Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-27
GAINS PUT ENTIRE
FRONT IN BETTER
LINE FOR ATTACK
Another Swift Offensive
Launch ed in Early
Hours of Morning.
MOST OF DETECTIVES
SET OUT FOR ARE TAKEN
Austro-German Armies Fast De-
veloping Drive Against
Cadorna's Men,
ITALIANS FORCED TO YIELD
Lose 10000 Prisoners and Moro
Than 800 Guns to
Enemy.
ITALIANS FORCED TO YIELD
Lose 10000 Prisoners and Moro
Than 300 Guns to
Enemy.

FRESH gains Of terrain by the British
and French forces OH the Ypres sec
tor by the French north of the Aisn,
iHver and by the combined German and
'sustro-hunsarian arpies in the AUS
'ro-italian theater are recorded in the
iatest otictal communicate ton from Lon
don, Paris and Berlin. The new, gains
of the British and French i'm Flanders
we're obtained in another swift nd de-
cislve offensive launched in the carly
hours OF the morning over the front
between the southern edge of the
ioutholst wood and the region of
Hhcluvelt Bad weather and soggy
ground hampered the operations to
some extent. and all the objectives set
out for could not be taken A ma
Jority OF them. however. rested In the
hands OF the allies at the end Of the
days lighting, and a considerable num-
Der OF prisoners and guns also were
captured. More than 500 prisoners fell
into the hands of Field Marshal Hair's
men.
with the important railroad junctioa
OF l-aon their objective, the >French
troops are continuing their pressure
against the forces of the German
Crown Prince north OF the Aisns
River. In another attack on the right
the village OF Filain has been cap
tured. footing has been gained on tho
plateau north OF E.pine de ChcvreEny,
and the enemy has been forced to give
ground north Of La Chapelle- Saint
Berthe. These successes. while not 30
great in Importance as those OF pre-
vious days on the center and west
flank OF tho attacking line. serve ma
torially TO bring the right wing into
litry,r ;t
front and place the entire line in a
better position for another smash
northward toward Laon.
MAY ABANDON TERRITORY
TO HOLD DOWN LOSSES
That the attack may not be neces-
sary. however, is forecast by the mil
iiary expert of the Berlin Tageblatt.
who. while belittling the chances Of the
ultimate success Of the French opera
tions. asserts that 1t is not outside tho
German rules OF warfare voluntarily to
abandon territory mot essential to Ger
manys great tactical plan. in order
that losses may be reduced.
The Austro-German armies on the
lsonzo front are fast developing their
offensive against General Cadorna's
forces. Already the Italians on the
northern wing OF the twenty five mile
front have heen forced to give ground
and at several places are back across
the IsonZo north and south OF Tolmino.
where the battle is waging on Italian
territory.
To the south. the situation OF tho
Italians admittedly is prccarious. Even
the Italian War Office announces that
the evacuation of the Bainsizza- Helm
~ nj iS
ment which will render null in a great
measure the brilliant advance Of the
Italians in the summer campaign.
The combined German and Austre-
Hungarian forces un to the present are
declared by the Berlin War Office to
have captured in excess OF 10000 pris-
oncrs and more than 300 guns. and 1t is
stated that these hsrres hourly are be-
ing augmented.
RUSSIANS on TRAII.
OF RETREATiNG GERMANS
The German retreat along the north !
ern Russian front still continues. Rus
SLAMS cndeavoring to take up the pur-
suit have reached the Riga-Orel rail-
way, but have not come within sight of
the enemy. ON the Esthonian coast,
the Germans again have cndeavored to
make Il landing on the Werder penin-
sula to rc-cnforcc the troops successful
ly put ashore there last week. Tho
Russians. however, drove them on.
Germany's eighteenth enemy has en-
tered the field against her. By vir-
tually unanimous vote. the Brazilian
Congress has passed resolution de-
claring that state of war exists be-
tween Germany and Brazil. The Prest-
dent Of the republic has sanctioned the
proclamation OF "A state OF war.
POSITION OF RUSSIAN
FORCES IMPROVING
PETROGRAD, Thursday. October e5.