Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-21
BRITISH BLOCK ATTACK.

London, Aug. 20.-A German coun ,
ter attack on the positions captured
nv the British yesterday morning
southeast of Epehy was completely re-
nnlsed after sharp fighting, according
10 an official statement today. sue
cassful raid was carried out last nlgnt
south Of Lens. On the Ypres battle
front the British lire has been az al
yanced slightly southeast OF St
aELGIANs SILENCE FOES GUNS
Paris. Aug. 2O.-The Belgian oniciai
communion as issued through the
French war office last night follows: /,
.'Friday night our patrols combatea
ADVANCE elements on the left banK OIL
the User and Saint Jacques CapeIle.
Yesterday and today the arnllery
executed destructive fire on the enemy
batteries and neutralized seVerai
others. ,+
"The aviation service showed great
activity last week despite the con
tinual barrage Of the enemy, operating
In dense formations. We executed
numerous missions above the enemy
lines. On August 16 Sub-Lleutenant
Thieffey brought down his seventh
German machine
Heavy artillery fighting is in pro-
sress in Belgium. The following VI
fetal statement was issued:
"In Champagne our batteries ell
fectively bombarded German delenses.
We made several raids and orough'
back prisoners from the enemy hhes
"eRAvERY BEYOND PRAISE,
.'On both banks of the Meuse TINS
morning our troops attacked the Ter
man nositions with magnificent spirit
According to early information the
new hattie of Verdun is developing 10
our advantage on front of eighteen
kilometres from Avocourt Wood 10 the
region north of Bezenvaux. Numerous
prisoners are being taken to the rear.
The bravery of our troops is beyond
all praise. ;,,o o
easilv repulsed an enemy attack. There
was rather spirited artlllery hsh'ihe
in upper Alsace."
ITALIANS RoUT AUSTRiANs.
Rome. Aug. Accommodating on the
new Italian advance the press says
that it. like the British attack IN flan-
ders, will be of service If it demon.
strates how the people and armies OF
the allied countries feel toward the
premature peace proposals OF rope
Benedict. 1t is said Austria appar-
emily realizes the gravity of the STU
alton. as announcement is made that
Emperor Charles is soon to visit the
Austro-Italian front, presumably TO en-
courage his troops.
THE official Austrian statement OF
yesterday said the Italians had begun
An offensive on a 81 mile front from the
region of Tolmino to point near the
Adriatic. The struggle was said TO be
rapinr with the greatest bitterness
Yesterdays italian official statement
did not mention the offensive.1
The statements follow:
"A battle is proceeding on the Julien
Alps front. Yesterday morning, after
a bombardment of twenty-four hours
during which our artillery shelled the
enemy positions with ever-increaslng
intensity, masses of our infantry COM
menced the advance toward their OBJ
1ectives. To the north of Anhovo, 71s
miles north of Gorilla. after having
brilliantly overcome technical difficult
ties and the resistance Of the enemy,
numerous pontoons were thrown
across the Isonzo and our troops pass |
ed over to the left bank of the river. !
From PLAYA to the sea, after hav-
ing crossed the first line of the enemy
which had been destroyed completely, !
our troops brought pressure to bear {
upon him. Resisting strongly and be-
ing supported by considerable artil- :,
lery and a large number of machine J
guns the enemy offered desperate re-
distance"