Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-24
Fighting Il Severe.


planes were brought down and six others
were driven down out Of control. TWO OF
ours are missing. one OF which was seen
to erect q landing on the beach at Ostend
Throughout yesterdays attacks our air
planes successfully co-operated with our
artillery and infantry. The usual bomb
ing and reconnaissance work also was
carried out. In the course OF the day and
night Ave tons Of explosives were dropped
on various detectives behind the enemy
lines"
Conflict Throughout Night.
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND
BELGIUM, August 24.-Heavy fighting
proceeded throughout the night in the
southwest edge Of Lens for possession OF
the Green Crassier. from the crest of
which the Canadians broke through late
yesterday after having footing on it
all day.
The British this morning were con-
tinuing the battle from positions which
they had seized Immediately northwest
of the Crassier and the Germans were
making strenuous efforts to re-estab-
1ish their shattered defenses on the top
OF this artificial hill.
The Canadians held the Crassier until
late In the afternoon, in the face OF nu-
merous bitter counter attacks by strong
hand-to-hand fighting with the bayonet
resulted in the Germans being thrown
back with severe losses.
an
The Crassier has been an important
buffer between the Canadians and the
defenses of the city proper, and the
nels connected with the net work of
passages and dugouts beneath Lens.
Part Of the ground about the Crassier
is inundated. due to the waterway near
by having broken its banks. and this.
In conjunction with the great number
OF machine gun emplacements on the
elevation. has made II particularly
difficult position for attack
The Canadians made their assault
yesterday before dawn. and the attack
was preceded by protracted and ex-
sceedingly intense bombardment of the
German positions. The Germans. ex-
hausted BY the long strain Of constant
counter attacks that they have been
delivering. found the Canadians In their
midst with little warning. But the
defenders did not give up without a
etruggle and there was considerable
-bayonet fighting.
Bomb Way Through Defenses.
An advance upon two German col
1fery positions adjoining the Crassier
to the northwest earlier in the night
also involved stif hand-to-hand fight
Ing. About the Crassier are numerous
sheu-shattered buildings. many of
which have been strongly fortified by
the Germans. The Canadians yester-
tematically through these defensss.
oilenctng the machine guns and clear
Ing out the defenders.
The Canadians thus far have not at;
Lens There seems to be no diminu-
ton In the strength of the Canadian
attacks. notwithstanding the tre-
mendous labor they have performed in
steadily and methodiczliy, gradually
weaving q net about the Germans. who
live miserably in their underground
positions within the city. which is
ii viii furnish most inhospitabie quar-
tiers for the enemy.
Battle Near Ypres.
Fighting still. continues east and
northeast of Ypres- The British Sc
copse. and their line runs approxi-
mxtely through point in the center
or this wood from the north and south.
but north OF 1t the Germans are in
sftfon which dominates the northern
portion of the wood. and these gans
add TO the difficulties OF the situation
for the British.
Inverness in the face Of an extremely
severe machine gun IRE from the wood
and from points to the north and south.
The ground here is marshy and hard
for the infantry to traverse. but the
British forced their way forward to the
wood. where they threw themselves on
xhe Germans with bayonet and bombs
and drove the enemy back. Heavy
counter attacks failed to disfodge the
British from the line where they finally
Gain to Depth Of 500 Yards.
Similar sanguinary fighting also oc-
81 IN.
where there was a nest Of machine
gums. In this Ypres-Menin road sector
OF the fighting the British penetrated
the German defenses to q depth of
about 500 yards over front of about
In a bigger battle farther north the
British reduced many exceedingly
strong German concrete redoubts and
strongholds which had figured in much
of the fighting heretofore. One of
nous battle before the British finally
subdued its garrison, was counter at
tackled determinedly by the enemy
later in the day, but the attack was
the Germans.
Along this front the British pene-
frated to an extreme depth of over
half q mile. thereby securing much Of
gain in the bitter offensive of last
A considerable number of prisoners
have been sent back, but no offfcfaI
estimate yet Is available
Berlin Admits Reverse.
BERLIN. August "a, via London
The evacuation by the Germans of Hill
800. the famous stronghold on the
terdun front. is announced by the war
once 1t Is said 4 weak garrison was
left there.
On the British front, the statement
says. the Germans today wrested from
their opponents the gains recently
made by them south of the Ypres-
Menin road.
French Take 5000 More
Prisoners and Many Guns
in Offensive at Verdun
By the Associated Press.
GRAND HEADQUARTERS OF THE
FRENCH ARMY. August a4.-rhe
French taking OF prisoners as the re-
suit Of the victory at verdun amount
ed yesterday to nearly 5000 and a
large number OF cannon and machine
guns were captured or destroyed. The
battle. which is being continued, is
confined to the artillery. with the
French holding great superiority in the
are.