The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-08-16
CAPTURE FIRST
LINE TRENCHES
BRITISH CONTINUE TO CLOSE IN
ON THE COAL CITY or LENS.
FRENCH TROOPS ALSO GAIN
Continue Their Advance West Of Dix.
nude in 5elaium--Road Between
Hurtebise and craonne River is
6ombarded by Germans.

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| London, Aug. Capturing of the
first line German trenches on the
Aisne front near Lens and continuing
to close in on the metropolitan coal
city by the British was announced to-
day by Field Marshal Haig in his of.
fetal report from the British front.
A great assault to the northwest Of
Boise and Huge and to the northeast
OF Loos on the British by the Ger
mans was reported this morning as
Field Marshal Haig was filing his re-
port. But later all OF the attacks
were repulsed
French troops continued to make
gains and progress rapidly, Haig also
reported
The Germans continued gun fire
actively along the entire front. At
the same time the British and French
troops resumed their attacks on the
German lines along the front.
The British troops made large
gains to the northwest of Bixeschote
while the French continued to make
their gains and advances west of Dix.
nude.
East of Cite and st. Emiline a
strong attack was made against the
British by the enemy which was COM
pletely repulsed later.
Canadian Troops Advance.
By William Philips Simms, United
Press Correspondent, with the British
Armies in the Field, Aug. 15.--Posi-
lions over thousand yard front and
to depth of many mines were storm.
ed and captured by the Canadian
troops here today in great advance
and struggle against the German de-
tenders around the city of Lens.
Hill Number 10 was captured in the
first rush of the Canadian forces this
morning.
In addition to this position Ras-
wood, Cite st. Laureta, Cite St. EN-
lie, Cite st. Elizabeth and a portion
of the Hugo woods we're taken by
the Canadian forces in their great adj
vance
A number of other important min.
ing centers and positions were taken
around Lens.
1t was during great dawn of the
morning prettier than that Of paint
er that Haig struck his great blow
against the German lines.
This brings the British troops close
to the great city which the Germans
are trying their best to hold,
Everywhere the Canadian troops
struck blow as they succeeded in
gaining some ground.
The detectives which the Canadian
troops captured were taken in the first
rush and then it gave them time to
complete the work of consolidating
their positions.
Several hundred prisoners had
been taken at an early hour this
morning and they continued to be
pouring back of the fighting zone.
The attack today revealed the Brit
ish gains which will likely come upon
the city of Lens in typical struggle
late this evening. There was the
usual hush before the battle.
After night of artillery engage
ments the sun arose over a hill which
was stained with blood and in which
the bullets were flying in every d.
rection. The German shells were
faring in the blazing sun over the
signaling of their front, line trenches.
The British barrage was underway.
The German shells and their sos
signaling began roaring and a riot
of firing took place. But from the
very first the British lad been sue
cessful in all of their undertakings.
Their bombing, bayoneting and other
works were complete and they were
fast driving toward Lens.
French Continue to Advance.
Paris, Aug. 15.-The French troops
continued their advance west of Dix
nude in Belgium, the Paris war off,
cial statement today asserted.
The road between the Hurtebise
sector and the Craonne sector was
heavily bombarded by the Germans,
the statement announced. On the
vancleruc plateau all of the enemy
attacks were repulsed.
Artillery fighting was active on both
banks of the Meuse river during the
! night. On the left bank of the Meuse
to the west of the Hill 304 the French
made desperate raids on the Germans.