New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-29
Germans DrivenBaCk
in Champagne,
Says Paris.
ALLIES PRESS
SLOW ADVANCE
Hammer at Enemy's Front
in ArtOiS and Near
the ArgOnne.
BERLIN CLAIMS CHECK
Says All Foes Attacks Have
Been Repulsed by
Counters.
BERLIN CLAIMS CHECK
iBy Cable 20 Tbs Tribune !


London. Sept. 2S.-With the ene-
my's first line of trenches in Artois
and Champagne pierced by the driv-
ing attacks of the last four days, a
sterner task now confronts the AL
lied troops.
The British and French armies
added to their gains to-day along
the front between Rheims and the
Argonne, east Of Souchez and north
of Lens, but the main objective, a
break in the German front, has not
yet been accomplished.
Reinforced by troops hurried from
the eastern front, the Germans have
stiffened their resistance. On the
second line of trenches they place
their greatest confidence, and before
substantial advances can be won the
artillery must again pave the way.
1--WE continue to gain,. foot by
foot" says the statement issued at
Paris. The impetuous charge Of the
first two days of the great battle
has been succeeded by a slow, ham,
mering advance.
Allies Improve Positions.
Both the British and French have
greatly improved their positions, and
by gaining the hills and crests from
which they can dominate the Ger
man lines of communication their
next attempt to obtain decisive VIC
tory should be made easier TO carry
out, in the view of experts here.
An official communication, issued
tonight, says that in the heavy fight
ing around Loos the British have 4
taken exceptionally strong German
lines of trenches and bomb-proof =
shelters, several hundred yards In
extent. Having taken the German
second line, the statement says, the
British are now after the third line
Of trenches. In all, more than 5000
prisoners have been taken and twen-
ty-one guns and forty machine guns
have been captured and others de-
stroyed.
The French continue TO push for
ward east Of Souchez, aiming at the
heights of Vimy, which command the
plain TO the east, while the British
to the north are making secure their
hold on the Lens-La Bassee road and
are beating of the German counter
attacks.
The battle In Champagne is over a
sixteen-mile front, where the French
are attacking and now are within
less than two miles Of the railway
which crosses the country behind tho
German positions, and which has
been so useful to them In moving
troops and supplies TO threatened
points. With the French guns within
easy range, the railway is rendered
useless.
Berlin Denies Enemy Gained.
AS usual, there is a great divergence
between the German and French Official
accounts OF the battles. The Germans
claim that all the French attacks have
been repulsed and that a number Of
prisoners have been captured.
The same contradiction exists with
regard to the Crown Princes offensive
in the Argonne. Whereas this Is de-
scribed by the French as an important
action, the Germans say that it is a
minor one. designed TO improve the sit
uation, and that the desired result has
been achieved.
"The Times's" military correspondent
says:
"Our attack between La BAssee and
Lens and the French attack on the
Souchez side we're admirably co-ordi-
nattQ. ne DIibleh otNeeeo
Lens will greatly assist the French to
gain finally the heights west OF Vimy'
which were the unattained aim OF their
efforts last May and June. =,
"The capture of the Vimy heights viii
be an important step in advance. for
70 the eastward all the ground Is COM
manded by their fire, and the chances
are that the Germans will fall eaek on
pouai and on the line OF the Lille
Douai canal.
Advance Must BE Slow.
"Once they are pushed OFT the high
ground We must not expect a very
rapid advance. The weather is appar-
emily bad, certainly in the Vosges. and
modern artillery needs time 10 take up
new positions. Not IN unhopeful
augury is to be drawn from the fact
that the Allies are taking their time
about their next move.
in this warfare, which has no prees-
dent In history. and dehss traditions