The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
FRENCH CONTINUE
FIERCE ATTACKS
Further Gains in Champagne
Region Claimed in Latest
London Reports.
CLOSE TO A GERMAN RAIL WAY
Crown Princes Line of communica-
ton Threatened by Joffre's Army
-Russians Driven into Marsh.


ond line of defense in the Champagne
region and the important railway Iy-
ing behind it are still the detectives
of the French army, and it is fighting
tenaciously, day and night, for sue
cessful issue of the great offensive be-
gun last week.
With their 12-mile front, running
from Amberive to Ville-sur-Tourbe, al
ready at distances ranging from two
and one-half to three miles from the
railway, the French still are battling,
and although they are meeting with
fierce resistance, have made further
progress.
The new gains are to the north of
Mesnil to the north of Massiges and
along the road from VilIe-sur-Tourbe
to Cernay-en-Dormers. The attain
ment of this road would place the
French about two miles distant from
the branch railway running from Chal-
lerange past the northwestern and
western sides of the forest OF the Ar
gSnne to st. Menehoud Such an
achievement would necessarily affect
the communications of the army Of
the German crown prince operating
in the Argonne.
Still Bombard Belgian Coast.
In the region between La Basse and
Arras, where the British and French
have made notable gains, there have
been no very recent actions of i'm
portance, according to Paris, but the
allied heavy artillery has supported
the British fleet in pounding the Ger
man batteries along the Belgian coast
There also have been intermittent ar
tillery duels at inland points in Bel
GUM.
The Germans claim further success
for their arms in the driving back of
the Russians into the marshy country
to the south of Dvinsk, in the further
retreat of the Russian Wilma army and
the capture of men and guns, and in
like maneuYers in the VoIhynian fort
ress region.
May Relieve Servia.
1t is believed here that besides the
gain of ground both in Artois and
Champagne, and the improved posi-
ton of the Allies generally, the recent
successful operations must soon re-
HeVe the pressure on Russia and per
haps prevent the Austro-Germans
from sending any large force against
Seryia.
Germans Hurry Reinforcements.
London, Sept. 3O.-Three small Sec
tions of the front in the western zone
are the central points around which
the battles between the allied French
and British and the Germans continue
to rage. These lie between Souchez
and Vimy; in the regions of Loos and
LIE Bassee canal and around MesniI
and Massiges on the southern bend of
the line. Farther east in the forests
OF Apremont and La Petite the big
guns Of both sides are booming and
violent artillery duels are in progress.
Perhaps the heaviest fighting since
the offensive began is now going on,
for the British are attacking the Ger
man third line of defense south of La
Bassee canal, and the Germans have
brought up reinforcements against
both the British and French and are
making every effort to retrieve the
lost ground.
Belgium, dispatches from Holland
say, has been denUded Of troops, while
German detachments are even being
removed from the Eastern front to
meet what is now known to be the
greatest effort made in the west since
the armies took up their present posi-
ton from Belgium to Switzerland.
The Germans are trying to divert
the Allies by a heavy artillery bonn
bardment north and south of the Aisne,
but plans having been made by Cen
eral Joffre, the French are striking
with all the forces at their command
at the points selected.
The Allies great offensive in Artois
and the Champagne is still being per-
severed in, and, according to French
accounts, which, however, are contra
dicted by the German official reports,
further progress has been made in
both areas.
Still Furious Fighting.
London, Sept. 29.-An official COM
munication just made public, dealing
with the operations in France yester-
day, says that in the heavy fighting
around LoOs the British have taken
exceptionally strong German lines Of
trenches and bomb proof shelters sew
eral hundred yards in extent