New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-21
Skater Enemy's Position
with Mine Near Cha
teau of HOOge.
FIERCE FIGHT RACES
ON SOUCHEZ FRONT
Civilians Killed in BOmbardment
of Rheims-kaiser's Troops
Lose on MeuSe Hills.

London, July 2O.-British troops have
gained about 150 yards of German
trenches near the Chateau of HODGE,
east Of Ypres, according to a report re-
ceived tonight from Field Marshal Sir
John French.
The fighting along the greater part
OF the western battle line is confined
to artillery exchanges. The German
official report admits the loss of some
positions on the heights Of the Meuse'
The British commander in chiefs re-
port says:
yesterday evening, after successful
ly exploding a mine just west of the
Chateau of Hooge, east of Ypres, our
troops occupied about $50 yards of the
enemy's trenches. This gain has since
been consolidated.
I'VE captured fifteen prisoners, in
GLIDING two officers, and also two ma
chine guns. Two other German ma
chine guns were destroyed by the ex-
plosion."
Fighting Around Souchez.
The official report of the French War
Office issued to-day says:
an Artois, in the vicinity of Souchez
and near Neuville-St. Vast, there was
a violent bombardment last night, and
some fighting with grenades to the
northward of Chateau Careful. Rheims
was violently bombarded to-day, sew
eral civilians being killed.
an the valley of the Aisne a fairly
lively cannonade was reported and the
town of Scissors was bombarded.
con the heights Of the Meuse the
night was a lively one, but without in
fantry action, except near Caionne,
where two German attempts to take a
trench were easily repulsed.
Between the Mouse and the Moselle,
at Les Eparges, in the region of Fey
en-Hays and lie Pretre forest, there
has been a fairly lively cannonade."
The German War Office announce
ment follows:
after blowing up mines near Cha
teau HODGE, east of Ypres, the British
made an attack on both sides OF the
road from Chateau HODGE to 1pres.
Their attack collapsed before our po-
sitions. At some points the attack,
within range Of our artillery, could not
be carried through. The British occu-
pied an excavation made by an eXplo-
sion.
"Near Souchez an attack with hand
grenades was rcpulsed. After vigorous
artillery fighting near Albert the
French attempted during the evening
an attack against our positions near
Fricourt They were repulsed."
Berlin Admits Loss.
The Berlin official report of yester-
day, delayed in transmission, contains
the following additional information:
"On the Meuse heights southwest OF
Eparges and on the Tranchee the fight
ing is proceeding with alternate sue
cesses. Our troops lost minor local ad-
vantages which they had gained on the
18th, but captured three officers and
300 men
The withdrawal of British troops
from Hill No 60, in Flanders, news Of
which operation, several newspapers
complained, was kept so long from the
British public, was explained by
Charles f. Hobhouse, the Postmaster
General, in the House of Commons to-
day.
At the time the hill was abandoned,
he said, the "withdrawal of the troops
had 10 be conducted in secrecy, and it
was conducted with singular success.
When it became expedient TO make the
matter public it was no longer of any
military importance. Hence the silence
of the War Office"