New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
Massed German Attacks
Fail to Regain Stra-
tegic Positions
Canadians Continue
Gains About Lens
French Total of Prisoners
in Verdun Battle Is
Now 6,l16

LONDON, Aug. 22.-Concentrated at
tacks by the British begun at dawn
to-day and carried out stubbornly all
day long yielded General Halg I'M
portant strategic positions in Flanders
to the east and northeast of Ypres. On
the high ground astride the fpres-
Menin road the British penetrated the
enemy positions to a depth Of 500 yards
on a mile front Slightly to the north
an observation ridge was wrested from
the Germans, giving a view of the hos
tile positions TO the east, while the
English established themselves in the
western part of the Inverness Wood.
Still further to the north, between
Langemarck and st. Julien, Hsig's
fighters pushed forward on two and
a half mile frCnt to depth of half
a mile.
The fighting was as desperate and as
bitterly contested as any developed
fierce hand-to- hand shocks following
the Battle of Arras. The British OBJ
jectives consisted of a series of forti-
fed farms and concrete redoubts, which
the German garrisons defended with
stubborn tcnacity. In particular the
enemy tried to hold 70 the high ground
east of Ypres, the complete possession
of which would give the British COM
mand of the whole region between
Ypres and Reuters. The Germans
counter attacked repeatedly ard with
even more than usual vigor, and the
British War Office declares that the
enemy's losses were excessive. Be-
cause Of the bruising nature of the
encounters the catch in prisoners, $50,
is said TO bear no relation - the Ger
man casualties.
Lens Fighting Desperate
At Lens also, where unofficial reports
place the Canadians well within the
city, the same sort of fighting was IN
progress. All the British positions
were maintained and the troops dressed
forward somewhat both north and
northwest of the coal centre. repulsing
strong counter-attacks as they ad-
vanced. Berlin admits some British
gains in this area and states that the
coal depot TO the south of the city has
been lost, though it has been set afire
BY German shells. During the days
| fighting, in which the Canadians relied
chiefly on the bsyonet and hand gren-
aGes, 1914 prisoners were taken, bring
ing the total number of captiyes seized
since August 10 up TO 1876, with "a
machine guns and 2l trench mortars.
The number of prisoners taken by
the French at Verdun has now reached
6,l16, including ia officers. but not
counting 500 Germans in the French
field hospitals and a considerable num-
Der of prisoners in fortified shelters
which have Just surrendered. Much
booty is still TO be enumerated, par
| ticularly that taken from the three
German tunnels penetrating Dead Man
| Hill, where an entire reglmental stan
was captured.
German Waves Rolled Back
All day yesterday the German reac-
tions to push the French from their
| gains on both banks of the Meuse were
! courageously repeated, being partlcu-
larly strong between Hill 304, which
seerns TO have become a No-man's
Land. and Dead Mans Hill, and at Nor
mont Farm. Hill 344 and north of
Caurieres Wood, where fsme-throwers
were flung into the attack. At every
noint the German wave was rolled back
with cumulative losses which appar-
ently impressed the enemy high CON-
mand as the Germans to-day cohtented
themselves with playing their artillery
unon the French but made no infantry
assaults. On the other hand the French
e.outs have pushed forward TO the viii
lage of FORCES.
berlin continues its tale of losses at
Verdun to-day. II is admitted that the
French now hold the southeastern part
of Avocourt wood. which was won on
the first day of the attack, and the
knolls TO the eastward. IL is 40 con-
fessed that the French forced them
selves into the southern part of Sam
opneux. although Petain's dense at
tacks from Hill 344 to the Beaumont
Vacherauvile Road and in the Fosse
wood were repulsed. Berlin declares
that the French offensive was begun
with ten divisions, which means just
a little short Of 200. 900 men, and that
a number of the French divisions were
80 decimated that they had to be re-
placed
In order TO relieve the strain al
Verdun. the Germans last night at
tempted attacks at six separate points
on the eastern half of the Chemin des
DANES. but were driven back in every
instance, without having been able 20
reach the defending lines. The French
fire Of destruction exploded several
more German gas reservoirs in the
Champagne sector.