of entertainments, caves,
rodoubts, protection sheds and fortifi-
T.. lions which the Germans spent the
winter in constructing and protecting
have been taken by the French on the
front between Auberive and Ville-sur.
Tourbe. just east Of Reims in the
Champagne district.
After driving the Germans from
, these positions the French attacked
again with terrific vigor and forced
the Germans to retreat between three
and four kilometers 1.-TWO and a half
miles, to their second line of en-
trenchments. In this battle alone the
French took 10000 prisoners, 200 Of
whom are officers, "a field guns and a
vast quantity Of supplies stored in the
works the Germans were compelled to
abandon.
The French report declares the al
lied troops have captured the villages
of L'Epine de Vedegrange, LaCabane
and Tabaraque. towns lying between
Reims and Verdun which have been in
the Germans hands all winter.
French Take Village.
In the joint drive the British and
Belgian troops have taken a valorous
part in the district between Erras and
Ypres. The advance was timed so
that the British attacked near La Bias.
! see at the same time the French start
! ed their drive around Arras. East of
Grenay and Vermelles, south of the
La Bassee canal, the British broke
through the German lines for a depth
of 1000 yards across a front OF five
miles, capturing the village OF Loos,
part of the village Of Hulluch and the
earthworks adjoining Hin No. 70.
Further south the French concen.
trated their artillery FIRE on the Ger
mans holding the village of Souchez,
where fighting has taken place at in.
teryals all winter without results. Tn.
der cover of this rain of shells the
French troops charged and forced the
Germans to retreat. The entire vii.
iage fell into the hands OF the French.
From this point the allies advanced
eastward in the direction OF Givenchy,
honing to effect juncture with the
British who were moving southwark.
During this battle the French captured
1000 prisoners. The British took
100, according to Sir John French's
report. Only at one point were the
Germans succassfuI This was NJ