The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-29
Crown Prince S Attempt to AS.
sumo Offensive Is Promptly
Checked By French
ENGLISH OBJECTIVE
IS CITY OF LILLE
Bittererst Contest Was Waeed,
Yesterday in Attempt Of
French to Drive Germans.
From Slopes of Souchez

Paris, Sept 2s.--Thc British
and French offensive was contin-
uei last night and today with un-
slackcned fcrotity, and the gains
made. while of less spectacular
appearance, are nevertheless OF
great Importance. East of Sou
chez the French troops moved
forward by series of furious
spurts towards the heights which
dominate LEM. only four miles
away. In Champagne various di-
visions charged in isolated actions,
literally prodding the Germans
out of their shattered trenches
and capturing strategic positions
at half n dozen places.
The principal news of the day, how
ever, is contained in the fact that the
desperate efforts of the armies under
the crown prince to launch an offen-
sive in the Argonne have been def
nitely checked at their outset So
complete has this check been that
during the day the Germans IN that
region settled back into what was left
OF their trenches and attempted no
more infantry actions, though the
night had been spent in a series of
dashes.
The successes which were gained
In Argonne yesterday, when the Ger
mans by a general charge had man.
aged to force the French troops from
certain portions of their first line
trenches. were of no avail All last
night and today the French troops
hammered back at the Germans, and
tonight only a few sections of the
advanced line are left to the invaders
as a solace for losses that have been
enormous. In this region the ground
\,
strewn with the bodies of dead Ger
man soldiers who fell in the numer-
Gus but unavailing assaults which.
after the German practice, had been
made in mass formation.
Hottest Around Souchez
The hottest of the fighting of the
last twenty-four hours has been IN
the district east of Souchez, in Cham
payne. north Of Perthes and Massiges.
and in Argonne. And of the various
gains made along this entire 'front.'
some OF them very slight. but gains.
nevertheless-the most important
near Souchez. There the Germans Of
fered bitter resistance.
While the French are gradually
making their way towards Lenz from
a southeasterly direction. the British
are crossing with the same objective
from the northwest, in the vicinity OF
Loos. The objective is Lille, which
lies fifteen mills further on. But Lenz
is the key to Lille. II Is the road CEN
ter for that district and it is the dis
tributing point for the German lines
north and south, which rest on Lille
as their main base.
Official Report.
The night report says;
During the day OF September Is
our troops continued to gain ground
foot by foot towards the crests to the
east of Souchez. There we made 100
prisoners, among whom were a mum.
Der of the Prussian guard, who had
recently been brought from the Rus.
sian front.
I'm Champagne we also made fresh
progress, where we captured 900 pris-
oners.
In Argonne the enemy has direct
ed against our trenches a violent bonn
bardment. to which We have replied
with effect. The Germans did not,
however, attempt any infantry actions
in that district. Engagements with
hand grenades resulted In our regain
ing some of the first line trenches
which the enemy had been able to
hold since yesterday.
There was eannonading In the Le
Pretre forest and in the region of Ban
de Sapt,'