Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-30
BATTLE FOR LENS
AND ITS RAILWAYS
IS RAGING IN WEST
Capture of Town by Allies
Would Revive Possibility
of Retaking Lille.
FRENCH CLAIM ENEMY
POSITION NEAR RlPONT
Gain Footing at Various Points on
German Second Line in Cham
payne, Says Paris.
KAISER NOW AT THE FRONT
Reported to Have Dismissed Some of
His Generals for Falling Back.
Bad Weather Hampers
Belligerents.
FRENCH CLAIM ENEMY
POSITION NEAR RlP0MT
KAISER NOW AT THE FRONT

LONDON, September 3o.-The
great struggle on the western
front has now resolved itself
clearly into battle for Lens, in
Pas de Calais, nine miles north
east of Arras. The capture OF
this town, with its radiating rail-
/, ays, would bring into the fore
,und the possibility OF retak-
: ( Lille.
In continuation OF the general
offensive movement on the west
ern front the French have cap
tured an important defensive
work OF the Germans south OF
Ripont, it was officially an
nounced by the Paris war Office
today.
In the Champagne, French
troops have gained footing at
various points on the German
second line OF defense, the official
statement adds.
Loss of another position in
France to the allies, as result OF
the great battle now in progress,
is announced in the official state
ment from the German war office
Berlin today. The Germans
S.ost Hill No. 1o1, which is a posi-
ton in the Champagne region,
north of the town of Massiges.
Allies Hold High Ground.
Both north and south of Lens the
allies hold high ground dominating the
town-the British on hill No. 20. the
French on hill No. 40. the high crest
being Souchez and Vimy. The official
report from Paris last night said
merely that this crest had been
reached. so that presumably terrific
counter attack is raging there today.
with final mastery of this important
position at stake.
Rain. Tog and soggy ground have
been hampering both the contenders
and limiting the activities of aircraft.
few days of clear, dry weather
hight have a marie bearing on de-
yelopments. The offensive of the allies
-h-s .a- a...a been ~Un-.h~d 10 stretches
Il the front amounting to less than
h;rty miles in all. The general be-
sf iii England is that these attacks
= onis the prelude to what is COM
Ig Al any rate the people would be
isappointed If the movement were not
stained
Germans Reported Shifted.
There is the usual speculation as to
the shifting of German forces from the
east to the west. although anything like
reliable information is lacking AS
against the report that some Prussian
guards have been hurried west. there
are rumors that Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg. still bent on taking Dvinsk has
been reinforced heavily.
Belgium, dispatches from Holland say,
has been denuded of troops. while Ger
man de,achments are even being removed
from the eastern front to meet what Is
now known to be the greatest effort made
tr the west since the armies took their
sent position from Belgium to Swift
u land.
French Active in Artois.
In Artois the French claim to have
Of vimy and is the eliminating point
Of the crests named after that town.
The Importance of the hill lies in the
tact that 1t commands the plains to the
east, the network OF roads and the rail-
way which runs from Lens southwark.
The French appear at present to be
making an effort toward the railway juno
ION north of Massiges. which accounts
or the desperate efforts of the Germans
20 stem the tide. and for the crown
princes counter stroke in the Argonne. as
his railway connects the German army
n the Argonne with It's base at Vouziers.
Tho British are attacking the German
hird line Of defense south Of La Basse
,anal. and the Germans have brought up
endorsements against both the British
md the French, and are making every
hfort to retrieve the lost ground.
Trying to Divert Allies.
The Germans are trying to divert the
illies by heavy artillery bombardmenr
sorth and south Of the Aisne. but. plans
having been made by Gen. Jof,re. the
French are striking with all the forces
It their command at the points selected.
1t is reported that the German emperor
Ias arrived at the western front. and that
ae has already dismissed some of his gen.
rails for allowing their lines to be pressed
aack to almost the breaking point.
British Troops Praised.
The British special correspondents at
he front continued today the story OF
he fghting on the western battle
ront. They pay high tributes OF ad-
niration to the fine qualities OF
'Kitcheners army" which here for the
irst time has been engaged In import
mt operation. According to one writer
he panic in which the German staff Is
'eported to have fed from Loos indi-
sates that the entry of the British was
unforeseen. Field guns mounted on
loncrete platforms. this CORRESPONDENT