Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
PETAIN'S TROOPS
HOLD THEIR GAINS
The Dash North Of Scissors
Tuesday Melted over 5000
German Prisoners.
FIGHTING AT vERDUN.
Germans Reinforce Austrian Lines on
Italian Front and Big Battle IL
lmminent on 2O.Mile Line.

General Petain's troops. who made a
brilliant dash against the German
lines northeast Of Scissors Tuesday
morning at last accounts were holding
all their gains and were meeting with
no resistance from the forces of the
German Crown Prince. except by
means Of bombardment. In addition to
the great gains in terrain more than
5000 prisoners and numerous guns
were taken by the French.
Likewist British and Frenche armies
In Flanders are maintaining all the
positions won northeast of Ypres Mon
day. Here the Germans have delivered
several counter attacks in the region
south Of the Houtholst forest. but have
been unable to recoup any Of their
losses.
Extremely heavy bombardments con-
tinue In the rerdun sector. and in the
region OF Hill ~ the army Of the German
Crown Prince delivered violent attack
against the French. The enemy succeeded
In capturing a French advanced position
but later in q counter attack was forced
to relinquish 1t.
GERMANS REINFORCE AUsTRIANs.
In the Austro. italian theatre large Ger
man forces have reinforced the Austrian
line and apparently a big battle is
imminent over the 23.mile front from
Monte Rombon southeastward through
Flitcha and Tolmino and thence southwark
to the Bainsixxa plateau which lies about
ten miles northeast Of Gorilla.
The Berlin war Office reports the cap
ture, on the northern section Of this front
of positions near Flitcha and Tolmino and
also points in the northern portion Of the
Bainsizza plateau. The Germans began
their offensive after an intensive artillery
fire, in which specially constructed gas
shells were thrown at various places. Ac-
cording to the italian war office bad
weather interviewed during the attack and
the fighting died down to some extent.
The official communication adds that the
Italians are unafraid as a result of the
preparations Of the Germans and Aus
tians and that the enemy will find them
steady and prepared"
KAISER SENDS HURRY CLAL.
Where the Germans obtained large
numbers Of reinforcements for the Aus
TRANS In this region has not yet become
apparent, but II is not improbable that
some Of them were sent posthaste from
the northern Russian front where. be-
tween the Dvina river and the Gulf of
Riga, there has been a withdrawal by the
Germans over a wide front. II these
troops were not removed for the campaign
in the Austro-Italian theatre. they pos
sbly have been sent to the western front,
from which signals Of distress by the
army commanders necessarily have been
sent up as a result Of the terrible pound
ings which Field Marshal Haig and Gen.
eral Petain have given Crown Prince Rup-
pretch Of Bavaria and the German Crown
Prince in Flanders and along the Aisne
and before Verdun.
Emperor William has returned to Ber-
lin from visits to Constantinople and
Sonia and is now engaged in an attempt to
straighten out the muddled political sit
uation in Germany 1t is stated that
Chancellor Michaelis already has rendered
his resignation to the Emperor