The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-01
ATTEMPT Seems to Be to Drive
Germans From Belgian Sea
Front
GAIN MILE ALONG
TWENTY-MlLE FRONT
Casually List Of Britiah Forces
for Month Given Out Yes
terday Shows Total Of IT,
8oo

London, July Slime great
German defensive In Flanders
fell before the onslaught OF the
British and French troops TO-DAY.
As dispatch after dispatch comes
from tho front the magnitude OF
tho victory Is growing. Eleven
ytllaQes and towns have been cap
turcd from the Germans In the
Flanders region. Thiry-hye nun
dred prisoners were taken.
Trenches were seized Mt some
points to a depth OF two ana
half miles on front approx
mately OF thirty miles. The roar
OF the big guns was heard n
London today IA they have beR
for the past few days.
The Tcutonic forces were be-
vtidcrcd BY the intensity OF the
aIlies', attacks. but they fought
back desperately. All their coun-
tcr-attacks were rcpuised, how
ever.
For three weeks the artillery
ducl on tho Flanders front ms
been In progress. Ii cuiInihauu
in the combined attack by the
British and French forces Nv
dawn today. II Is still in its In
fancy. foSltlohN az
sotida,cd tonight. The offensive
Ia cx,s>c,cd TO resume again to-
morrow. .
Hone Il inspired In England
that tho Hatg movement has Tor
rs aim the destruction OF German
submarines on the Belgian coast
THO fate OF Lille, Roubaix, ana
TuYxoing. three great Industrial
towns Of Northern France, De-
px.p,is upon the Germans with
standing the allies onsiaughts.
London. July 3i.-One OF the
biggest offensiyes of the, war,
aimed apparently to drive the
Germans from the Belgian coast,
was launched by the allied
French and British forces on the
FLANDERS front today. In terrific
sr,,n.i,fs.5 Ire troop. OF Field Mar
shnl Uaig hurled hack Crown
Prince Ruprecht's forces. On
wide front OF apparently
twenty miles the Tontons were
forced hack for n distance OF
about a mile.
The offensive was launched
with clock like regularity. Both
French and British did their
share.
The British captured la Bias
Seville In the first dash.
The French crossed the Npres-
lille canal and took the Ger
mans, first and second line de-
fenscS.
"Objcctives gained was the
tcr.c report OF the British war
ofIicc.
The Germans were not forced
hack without gallant hght-
Time and again the Tcutons
hurled themselves at the on-com-
inr foes. But their counter-af-
tacks were in vain. The British
and French came on. Hundreds
Of prisoners were taken.
Made Under Violent Rnrrnge Fire.
The infantry attacks were mad
under one OF the most violent OF bar
rare fires. For three days the allie
had shelled the German lines. Jus
hafore dawn today under cover Of
heavy fog the allies pressed on. tn
..tack by both the French and Britis'
was simultaneous
Tho British took the first Germa
line in the Ypres region. The ad
yancing troops are continuing thei
onward rush. Artillery Is oein
moved forward rapidly to aid the IN
fantry. The British tanks are doin
their part.
After the first line was reached tn
began their resistance
Counter attack after counter-attac
was launched. Each was repulse
with heavy losses to the Teutons. &C
eording to news from the front.
The Germans poured a deadly ma
chine gun Are on the advancin
hosts. At first II was feeble and or
ratio. Then 1t became more accur
ate.
These were silenced when the al
lies artillery found the range. To
night the allies are consolidatin
their positions. With the coming o
dawn II is expected that the attack
vii, again be under way.
The attack is about thirty mile
from the coast. The war office dis
patch doc. not make 1t clear no,
near to the sea the allied forces hav
pushed their advance.
THE allied troops have capture
their first detectives on the Who'll
front attacked and are reported to b
satisfa ctorv progress at a.
points" said the British war ono
Two officers. fifteen non commits
stoned officers and many other pris
oners were taken by the French. say
the Paris war ONCE.
In addition to their co-operatfol
with the British In Flanders, tn
French made a successful attack i
the Aisne sector. carrying 1900 yard
# German positions on the Chemil
ies Danes
Berlin. In It's report. admitted tina
The French had made some gain
along the Chemin des Danes OF tn
Flanders battle the report says, "Ar