Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
BIG GUNS IN ACTION
ON NFLANDERSF FRONT
Germans Suffering Heavily From
Effects of British Ar
tillery Fire.
DRAW ING THEIR LINES IN
Find Some of Advanced Positions
to Which They Cling Too
Hot to Hold.
DRAWING THEIR LINES IN

Big gun actions are In progress
along the Flanders front. with indica-
tions that the Germans are playing the
secondary role.
Field Marshal Haig's report on Fri
day nights activities mentions only
the Increased Are from the German
artillery. failing to reveal what his
own gunners arc about. The statement
records additionally only that there
was no infantry movement by the Ger
mans during .he night except by a
raiding party near Hollebeke, which
was driven of.
Press reports, however, show that
the Germans are suffering heavily
from the effects OF the British artil-
lery fire. Some Of the advanced posi-
tions to which they were still cling
ing after Thursdays attack have be-
come too hot to hold under the Brit
ish pounding. and from these the Ger
man lines have be IN withdrawn some
what, British reconnoitering parties
finding them evacuated.
The overwhelming nature OF the
British fire employed In the present
offensive Is being paid tribute to by
tho Germans. 1t is noted, by the In
vention Of new term to describe the
bombardment- 1t Is no longer drum
fre." nor even "whiriwind fire" that
Is spoken Of. but "h trricane fire." It
Is fire of this sort OF measurably near
1T. that Is preventing the German coun-
terattacks from being as effective as
formerly.
STILL TRYING TO RETRIEVE
GROUND NORTH OF vERDUN
The Germans are still trying to re-
trieve lost ground north Of verdun.
An attack Friday night near hill 344
was unsuccessful in dis'odging the
French except temporarily. from an ad-
vanced position. The line was shortly
afterward re-estaLlished.
Russian inter ,al affairs still claim
precedence in interest over happenings
along tho Russian front. Tho demo-
cratic congress has adjourned after
providinE for tha constitution of a
Parliament OF ao5 members which It's
assembly is elected. The Petrograd
radicals now seem disappointed at the
result OF this congress, and have called
and workmen's deputies to meet in
Petrograd. bringing up the threat of
an opposition Parliament, as they ap-
parently consider the conservative in
fiuences too strong in the body au-
thorized by the congress.
The Cabinet situation In Petroerad
is still complex. but hope Is expressed
by the government that an adjustment
for coalition ministry will be reached.
Admission of the constitutional demo-
Gratis still seems to be tho point at Is
sue in the conferences between the
government and representatives of the
divergent interests.
The Peruvian congress has passed
resolution for the breaking of relations
with Germany, and the expectation pre-
walls that the German minister will
soon be handed his passports.
STRATEGIC CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN TO BE REVEALED
LONDON. October 6.-The strategic
consequences of Field Marshal Haigs
victory Thursday on the Paschendaele
ridge began to show to-day when the
Germans withdrew from a series of
positions which were safe as fortresses
the day before Haig's attack. but are
untena5le now that the British artil-
lery completely dominates them. There
were no new counterattacks In the
last twenty-four hours. The British
continued to consolidate their new
lines. although the Bavarian Crown
Princes big guns played a steady con-
certed fire upon them. Otherwise thero
were only raids upon the British front
Correspondents continue to report on
the magnitude Of the German losses
on Thursday. At Verdun, the German
throne heir continued his heavy at
tacks. especially on the right bank Of
the Meuse. The Official Paris COM
munique admits that In one of their
onslaushts the Teutons gained a foot
CONTINUED on Second Page.)