The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-10
FRENCH MOVE ON.
Resume Advance North of Blk
schOOte in Belgium.
English Capture WesthOek,
Belgium, and Heights.
tBy the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated PreSS-)
While the entente guns are still
hammering the German lines in Elan
ders with a fury apparently equal to
that of the original bombardment. the
infantry has not been entirely mac
tive. Today important gains by both
the British and the French on a seven
mile front taking in Westhoek and
Bixschoote are reported. British
troops last night finished the task of
driving the Germans from the town
of Westhoek and likewise cleared
them from the lines they still were
clinging to on the ridge near the town.
This forward movement gives Field
Marshal Haig a far better mold on the
section of the linz Immediately east
of Ypres.
The French on their front near Blk
schoote advanced east ana north of
that place, adding to the gains they
had recently effected in this sector.
Silence from the British side regard
ing the artillery battle continues. As
in the period preceding the initial at
tack on the Flanders offensive. the
German reports are the principal re-
lance for news for the bcmbardment
and these continue to emphasize its
importance. Not only in Belgium but
along stretches of the Arras battle
front there are evidences of pro-
nounced activity by the entente forces.
Death Grip on Lens.
London today reports extensive
raids by the British east of Monchy,
in the Arras area, and day by day re-
ports came in of the notable work by
the Canadians before the coal city of
Lens. 1t has seemed several times
that the fall of Lens was imminent
but evidently the hour has not been
considered ripe to deliver the final
stroke. Whether it is even yet a prob
ability of the near future despite the
close grip which the Canadians now
have secured upon it's immediate out
skirts is something that only the Brit
ish high command can reveal.
Push Germans Back.
London. Aug. 1O.-The French
forces on the left flank of the British
lines in Belgium made further prog
ress to the east and north of Blk
schoote last night, according to the
official report made to the war office
today by Field Marshal Sir Douglas
Haig.
British raiding parties bleT up the
German dugouts on wide front east
of Monchy-le-PruX, on the Arras
front, the report adds, and greatly
damaged the Teuton defenses.
On the battle front directly east of
the Belgian town of Ypres, the Brit
of Westhoek and secured the remain
ing positions held by the Germans on
the Westhoek ridge. the official state
ment adds
Get German Machine Guns.
Paris, Aug. 10.-The French forces
last night made further progress
against the German positions on the
Belgian front. The French men broke
into the German lines, occupied sew
eral farms to the east of Bixschoote
and west of Langwarck, and captured
a number of machine guns, according
to the official statement given out to-
day by the French war department.
Attack on Mile Front.
North of st. Quentin the Germans
attacked the French positions along a
front o fnearly a mile in the region
of Fayet. The French statement says
the assault was repulsed except at the
center, where German detachments
gained a foothold in the French ad-
vanced trenches.
In the course of the night the Ger
mans also made violent attacks on the
French lines between Pantheon farm
and Epine des Chevregny on the Aisne
front. Some German detachments
which penetrated the French positions
were either killed or captured after
hand to hand fighting