South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-22
CANADIANS GET
GRIP ON LENS
Terrific Hand-to-hand Struu-
gle Follows When They Meet
Germans in Attack.

PARIS, Aug. 22.-The battle of
Verdun has not yet ceased and on
the left bank Of the Meuse the
French troops have captured sever
al important points. including the
village Of Regneville. On the right
bank the French have occupied
Samogneux and carried system Of
place up with hill 344.
The official report from the war
office. announcing the successes,
says that all German counter attacks
have been repulsed.
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE
AND BELGIUM, Aug. %. - The
fierce battle which began at dawn
Tuesday on the outskirts Of the city
Of Lens continued throughout the
day at close quarters and late Tues
day afternoon there was no diminu-
ton in the intensity of the strug-
gle between the attacking Canadians
and the Germans
The Canadians this morning
fought their way forward with
bombs and bayonets and occupied
important enemy defenses northwest
and southwest of the heart of the
city and since then the Germans
have been sending in wave after
wave Of infantry in desperate coun-
ter attacks.
The Canadians have held strongly
and the Germans nave suffered very
expected from the nature of their
counter thrusts. in which no thought
is given to the cost Of life.
Meet i'm No Mans Land.
The striking feature of the battle
lies in the fact that the Germans
also had massed troops for counter
attack at dawn against the newly
acquired Canadian positions in the
northwest envirOns Of Lens and had
actually started their advance, when
they were surprised by encounter
ing the on-rushing Canadians in no
mans land. Both offensives had be-
gun at the same hour, but a heavy
mist hung over the ground and the
Germans were apparently unaware
Of the Canadian preparations until
the Canadians were upon them with
the bayonet.
Brief but bitter fighting occurred
i'm no mans land. The German Of
ficers tried TO rally their men against
the Canadians. but the enemy in
fantry gradually fell back 10 the
trenches which they had just left.
The Canadians followed and. leaping
on the parapets. hurled masses of
bombs down among great numbers
of troops which had been collected
for the attack. The Germans tried
10 flee through the communication
trenches, but the Canadians jumped
among them with bayonets and
bombs. killing many.
British Guns Help Out.
on the southwest the Canadians
were equally successful after very
heavy fighting in which the British
artillery was brought into play. The
most strenuous fighting late in the
day was proceeding in the center Of
the line west of Lens and no little
front near the left Of the northwest
positions, but the whole line was a
seething caldrOn.
The Canadians have achieved their
immediate objective by drawing their
lines still closer about the heart Of
the city and their goal unless the
German counter attacks succeed. BY
Tuesdays attack the Canadians have
gained possession of many railway
entertainments and colliery sidings
which afford excellent positions for
either offensive or defensive opera
tions.
The Canadian assault extended
from the northwest Of the environs
Of the city 10 positions in the south
west suburbs and as the Germans
were already advancing 10 attack the
new Canadian defenses the fighting
assumed the character of one of the
most sanguinary conflicts which this
battle-scarred theater has seen.
On the northwest the Canadians