New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-07
Canadian Troops
Tighten Moose
Around Lens
German Counter Assaults
on Hollebeke Fail I'm
der Barrage
Teutons Lose 8 Aeros
Artillery Actions of Great In
tensity Develop During
Night
Teutons Lose 8 Aeros

LONDON, Aug. 6.-Infantry fighting,
both on the Flanders front and in Ar
tots, is still confined TO local struggles
for position. Another vigorous Ger
man counter thrust on the Belgian viii
lage of Hollebeke, southeast of Ypres,
was completely smothered last night
under the British barrage, and an as
sault on Westhoek, directly east OF
Ypres, Jared similarly. At Lens the
Canadians drew their moose a little
tighter by registering slight advances
in Cite de Moulin, western suburb OF
the coal centre, and at Avion, a south
ern suburb. Berlin declares that strong
British partial" attacks delivered dur
ing the night and this morning over the
whole six-mile front from the Ypres-
Menin road to the French frontier
were repulsed.
However, the comparative pause over
the whole West front is apparently an
interval Of watchfulness on both sides
for major operations in Flanders. In
dications multiply that these are COM
ing, and soon. The great storm, which
held up the Anglo-French offensive and
kept it entirely within IT'S first phase,
has passed. The atmosphere mas
cleared and the DOGGY lowlands OF the
canal-cut country are rapidly darlnlng'
For the first time yesterday extern
sive aerial activity was possible. Inc
British fliers were busy with 6omping
raids, high angle photography ana
fighting. General Haig reports thas
eight German planes were put. out OF
action, FIVE Of them being compietely
demolished, while enly one british ma
chine was sacrificed. Following me ar
scouting the nocturnal artillery battle
developed an extreme intensity a.
noints where the fiers had noted enemy
denominations or partly concealed de-
fences.
French Line Left Alone
Won Hindenburg is letting the por-
tion of the Flanders line held by the
French severely alone, possibly IN
memory of the vain sacrifices incurred
nractically without compensation Dy
tho Crown Princes army around Ora
onne and the Chemin- des-Dames, pos
sibIv because the English advance,
threatening vital railroad communica-
tions. is the more dangerous. Having
failed in his immediate and violent re-
actions between Langemarck and 81.
JuIjen. northeast of Ypres, the enemy
is concentrating his pressure on the
other side Of the new British saiIent,
to the southeast of Ypres. In this sec,
tor also the British lines have renamed
firm.
Last nights German attempt on Hoi-
! Iebeke was heralded By an all-day bonn
bardment. When the enemy's infantry
finally came over the top" they were
met by a complete curtain Of fire from
the British batteries in the rear and
vicious shower of bullets from machine
guns and rifles. Still they advanced
But before they could reach the defend
ing wire entanglements the survivors
he.itated, broke their formation and
scuttled back to the shelter Of their
own trenches.
Counter Attacks Fail
The assault on Westhoek was practi'
cally the same story. The German
| counter attacks so far have been
notably less successful than during the
| battle of Arras. Observers at the front
say the only reason the enemy was
! able to gain momentary toothold IT
| Hollebeke last Friday morning was be,
cause of O. yelling fog which prevented
/ the British gunners seeing the signals
| sent up from the front and so left the
| Anzac infantry without support.
The only specific success mentioned
/ by Berlin is the recovery of several
machine guns from the twenty-five
! British tanks which the German Wal
Office asserts are lying destroyed be-
fore Prince Rupprecht's positions.
On the eastern end of the Chemin'
des- Danes, north of Verdun, and in AL
SAGE Paris recounts forefield engage
ments in which the Germans were re-
| nulsed