The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-07-20
GEMANS BATTLE
FORLOST TRENCHES
Kaiser's Troops Recapture
Biaches and La Maisonette.
RUSSIANS ION the FRENCH
SlaVs in Action on West Front for
First Time Teutons Elected
From Recaptured Villages,
ls Paris Claim.

London, July 1T.-While the British
forces occupied themselves in strength
ening the positions cautured south OF
the Somme the Germans delivered a
series of violent attacks against the
French at La MaisOnette and the viii
lage of Blaches, recently captured by
the French.
The Germans succeeded in taking
the French by surprise at both places
and occupied both positions, but were
later driven out by cOunter-attacks, ac-
cOrding to the official Paris report.
Berlin reported, however, that the
Germans still held part Of Biaches,
The Russian contingent in France
was reported In action on the west
front for the first time, According TO
the Paris night report, Russian pa
trolls took part In raids in the Cham
payne In conjunction with French de-
tachments.
"Dig I'M New Positions.
On the British front there were no
new operations. The official state
ment reads:
= IN France, with the exception OF
heavy COMPARTMENTS by both sides,
there was no event of importance
since the last report. We are con-
tinuing to find large quantities OF
armament and other war material
abandoned by the enemy In positions
captured on the l4th and 18th. and
yesterday five more heavy howitZers
and four 77-millimeter guns fell into
our hands.
Last night, covered by the detach-
ment which had been thrust forward
to the Bots de Foureaux, our troops
were engaged In Strengthening and
improving our new positions. Early
this morning the FOreauX detachment
was ordered to Withdraw into our main
lines, and the withdrawal was car
ried out without molestatiOn from the
enemy
The cost in life of the British at
tack cannot yet be estimated. The
officers casualty list issued tonight
| names lib killed, 10 died of wounds
156 wounded, Is missing and believed
killed, and 81 wounded and missing
Three-fourths of the officers listed are
second lieutenants and their average
age Is twenty-five years.
Germans Attempt Surprise.
Paris, July 1T.-Under a blanket OF
fog last night, the Germans in the
region south of the SOmme river
| hurled violent attacks against La
! MaisOnette and the village of Biaches
recently captured by the French, and
took those positions by surprise, says
, the French official statement.
The French, however, Immediately
| launched vigorous cOunter-attack
and recaptured both places. North OF
! Chilly, the Germans also penetrated
the first line trenches Of the French
but later were elected.
British Beaten Back.
Berlin, via London, July 17.-FOuI
! British attacks In the region of OWL
lers and Bazentine-le-Peti north OF
the River Somme, broke down yes
terday afternoon in front of the Ger
man lines, says she German official
! statement.
South of the SOmme German troops
occupied a portion of the village OF
Biaches after lively fighting, the state
ment adds, and French attacks neal
Barleux and in the region Of Estrees
were repulsed with heavy losses TO the
attackers.
The French entered the German first
lines southwest of Thiaumont work
where fighting continues.