The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-19
BRITISH CAIN
A BIC VICTORY
Report the Capture of German
BTeaStWOTkS.
MOVE FORWARD A FULL MILE
Claim the Engagement Is Still Under
Way and That the British Holds
the Upper Hand-General French
Reports.

hCPOTISs
London, May ,17.-Another drive
into the German lines has begun by
the British army in order to straighten
the allied front southwark from
Neuve Chapelle. An official state
ment given out by the war Office con-
tains dispatch from General French
telling of this new offensive-and its
entire success is in the preliminary
stages.
The German front has been shat
tered along the greater part of two
mile line between Richebourg L,Avoue
and Festubert by a combined artil-
lery and infantry assault of the Brit
ish first army. Two attacks were
made, one southwark from Richie
bourg L'Ayoue, and the other due
east and just to the north of Festu-
bert. In the former two successive at
tacks German breastworks were car
ried on a reach of eight hundred
yards, and in the latter 1900 yards
of trenches were taken first, then the
gain was extended 600 yards to the
south, and the British troops dashed
irresistibly forward for full mile.
The fighting began when a strong
force moved out from Richebourg
L'Avoue and fell upon the Germans
unexpectedly, splendidly supported by
the artillery. This action was sue
cessful and while the attention of the
Germans still was engaged in that
region, another detachment was sent
against the position to the south. The
engagement still is under way and
the British hold the upper hand, ac-
cording to General French, who tele-
graphed as follows:
"Our first army made a successful
attack between Richebourg L'Avoue
and Festubert, breaking the line over
the greater part of a two-mile front.
The attack commenced at midnight
south of Richsbourg L'Avoue, where
they carried two successive lines of
German breastworks on a front of
500 yards.
"a mile further south we made an
other attack at dawn and carried
200 yards of the German front line
trenches. Thence We pushed on
rapidly, extending our success six hum
dred yards further south by bomb
throwing operations.
Here we crossed the Festubert-
Quinque road and advanced nearly a
mile into the German line. The fight
ing continues in or favor.
Throughout Eze day our brave
troops fought splendidly, At Ypres
all has been quiet for the past forty
eight hours. Elsewhere on the front
tbora ic nothing IN reDorf "
The official communique issued by
here dwells at some length on the
successful and heroic advance of the
British troops. 1t also couples up
this particular achievement with the
allied progress in the section north
of Arras which continues unabated.
The necessity of Strengthening out
the allied lines north of Arras has re-
suited in some remarkable work by
both French and British soldiers. The
French war Office states that the Ger
mans have now been driven from the
few remaining salients where they
retained a foothold, and that the for
ward movement from Lorette is be-
ing carried out successfully.
Berlin, via wireless to London, May
1.-THE following official report was
given out by the general staff:
In the western theater a strong
force of the enemy's troops has been
attacking north of Ypres. our posi-
tions, east of the canal, at Steen-
straate and Het Sas without regard
to its own losses. All attacks have
been repulsed, but the battle of
Steenstraate continues.