New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-16
Artillery Fire
Indicates Renewal
Of Haig's Drive
British Activity Near Arras
Likewise Foreshadows
Flanders Blow
Wreck Huns Dugouts
Enemy Lines Pierced at One
Point, but Attackers
Later Fall Back
Wreck Huns Dugouts

LONDON. Oct 16.-While there were
10 infantry actions on the Ypres front
to-day, owing TO the unfavorable
weather conditions, the battle Of the
big guns reached pitch OF great in
tensity along the whole Flanders front.
and the British carried out success
ful operation east Of Arras that, in the
light Of previous experience, may be
taken as indicative OF quick renewal
OF the great drive by Haig. The last
series Of attacks in Flanders was pre-
coded by heavy lighting in ArtoiA
The true measure or the bitish
operation is revealed in the German of
ficial statement rather than in Haig's
laconic report. The field marshal de-
scribed Il as successful raid: the
German communique shows that II de-
veloped into a powerful attack along a
front OF two and one-half miles be
tween tho Scarpe and the Arrss-Cam-
brai road, in which the British troops
pierced the enemy's lines in the centre
and maintained their gains until night
fall. when a sharp counter assault
drove them out.
Dugouts Destroyed
The attack was carried out by East
County troops, according 10 Haig's re-
port. and resulted in the complete de-
struction Of the enemy's dugouts, the
capture of thirty-six prisoners and two
machine guns, and the killing OF 200
Of the enemy by rife fire and grenades.
Following IL other British units under
took an equally successful enterprise
against the German trenches northeast
Of Roeux. in the same sector.
This sector east Of Arrss is crossed
by the great defenciye system which
the Germans fell back upon after their
retreat from the Somme, including the
original "Hindenburg Line and it,
branch. known "a the Oppy switch
line. The British forces have been
held up in this region for several
months, as Haig's whole energy has
been bent on the more important often
sive in Flanders.
The significance OF to-dsy's opera
ton there is that small actions OF
nature have been undertaken
by the British troops in the Arrss
region previous 10 several big strokes
ON the Ypres front TO divert the at
tention Of the enemy and carry on the
nibbling' process that has paved me
way for many striking victories.
Action on French Front
The British raids, in conjunction
with the increasingly heavy artillery
FIRE east Of Ypres. foreshadows a new
blow in the offensive against Passchen-
daele and the German communications
beyond.
The Belgian lines before Dixmude
were exposed to-day TO one OF the most
terrific bombardments Of the year
The Germans launched several thou
sand projectiles Of all calibTes and nu-
rnerous aerial tOrpedoes against the
positions held by King Alberts army
according TO the official statement IS
sued tonight. The report adds that
The Belgian artillery and trench guns
finally silenced the enemy's batteries
in the afternoon.
German sviators likewise carried out
a heavy bombardment OF the Belgian
including their environments,
during last night.
On the French front, after a lapse
OF several days, the artillery battle
was resumed with great severity on
the Aisne and Verdun fronts, where
heavy infantry actions by both sides
are likely at any hour. In the Cham
payne Petain's troops carried out a
successful operation. but otherwise
there was no infantry fighting, The
Paris statement says several civilians
are believed to have been killed by
bombs dropped by enemy airmen on the
Dunkirk region.