The sun., 1917-10-27
FRENCH AND BRITISH
MAKE IMPORTANT GAINS
IN THE WESTERN ARENA

LONDON. Oct. 26.--T'he Ypres sector
And the portion Of the line north OF it
held by the French was ngain the main
theatre Of fighting on the western front
to-day. and important gains were made
by both Of the armies. The attacks
were launched. as usual. just afteI- DAY.
break. and despite the bad weather the
British and French attained nearly all
Of their objectives from the edge OF
Houtholst Wood. on the north. to Ghelu-
welt. on the Ypres-Menin road on the
south. a front of about nine miles.
The French captured the village Of
Draeibank after watnE the small
streams in water up to their shoulders.
took Papagoed wood and reduced many
fortified farms. The British stormed
and carried the Poelderhoek Chateau.
which had been strongly fortified, and
reduced many OF the German pill
boxes" OF fnrtlets OF Bellevue spur.
The French on their own front to the
south were not a bit behind. In another
attack against the forces of the German
Crown Prince they took the village N
Filain and pushed their lines further
north. Strengthening their front and put
ting themselves in better position for
o drive toward Laon.
Signs OF Teuton Retreat.
The possibility Of a further German
retreat on the Aisne front is mentioned
I by Lieut.. Gen. Won Ardenne, military
expert Of tho TGgebIntt Of Berlin. in dis
cussing the French victory there.
He says the attack OF the French n
| doubtedly will be repeated and that a.
! though their chances OF ultimate success
! are slight 1t is well to remember that
! the German plan of defence does not
/ proper circumstances. Of territory -.
essential to the great tactical plan. so
| that losses may be reduced.
Even the loss Of Laon---although this
Is in nowise impend1ng-would not alter
/ the strategic situation Of the Germans
! he writes. He draws attention to the
| fact that Laon Is still eight miles from
the battlefront and is protected by new
! field Notifications which the French will
hnd It difficult to overcome.
The French night report reads.
In Belgium the enemy refrained
from any attempt against our new po-
sitions. The number OF prisoners that
we captured during this mornings
operations exceeds zoo.
To the north OF the Aisne our
troops, continuing their successful
drive to the right of the attacking
front. threw back the enemy in the
region to the north OF La Chappelle
Sainte Berthe as far as the reservoir.
The village OF Filain is in our hands.
Further to the east we reached the
brink OF the plateau to the north of
Espine de Ch.vregny. On the rest Of
the front the situation remained un-
changed.
The number OF guns captured by
us since the 23d inst. and counted up
10 the present Is 100, among which
were several mortars OF 21O milli-
meter calibre and many heavy guns
In tho Champagne the enemy. after
a epirited bombardment of our
trenches at Maisons de Champagne.
attempted two surprise attacks which
broke down under our fire.
: On our part We succeeded in enter
= ing the German lines in the sector of
:, Mont Carnillet and brought back
about ten prisoners.
4 On the right bank Of the Meuse
tverdun fronD the artillery nghtins
continued the whole day between
Samogneux and Bezonvaux. The flre
;. was particularly violent on the front
of Bois le Chaume. An enemy at
tempt against our small posts to the
north Of Bezonvaux failed. At Theb-
ban de sapt there were some patrol
encounters.
berlin Admits Some Losses.
Tho German headquarters statemen
follows:
The artillery duel was lively on
tho whole front In Flanders yester-
day and last night. Especially violent
was the firing from tho Houtholst
wood 20 Hollebcke. where It in
!. creased this morning to drumfre.
Night local attacks by the French
, and English failed everywhere before
our line.
According to reports received up to
the present time, attacks have taken
: place at several points on this front
since dawn.
Army OF the German Crown Prince,
; After nstrong artillery prcparation
Continued on Third rage.