Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-20

French troops took the offensive last
night in the Verdun region on the right
bank of the Meuse. The war Office an
nouncement of this afternoon says that
they captured parts of German
trenches, occupied a redoubt and took
several hundred prisoners.
French War Report. e.
The statement follows:
IN the Argonne at Haute Chevau-
chez there has been some mine work
which resulted to our advantage.
"On the left bank of the Meuse the
bombardment of our second line con-
tinued last night. On the right bank
our troops yesterday evening delivered
spirited attack against the German
positions northwest of the pond of
Vaux. This operation made 1t possi-
Bile for US to occupy certain sections
OF the German trenches, as well as a
fortified redoubt. In the course of this
action, which caused heavy losses to
the enemy, we took prisoner 10 Off
GERS, 16 under-officers and pa men. In
addition to this we captured several
machine guns and certain quantity of
war material"
The text Of the order issued by Gen.
eral Joffre follows:
Our faithful ally, Russia, whose
armies already are fighting so valor-
ously against Germany, Austria and
Turkey, wanted to give France further
assurance Of her friendship; more
striking proof of her devotion to the
common cause.
Russian soldiers chosen from the
bravest in her armies and commanded
| by officers of the highest renown, have
come to fight in our ranks
you will receive them like brothers.
You will show them that warm SYM
pathy which you feel toward those
who leave their country to come and
| fight at our sides.
! I'm the name of the French | well
come the officers, under-officers and
soldiers of Russia who have debarked
in France. | bow before the Russian
flags upon which there soon will be
inscribed the glorious names of our
victories
Germans Hard Pressed.
! French resistance in the region of
J Verdun is compelling the German gen
eral staff to withdraw large forces
from the Teuton front in Macedonia
and Serbia and in Russia, according
to information obtained today from the
highest military authorities here.
The first division of the first Ger
man army corps and another division
not yet identified, are said to be among
the troops which have just been
brought from the other fronts. The
18th army corps and the 18th Bavarian
division, it is declared, have been
brought from Serbia.
German War Report.
Berlin, April 20, via London, 4:25
p. m.)-British trenches for a distance
of 600 metres between Langemarck
and Ypres, Belgium, have been occu-
pied by German troops according to
i the official statement given out at the
army headquarters today. The state
ment says:
western front: In the Ypres salient
German patrols succeeded at several
points in penetrating the English
trenches. In one instance on the high
road between Langemarck and Ypres
they occupied about 600 metres of the
enemy's positions, taking 100 prison
ers and two machine guns.
East of Tracy lie Mont quantity OF
, gas directed by the enemy last night
against our trenches only spread into
. the trenches OF the French themselves.
, I'm the Meuse sector the enemy di-
rected a lively artillery fire against the
, positions which we had captured from
him on the eastern bank Of the river,
I'm the Caillette wood a preparatory
artillery fire of the enemy developed
toward evening into a strong attack
(which was repulsed,"