Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-09-28
ALLIES TEAR
DEEP INTO THE
GERMAN LINE
II!
Five Miles of Trenches and Twenty
Thousand Prisoners Taken
During Fighting.
ATTACK WAS MADE IN CONCERT
English Forces at Some Points
Sweep Forward a Distance of
Four Thousand Yards.
ATTACK WAS MADE IN CONCERT

London, Sept. 27.-The long look
ed for allied drive on the west from
seems at last to be under way an,
as result five miles of German
trenches and more than 10000 pris
oners have been taken by the Brit
ish and French in the last two DAYS
Many guns are also reported to hav
fallen into the hands of the allies.
The big drive comes after a ter
rifle artillery bombardment lastint
four weeks and is being made b,
combined land and sea forces. Will,
the British and French infantry arr
being hurled against the German
trenches the British and French
fleets are bombarding German posi-
tons all along the Belgian coast
from Newport to Zeebrugge.
The British troops took five miles
of trenches south of La Bassee ca
nal, according to report from Field
Marshal French. In some instances
the British penetrated the German
lines a distance of 1000 yards. The
town of Loos and Hill No. 20 was
taken after frightful losses lad been
inflicted on both sides. The Brit.
ish hold nearly all positions they
have captured, according to the lat
est reports.
The French took more than 12,-
600 prisoners in a terrific battle in
the Champagne district in France
French troops penetrated the Ger
man lines along a front of fifteen
miles and for depth at some places
of over two miles. Stubborn fight
ing is still in progress in that sec
lion.
Saturdays attack gave the French
,ssession of more territory than
-G'y had retaken from the Germans
:. -ce the latter dug themselves in
- -,cr the battle of the Marine.
The importance of this gain lies
in the fact that every yard of ground
taken in this region weakens the
German position around Verdun,
from which the Germans might be
compelled to retire should the
French succeed in making any fur
Their advance.
The French also have regained
the cemetery of Souchez and trench
es east of the Labyrinth" in the
Arras district, which was the scene
Of heavy fighting earlier in the
year. There the Germans s.7ad built
what they considered almost impreg-
nable Notifications.
This attack was made in coopera-
ton with the British who attacked
on either side of the La Bassee ca
nal. The attack to the south of the
canal, Field Marshal Sir JohnFrench
reports, was complete success.
This push forward gives the British
possession Of the road from Lens to
La Bassee, which was used by the
Germans for moving troops and sup
plies north and south, and threat
ems to outflank the German troops
which hold the town of Lens.
Hill No. 20, one of the positions
taken on the road, is less than a
mile directly north of Lens, while
which also fell into the
hands Of the British, is at the end of
the road near La Bassee 1t is only
twelve miles from Hulluch to Lille
North of the canal the British
were unable to hold the ground
gained, and had to fall back to the |
trenches which they had left in the !
The attack, however, ac-
one purpose, as, accord
ng to Field Marshal French, the
German reservists were sent to check |
his move, thus giving the British |
south of the canal an opportunity to
their new positions.
A somewhat similar maneuver
ook place to the north and south of
he Menin road, east of Ypres, and
he results were the same. North of
he road the British were unable 70
lold the ground taken, while to the
outh they gained about 500 yards
# the German trenches and CONSOLE
lated the ground won. SO far as is
eported, the British took 100 pris
ners with eight guns and several
Machine guns.
Some of the fiercest fighting of
he campaign is in progress on the
russian front. The Germans con-
niue their furious attacks in an eff
,rt to drive the Russians out of ,