South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-27

made desperate efforts 10 prevent
any further advance. The French,
however, had acquired the taste for
forward movements and in the
middle OF August. after brilliantly
carving several lines Of intervening
deep trenches. captured ,iaurepas.
All this fghting was carried out
under most unfavorable weather
conditions for the assailants. The
first fortnight of August was foggy
throughout and during the second
fortnight rain fell almost without
cessation.
German prisoners we're captured
IN large numbers during this second
phase Of the operations and dozens
Of cannon and hundreds OF machine
guns were taken or destroyed by
the French.
The third phase Of the offensive
opened on Sept. 1 with an artillery
preparation more violent and con-
centrated than had ever been used
In warfare. The French infantry
began their work only on sept. 3
when the German positions had
been battered out Of all sem blance
Of their first condition. although in
the deep dugouts which the Ger
mans had been able TO construct
during their long occupation the de-
tenders still had good shelter. Their
first dash gave the French posses
sion of lie Forest and Clery with
over $500 prisoners, 80 cannon and
an ammunition depot. on the 4th
further south they stormed and took
SOyecourt, Vermandovillers and
Chilly, with 4.647 prisoners and
much war material Next day ON
miecourt was captured and on the
9th Berry, with a further large
group of prisoners.
Counter Attacks Fail.
German counter attacks failed to
recover any territory and we're fol-
lowed by a long period Of artillery
preparation by the French, lasting
four or five days. On the 18th the
French infantry once more went
"over the top" and in a brilliant
dash captured the large village OF
Eouchavesnes, whence they con-
tinued their march eastward on the
18th, taking in these two days over
1000 prisoners. 10 cannon and 40
machine guns.
In the meantime the British
troops in the north were advancing
parallel with the French. and the
patrols of the two allied armies
Joined hands 10 the east OF Combles,
which was thcs surrounded and
taken on Sept %, with much war
material and several thousands of
prisoners.
on the last day of September the
offensive was still going on. The
French and British troops were then
engaged in consolidating the ground
they had gained with a view to pre-
pairing a starting point for fur
Their advance.
The territory captured By the al
lies during the first three months
Of the offensive when q line is drawn
round il has the appearance OF a
huge pear with a long stalk. It
contains between two and three hum
dred square kilometers of ground.
At it's widest part in the north the
advance measured about 10 miles,
while at the southern end the gain
was only about a mile in depth.
French military experts are unan-
imOus in the opinion that the united
effort on this portion of the front.
besides the enormous losses inflicted
on the Germans and the gain in ter
ritOry, has had the effect of causing
the Germans TO abandon their long
and unsuccessful effort to break
through the French lines at Verdun,
while the constant advance Of the
allied troops despite the despera te
opposition Of the Germans, has con-
tributed to lower the morale OF the
troops Of the central powers.
Sacramento (Cal) business mer
have 70 med a Barefoot league fol-
health and amusement objects.