Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-12
FEARFUL LOSSES
INFLICTED ON FOE
BY ALLIED FORCES
Germans Moved Down in At
tacks Against French and
British Positions.
GEN. HAIG HOLDS FIRM
IN FLANDERS BATTLE
Petain's Men Also Turn Back Teu-
tons on Aisne and in Champagne
With Staggering Casualties.

British forces nave heiu III ~
positions to the east of Ipres IN the
face of mighty German attacks. the
French have successfully resisted re-
peated attacks on the Aisne and IN 'he
Champagne region in recent days. all
of which are accepted as truly entente
victories. but possibly the most signln-
cant feature of the battles now raging
over large portions of the western pat
tie front does not lie in whether the
allies hold or gain, but the Shastiy
casualties being suffered by the Ger
man forces. This constant wearing
away of German man-power means
much more to the entente armies than
actual conquering of territory. accord
ing to entente critics
In Fridays and Saturdays attacks
against British and French positions in
Flanders and against the French along
the Aisne and in the Champagne. wave
after wave of German infantry adj
yanced against the enemy They
yeritably were moved down by the
whitening fire of entente guns Both
London and Paris official reports. as
well as correspondents. emphasize the
tremendous casualties sunered os the
enemy.
Battles in Flanders
By the Associated Press.
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND
BELGIUM, August 1.-THE Germans
late yesterday and last night delivered
SIX determined counter attacks against
the important Westhoek ridge position
which the British captured yesterday
but In each case the enemy was hurled
back. The last enemy attempt was
made at 10 o'clock at night and. having
failed in this. the Teutons turned an
intense artillery fire against the LETT
part Of the sector above Westhoek vii,
1age. The bombardment continued
steadily throughout the night
This morning found the British hold
ing all the newly acquired positions
.seFongiy. Tho British occupation OF
this high ground in the early morn
ing Yesterday was followed by a heavy
Oombardment from the German guns,
which lasted hours
Meet Withering Fire.
The enemy launched five lines <of in
1antry in quick succession against the
center of the sector near Westhoek
Village and also counter-attacked on the
left wing above westhoek- As the
assaulting troops swept forward toward
the dominating position held by the
British they were met by withering
machine gun and rife fire. which they
found IL impossible to face and they
were forced to retire The German
losses undoubtedly were severe, but
further attempts TO retake the ridge
are expected
Intense artillery duels were con-
Quoted along various parts of the
British front during the night. In the
coastal sector the Germans bombarded
the British front lines strongly and
gave every indication of an intention
to attack. but no infantry action mate
Tialized.
Officers Remain Behind.
~ the Associated Press.
FRENCH BATTLE FRONT IN
FRANCE, Friday, August 10 {delayed).
Several furious efforts to oust the
French from their observatories on
the Chemin- in the Aisne re-
Gion, were launched by the Germans
1t dawn today (Friday). They all
proved abortive and resulted in the at
hackers suffering enormous losses. espe-
1ially in the vicinity of Pantheon and
Chevregny, where the enemy encoun-
tered the famous chasseurss A note
Gorthy incident was that nearly all the
German officers remained behind, the
troops being led by sergeants and sub
ueutenants.
{ A few German shock units succeeded
IN momentarily obtaining a footing in
b front French trench. but their temer
1ty was extremely costly. for none of
Them got away again. those not killed
being captured
Germans Moved Down.
The assault on this portion OF the
bSsition was of the most violent char
was greater than the determination of
the Germans. who were simply moved
down as wave succeeded wave. The
French artillery worked with astonish-
ing precision in putting a wall of fire
in front of the advancing Germans.
/. Three battalions of the 20lst East
Prussian Regiment bore the brunt of
the attack. They were supported by
artillery preparation last eight hours
Leave Heaps of Bodies.
At AIS am. German infantry. each
company preceded by a specially train
ed shock unit, advanced to assault with
the object of regaining the trench, 15OO
yards in length. which the same divi-
sion had lost July 80. The men had
been told they would not be relieved
until the trench again was in German
hands.
The first rush gave the Germans a
tive partially. but a rapid counter at
tack thrust them back and they lef,
behind them heaps of bodies and sew
enty-three prisoners, without exception
boys of eighteen and nineteen
Berlin Claims Success.
BERLIN. August IL. via London.-The
official statement reads:
Front Of Crown Prince Rupprecbt,
British attacks made yesterday morning
were executed by several divisions on j
Sront Of over eight kilometers in width
Between Frezenberg and HolIebeke the
pnemy pressed forward. but in spite of the
large number of troops employed, no sue
eess was achieved. 1t is true that at the
beginning deep echelons of stormins
troops broke into our line. but through :
fapfd counter attack by reserves the
pnemy was elected near westhoek only
hitter a long and bitter struggle.
'sThe artillery duel increased on the
coastal sectors and from Merckem (north.
eaSt Of Bixsehoote) as far as warnetor
% greater intensity. This morning. a,
dmes the artillery fire also was extreme.
b strong and increased in the coasta
pector. Nocturnal thrusts by the British
near Nfeuport failed. as also did attack.
pm both sides OF the Boesinghe-Lange.
narck railway line.
sNorth OF st. Quentin the French sew.
tral times attacked the trenches capturet
M Erox IN -