New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-26
Capture Strong Positions
in German Wedge
Above Mesnil.
FURIOUS BATTLE
STILL IN PROGRESS
Kaiser Regains Trenches by
Counter Thrus;-Joifre
Holds Key-WOrk.
m, cahle % TIE TIIbunsl

fRv Gable " The Irlunhe-l
London, Oct. 25.-In furious hgnting
10 straighten tLeir line In Champagne
and so clear the way for another thrust
at the Bazancourt- Challerange railroad
the French have seized by storm strong
German positions which form the KEY
work Of the salient southeast OF Ia
hure
Jofrre's troops have launched many
attacks at a series Of trenches caIeu
IA Courtine," lying on the northern
stones Of Hill 1875. mile and d quarter
to the north Of Mesnil-les-HurIus' az
the apex of the salient, but the
strength Of the fortihcations and the
fierce resistance Of the enemy hitherto
have held off these assaults.
A new attack on this important point
n the German wedge was begun yes
terday morning with an intense hf'
from the French artillery. Along the
whole extent of the works, when cover
front Of 1900 yards and average Zoo
Yards in depth, Joffre's guns poured
forth a rain of she'll.
When the French charged, after tne
cannonade had shattered parts OF the
enemy position, the German guns
onencd fire and the infantry raIlled 70
resist the assault Fierce hghtlng I9l-
loved. but at The end OF the day the
French were in tull possession o. 'ne
The Germans began violent counter
attacks to-day in an ehort 10 10 Ies"."
the positions they had lost. lhey sue
ceeded. Paris admits, IN reoccupy.ns
some parts Of the trenches III ny
centre hut were elsewhere repulseu'
leaving the greater part OF the "Gin'
in the hands of the frehch'
perate battle still continues VIII" manu-
grenades. 49,. oror,v at
.octei near Tanure and against the
salient north If lie Mesnil. Near Ia
bure il claims. the attack was cut
short by heavy fire from the German
ouns North and east OF the salient
French attacks were repulsed, Dut the
hattie around Hill 1876 is still IN prog
ress. ~ Erorcb
,ictoIv an indication that the offensive
will be renewed along wide front pc
fore long. The problem in Champagne
thev noint out, is similar to the british
nroblem south of La Bsssee. In DOth
fecrors salients nust be eliminated pc
lore new thrusts can be begun. Inc
conture of LA Courtine" IS long
stroke toward wiping out the German
wedge. ..rr orrrCr,r
The communication issued at Paris
this afternoon said; ,-.;.. ~
In the Champagne district our
troops yesterday won an impoItHn'
euccess. The enemy occupied, IN
front OF their second position a
salient very strongly organized
which had resisted all our previous
attacks. In it's southwestern part
on the northern slopes OF Hlll 70.
1q6 at a point two kilometres j =
miles) TO the north of Mesnll-les-
Hurlus. this salient included very
important position called La Cour-
tine" which We have captured alter
heavy lighting. LA Ccurtlne ex-
tended for a distance OF l,ZOO yards
with an average depth OF 700 yards:
and including three or four lines Oh
trenches. connected With under
Ground tunnels and the customary
communicating trenches, all OF when
were organized for defence.
In spite of the thoroughness or
the German defensive works and the
ferocity shown by the German SOL
diers. our men were successful after
vigorous preparatory aftlllery LIRE
and as a result of violent hghtlng,
in taking complete possession OF ms
position at the end OF the day me
losses of the enemy were serious,
and they left in our hands 200 pris-
oners belonging to three different
regiments.
said:
The enemy very violently counter
attacked to-day In Champagne along
the whole of the front Of the forti-
fed position IA Courtine" We se-
main in possession of the positions
taken TO the east and 20 the west,
the Germans having succeeded in ie-
occupying in the centre only some
portions Of the trenches, whore the
battle continues with grenades des-
perately.
GERMAN OFFICIAL.
The statement issued by the Berlin
War Office follows:
In Champagne the French attacked
near Tahure and against our salient
north of lie Mesnil, after strong
preparation with their artillery.
Near Tahure their attack was not