The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-31


down the Riga front, whore no
compIimented the troops.
British Front in France, July 31.-
The entente allied forces, which
launched their offensive this morning,
have advanced well beyond the she'll
shattered front line German trenches.
In many places they have reached tho
second line defense of the 20-mile
front attacked, according to reports.
The British and French went under
cover of what perhaps was the great
est barrage fire ever seen during thsS
war. @% ~ At '.tFHl5i .'dGoHB# G@a
The entente artillery is moving for.
ward and the situation Is satisfactory
in every particular. ''&a
London, July 31.-British troops In
conjunction with the French forces
attacked the German positions along
the front north of the, river Lys this
morning. N
The allied troops, according to Z
British statement, have captured their
first objective on the whole front and
are reported to be making satisfac.
tory progress at all points 7as1dqu,.
A considerable number OF prisoners
have already been taken by the Bri.
tish and French. <>f p.
The offensive launched this morn.
ing by Gen. Haig in conjunction with
Gen. 'Petain, commander Of the French
forces against the Germans on the
Belgian front Is the elimination of q
heavy bombardment which has been
in progress continuously for week.
The intensity of the artillery drum
fire with which the entente have been
demolishing the Teutonic trenches.
has been described by the German
staff as the greatest in the war, even.
surprising the terrific fire at tho be-
ginning of the Somme and Aisne Of
fensives. ..-s.I.. Al.
Military observers have attributed
two ,objectives for the entente often
sive--the capture of the Belgian
North sea coast, which has been used
by the Germans as bases for their
submarines, and to assist the hard
pressed Russians on the Galician
front.
The battle front north of the river
Lys stretches from WarnetOn on the
border, to the North
sea coast, the distance between those
two points being about 30 miles.
Included in this battle area Is tho
famous Observation-Disclosures front,
where the British on June Z, after ex-
ploding 100000 pounds of high ex-
plOsive on the German line, attacked
on nine-mile front and captured the
high ridge, several towns, AZ heavy
guns, and more than 1000 prisoners.
Capture LasasseevilIe
The British again have captured
LaBasseeville which they recently re-
to the Germans.
The British and French forces are
facing a large concentration of .
German artillery, and fresh troops
which have been rushed up.
The Entente Allies have establish.
ed complete air superiority.
The Entent military officials say
the morale of the Germans here Is
not up to the old standard. -
The long expected Anglo-French
attack followed three weeks of tho
most intense artillery preparations.
The attack was made on the now
front gained after the British cap
tured the Messines ridge which was
a preliminary to this latest move.
Air Moneuvers
Artillery preparations for the at
tack we're as violent an extended aS
ever have been made in the war, and
fighting in the air also has been on
an unprecedented scale.
The guns, which have been ut
work, along the whole British front,
with only few short lulls thus keep
ing the Germans ignorant of the e1-
act spot for the moment of the COM
ing attacks were redoubled Sunday
since which time the roar which on
some occasions could be heard In
London has been incessant.
Dispatches received in London yes
terday from Holland said that never
before had such violent lombard
ment been heard than that OF the
last "a hours. The sound came appar-
emily from the direction of Ypres.