The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-07-31
ALLIES BEGIN NEW
DRIVE IN WEST


first detectives. the Britain
commancerein-chief reported.
-satissaetory progress was at
tanned In all positions.
'Many prisoners have already
been taken"
Field Marshal Haig did not men
ton the exact extent OF the British
offensive In Belgium. but gave its
lowermost point as north OF the
river Lys."
Front dispatches indicated fight.
Ing was continuing fiercely today.
Forces Diverted
French troops TO the left OF the
British" means they are some
where between Armentieres and
the Belgian coast. section here
tofore almost exclusively manned
by British and Belgian forces.
Either French forces have been
diverted to aid Gen. Haig In this
particular effort. or else small
force Of French troops. held TO aid
IN the Belgian defense for purely
sentimental reasons. participated
in the fighting
Starts at $3.50 a. m.
Field Marshal Haig's report as-
serted the British attack had be-
sun IT $3.50 a. m. today.
His assauit-the second concert
"a offensive In this Messlnes ridge
eector--foliowed the greatest ar
tilIery duel In the whole war to date
German guns have been roaring
along all this Belgian front. The
Germans apparently started the
concentrated fire. presumably fear.
ing another stroke la this sector.
and the British quickly replied
with redoubied activity.
mander OF "the allies" capturing
their first detectives. would seem
to Indicate that the British were
assisted either by Belgian or
French troops.
The River Lys flows northward
above Armentieres. joining with
the LIlle-Ypres canal at Confines.
The canal and the river form an
obtuse angie. in which Is included
the Messines- Wftschaete ridge,
Messines. Hollebeke and warenton.
Utilize High Positions
II was In this section that Haig
struck his big blow a few weeks
ago. the Canadians sweeping over
the dominating ridge positions.
Since that time II has been fire.
quently apparent that the British
were preparing to make full use
Of their height positions by sweep
Ing the Germans back against the
converging waterways over the low
lands.
For a week now there has been
m artillery bombardment OF almost
indescribable fury raging on the
British sector around Armentieres
to the Belgian coast.
Front dispatches have described
II as the most superlatiyely con-
centrated fire OF the whole war
Some of the detonations OF this
drum fire have been plainly heard
in London on nights when the wind
blew from the east.
Started July %
Dispatches to the United Press
from William Philip Simms at the
British front last week, described
the Germans as pouring forth every
conceivable effort in their concen-
trated artillery fire.
The German bombardment began
with a fairly intense fire on July
"a. Thru the days since II has in
creased steadily, reaching a Gre
scendo OF roar yesterday.
Newport, Ypres. Armentieres,
Oostaverne and other cities have
felt the hail OF this fire.
Titanic Duel
Every conceivable sort OF gun
has apparently been called into SER
vice by the Germans. Long range
shells have searched out spots be
hind the British lines.
The British artillery has not
been whit behind In reciprocal
ing. A great number OF guns have
been concentrated along this whole
front and their drum fire has at
times even exceeded the enemy's.
Front dispatches have described
the duel as the most titanic In the