New-York tribune., 1917-08-13
Storms Check
British Drive on
Flanders Front
Infantry Advance Prevent
ed, but Artillery Battle
Is Unabated
Foe Shells Westhoek
Allied Fliers Destroy Seven
German Planes, but
Lose Five
Foe Shells Westhoek

LONDON, Aug. 12.-Stormy weather
last night and to-day prevented the
use of large infantry forces on the
Flanders front, but the artillery bat
tie continues unabated, with the Ger
man batteries particularly busy in the
Ypres sector, where they are shelling
the positions recently lost to the Brit
ish around Westhoek. That the Brit
ism penetrated deeply into the enemy
lines when the Westhoek Ridge was
stcrmed is indicated by to-nights War
Office bulletin, which says that six Ger
man guns were captured, besides 454
prisoners.
The only infantry fighting reported
by General Haig in the last twenty
four hours was sharp combat for a
mine crater at Givenchy, in which the
British won and consolidated the near
lip, and the repulsc of German raid
at Armentieres. Berlin, however, de-
clares that throughout the night the
British were raiding along the whole
of the Ypres salient. while near Holle-
beke, southeast of Ypres, several Brit
ish regiments advanced, only to be
driven back to their trenches with
heavy losses.
British Fliers Out in Force
Despite rain squalls and strong west
erly winds, which naturally favored the
Germans. the British fiers were up in
force yesterday taking photographs and
scouting far behind the enemy lines.
Seven German planes were accounted
for, but five of the Royal Fliers are
missing. two of them having been
forced to descend in hostile territory.
On the day previous, the first IN ten
days when flying was possible from
dawn until dark, the German aviators
attacked in great numbers, losing SIN
teen machines and downing twelve
British planes. II is clear that the
Germans mean to contest TO the last
the British supremacy in the air, whlch ,
was pronounced before the recent OF
fensive. French aviators are now CO.
operating with the Royal Flying Corps
on the Belgian front, and last night
bombed Cortemarck and Lichtenville,
causing extensive fires and violent eX-
plosions in the latter town.
On the Ypres-Menin highroad the
Germans yesterday morning pushed
back the British little in Glencorse
Wood after fierce hand-to-hand en- I
gagement. Haig's men, however, are
low within 1000 yards OF Polygon
Wood. the famous German stronghold,
from which the enemy guns nave I
pounded Ypres into dust during the
last two years.
Bombardment Lively in Artois
Berlin reports a livelier lombard /
ment over the whole extent OF the Ar
ras battlefield in Artois, and clear down !
to St. Quentin, with numerous engage
ments. At Fayet, just north OF st. .
Quentin, the French expelled the Ger
mans from the last yard OF the trench
they won there on Thursday. PetaIn's
scouting troops penetrated the enemy
trenches on the western end OF the
Chemin- -des-Dames, returning with prls-
oners, and on the eastern end OF this
highroad not only withstood violent
counter attacks, designed to force them
out of their newly won positions soutn /
of Allies, but made further progress.
II now appears that yesterdays Ger
man ATTACK on NUM- NdlHi''c' ""o M
serious than at first reported, the !
enemy employing strong picked forces,
but gaining nowhere, except on nifty /
yard front. Following their custom ,
after a check in this region, the Ger
man batteries scattered projectiles over
the whole area of Rheims, killing two
civilians and wounding another.
Both Paris and Berlin report that /
the artillery duel north of the Aisne !
and around Verdun is more intense
than usual, indicating large infantry
operations in the near future.