Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-01
BAVARlAN DIVISIONS DEMORALIZED BY INFERNO
OF ALLIED FIRE WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED
Capture First Objective and Are Making Good
Progress at All Points - elimination of
Heavy Gun Bombardment of Past Week =
Hot Fighting on the Lys = Six Bavarian Dv-
sons Withdrawn
VAST BRITISH FORCE

British Front in France and Belgium
July 3l.--(Ry the Associated Press)-A
vast British force augmented by
French troops. at dawn today launched
against the army of Crown Prince
Rupprecht of Bavaria, between Dix
nude on the north and Gapaard, nea,
Warneton, on the south, a terrific Of
fensive which according TO the early
reports. had carried the onrushing al
lies well beyond the shell shattered
front line trenches of the Germans
throughout this approximately 20 mile
front, and in many places had reached
the second line defenses.
Both the French and British had
achieved all the first objectives and the
artillery was moving forward with
schedule precision and the whole sit
uation was satisfactory in every par
ticular.
Strong Resistance
In numerous places the Entente Al
counter attacks from the desperate
Teutons.
Between Dixnude and Boesinghe the
attacking forces are reported to have
secured the two first lines of the Ger
man trenches after having fought over
the most difficult terrain imaginable
due to marshes and inundated areas
with which the section is blocked.
Inc German front line about the
Ypres salient which had been held un.
questioned by the enemy since the
early days Of the war offered little re-
slstance today to the British advance
but beyond these trenches, the Ger
mans made firm stand in an endeavor
to stem the onslaught.
Recapture of La Rassee
The British again captured lie Basse
Vile on the Franco BELGIAN frontier
which few days ago they had occu-
pied and then relinquished. The Ger
mans made a heavy counter attack
mere IN an attempt to regain the 20
sition, but the British flung them off
and began Consohdatins, the ground
won
Many prisoners already are finding their
way back Of the Allied lines. These men
report that the unprecedented artillery
preparation which prefaced the Entente
Allied attack worked havoc in the lines
and undoubtedly caused a heavy loss OF
life
Smash Front Line Trenches
The German Nont line trenches were
entirely smashed to pieces and the wire
entanglements before them were torn
away. The British and French went into
battle under cover Of what was perhaps
the greatest barrage fire seen during the
war.
The great guns Of the Allies opened ur
at the appointed time and for hours
hurled an avalanche of shells into TIE
enemy territory with drumfre intensity
A large number OF tanks which were in
the attack are reported to have done in
valua BILE work. The Entente Allies are
facing a larger concentration OF German
were rushed up as soon as It became ap-
was contemplated in this region.
In the last few DAYS Crown Prince
Rurprecht Of Bavaria has rerlacel many
of his old divisions with fresh troops and
others are being held in reserve.
Entente Superior in Artillery
The Entente Allies however, have a
great prenondera nee in artillery. which
is the vital factor Another thing most
important to The British and French is
that they recently have established com
rlete superiority In aerial service. upon
which The artillery work is dependent
The British naturally have made great
concentrations of guns and men for thi
offensive and the French troops are CO.
operating with them with their usual
valor. II is known that the morale Of the
German troops along this front is not Il,
70 the old standard. but they are still
strong and a desperate battle is expected.
Dislodsing the Germans
Again at a redoubt, which was
strongly held in the German line and
defended by concrete Notifications, the
British we're brought 70 stand By
machine gun fire. But they charged
with bayonets and dislodged the Ger
mans.
One Of the most striking and spec
tacular events Of the days fighting oc-
Cured at the so-called Menin tunnel
a great underground fertilization con-
structed by the Germans on the Menin
road opposite Hooge. The British pre-
liminary Commandment had forced the
Germans to hold the French line thin
~ here, and the British division which
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