The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-27
BRITISH TAKE FIVE
MILES OF TRENCHES
Force Germans Back Nearly
Three Miles South Of
La Bassce Canal.
Sprcini Cnhls Despnfch 10 Tny SrN.

LONDON, Sept. 2s.-The British troops
In Flanders. Joining the french In a
general offensive, centred their attacks
about La Bassee Canal and On the
MenIn road near HooSe. In both sectors
they won n part OF the ground aimed
for. making a particularly important adj
vance to the south OF La Bassee Canal.
the German trenches were occupied on
a front o. more than Ave miles, the
British penetrating the German lines at
some places 10 n distance Of 1000 yards.
The village ~ Toos and the western
outworks OF Hulluch were csken, as
well as the mining works adjoining the
former. and Hill 20.
Less successful attacks were made
north OF La Bassee ana AT this
point. after hard fighting. which con-
tinued throughout the day. the British
were forced to return to their own
trenches.
In the Aghting south Of the Menin
road coo yards OF enemy trenches were
taken and held. To the north OF the
road the Be!lewaarde farm and ridge
were stormed. but were retaken by the
Germans.
The number OF prisoners so far re-
ported is 100. Eight gun and several
machine guns also were taken. The
oiiic!al report follows
Sir John French reports under date
OF September 20 as follows:
Yesterday morning We attacked
the enemy south OF La Basse
Canal 10 the east OF Grenay and Yer
melles. We captured his trenches
on a front Of over five miles. pene-
trating his lines at sone places 10
II distance Of 1000 yards. We cap
tured the western outskirts OF HUI
loch and the village OF Loos. the
min ng works adjoining and Hll 70.
her attacks to the north of
La BUsse Canal drew strong re-
serves OF the enemy toward these
Io.tts OF the line. where ard fight
ms occurred throughout the day viii
van ms success. NJ n.ghtfall the
troops north OF the canal occupied
the morning positions.
We made another attack near
IIoogc. on either side OF the
Nen.n DAD North Of the a We
SUCCEEDED IN occupying the Bella
waIde farm and ridge. This sub
seqrsu;ly was retaken by the enemy.
lh attack south of the road gained
about coo yards OF the enemy trench.
We have consolidated the ground
va Nv - W ~
the present time include l.70O pris-
oners and eight guns. besides sew
etal machine guns. the number OF
which is as yet unknown.
TIE report in Fridays communl-
que stating hat We att, mpted an at
tack on the previous day south OF
La Basse Olnal. which broke
down under hostile artillery fire, is
false. No attack was attempted,
An additional official report issued
hera to-day says:
Field Marshal French reports that
there has been severe ttghting to-day
on the ground. won by us yesterday.
Tho enemy are making determined
counter attacks east northeast or
Ipos, The result OF this fighting is
that, except just north Of Loos, We
hold all the ground gained yesterday,
Including all OF Loos itself. Tails eve
ming We retook the quRrries north
west OF Hulluch which were won and
lost again yesterday.
In this operation We compelled the
enemy to call upon his reserves, thus
enabling the French on our rIgh 10
make further progress The number
: fghting now amount To $500. Nine
big guns and a considerable number
OF machine guns were also taken.
our ~aeroplanes to-day bombed and
derailed a train near L.ofrcs, EAST OF
Doual, and another full OF troop
which was surprised near 81, Armand.
Valenciennes station has also been
bombarded,