The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-08
SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE ON
GERMAN CENTER IN CHAM
PAGNE is PIERCED
BY JOFFRE.
BERLIN ADMITS BRIGADE
BREAKS THROUGH LINES
Reckless Disregard for Life Marks
Battling to Determine Whether
Germans Must Retire or
Whether Allies Often
slve viii Fail.

London, Oct. 2-The French have
pierced the second line of defense on
the German center in Champagne
north of Massiges, official reports
state Joffre, striking sledge hammer
blows with great forces OF men, is
making tremendous efforts to break
through here on a wide front and
roll back the crown princes army
In the Argonne and Won Heeringen's
forces stretching west through Laon.
Important gains are claimed in the
Paris communique and Berlin admits
that Hill No. 191, commanding
crest, has been captured by the
French.
Allies Fight FuriousIy for Lens.
Further west French and British
are fighting forward furiously in an
effort to take Lens, heart of the
French 'black country" On both
sides of Lens-between Loos and
Hill No. 20 and in the Vimy region
at Hill No. lao, they have held their
gains, but claim no further advances.
Berlin reports that the British have
been forced back by counter attacks
but admits that the French have
succeeded in occupying new positions
in the Souchez region.
Reckless Disregard of Life.
The most bitter fighting of the day
took place in Champagne, where both
sides, with reckless disregard for life,
are battling for the vital positions
which will determine whether the
a
French territory they have held for
more than a year or whether the |
great offensive of the Allies will |
break down.
The losses on both sides are enor-
nous, according to all news from the |
front. 1t is estimated that in the |
fighting at least 100000 men have
been lost by both sides. The casual
ties of the attacking forces naturally
are the greater, it is believed.
British Ships Shell Coast.
Along the Belgian coast the British
fleet in cooperation with French land
batteries has resumed its lombard
ment of the German positions and a
great thanking move is about to be
launched, it is reported by the Brit
ish, with Ostend as the initial OBJ
jective
The most striking successes claim
ed by the Trench were won in Cham
payne where north of Mesnil and to
the east between Hill No. 80, north
Of Messages, and the Vile Sur Tour
be-Cernay road the French column
pressed forward. The prisoners TAX
On in these operations have not yet
been counted
Berlin Admits French Successes.
Berlin admits that south of Marie
9y a French brigade succeeded in
breaking into the German second
inc, but states that effort to go be-
yond this point met with failure, 800 ,
being captured Paris al
10 states that owing to curtain ,
If fire. the French were unable to |
'ress further into the German lines.
South of Ripont the French during
he night occupied German earth ,
work known as the "Ouvrage de la .
)efaite" (the defeat earthworks), but
he night communique admits that /,
he Teutons have regained a foothold
n this position.
The fighting in Artois has Gained
lown somewhat, only minor engage
nents being reported. The Germans
the night kept up a vio-
ent bombardment Of the new French
ositions, but during the day there
vas only comparatively slight infan-
ry activity.