Evening star., 1917-09-22

In the held OF hOStIlltleS, the British
campaign in Flanders alone commands
widespread interest at the moment To
days report shows Gen. Haig to be hold
ing fast to all the valuable ground he
gained in the great attack of Thursday
in the face of the most persistent Ger
man counter attacks.
The Germans heavily increased their
losses in these efforts, the British official
! statement notes, but failed to achieve
any compensating gain. The only point
at which the Teutonic thrusts were even
temporarily successful was east of St.
Julien, and here the Germans were i'm
mediately driven out of the small sec
ton of ground they had penetrated.
Three counter attacks IN all were de-.
lfvered last evening by the Germans.
Apparently they had become exhausted
by the failure of the first two efforts,
for the third attack made east of
Langemarck. did not have to be faced
by the British infantry, the artillery
alone being able to cope with it.
Heavy Fighting Today.
New energy seemed impaired to the
Germans during the night, probably by
the bringing Sup of fresh forces. for
heavy fighting was reported this morn
ing in the vicinity of Tower Hamlets
where the German resistance from the
first has been most desperate The Brit
ish left held fast under this attack, but
there was uncertainty in the early ad-
vices as to the situation of the right
in this sector.
Another phase of the entente cam
territory had a development today in
British naval attack on Ostend Naval
works there were bombarded today by
vessels of the Belgian coast patrol with
tory by the British admiralty. In the
course Of the engagement three Ger
man seaplanes were shot dawn.
British Official Report.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, September a2-Troops of
Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria
continued last night to launch heavy
counter attacks against the new British
lines east of Ipres. on the Belgian
front. Field Marshal Haig. in his re-
port today to the Office. says that
in their attacks without gaining any
results, except to heavily increase their
losses.
LONDON. September 22-The number
of German prisoners taken by the Brit
ish in Thursdays fighting on the Bel
gian front now exceeds 5000. according
to the British war office statement last
night.
The British official statement says:
Hostile counter attacks continued yes
terday evening on the fpres front
Considerable German forces We're en-
gagged without any result being gained
except a heavy increase in the enemys
losses.
AT dusk the enemy launched a pow
erful counter attack in massed forma-
ton on wide front east of st. Julien
AT one point his troops succeeded in
penetrating short distance into our
| new positions. but they We're imme-
diately and completely driven out by
| our local counter attack.
Whole Line Kept Intact.
AT all other points West Lancashire
| and London troops repulsed the en-
emy's infantry with great loss. At the
end of two hours of fierce fighting our
whole line was intact. The attack was
| delivered with great determination. and
| the enemy's losses were exceedingly
severe.
Early in the night after the failure
| of his attack the Tower HamIets
ridge during the afternoon. the enemy
again attacked with strong forces on
| both sides of the Ypres- Menin road
Here also heavy fighting ended in the
| complete repulse of the enemy
/ During the evening a third hostile
counter attack east of Langemarck
| was crushed by our artillery"
| British Line Advanced.
The text Of the statement of last
| night follows:
| "Further evidence shows the contin-
| uous and obstinate nature of the enc
my's counter attacks yesterday. n
which he suffered exceptionally heavy
losses and gained no advantage
| During today fighting of minor
| character has taken place on different
parts of the battle front. We have ad-
yanced our line at number of points
and have beaten off further German
| counter attacks. This morning English
| county troops attacked and captured
| a collection of German trenches and
| concreted strong points south of Tower
Hamlet.
Clean Up Dangerous Points.
| Later in the day the enemy launched
| a powerful counter attack against the
Tower Hamlet ridge. This attack was
| repulsed after heavy fighting. East of
st. Julien regiments from Liverpool
and Lancashire gained possession Of q
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