Evening star., 1917-09-20
HA|G STRIKES FOE
0NFLANDERS LINE,
SCORING SUCCESS
In Face of Streams of Bullets
From Concrete Redoubts
British Sweep On.
TREMENDOUS BATTLE
NOW is IN PROGRESS
New Offensive Starts to East of
Ypres-Driving of Germans From
Belgian Coast Possible Objective.

Belgian Coast Possible Objective.
Early this morning the British in
fantry event over the top on wide
front east of Ypres. and the Flanders
offensive was on again.
The rush evidently was successful at
the outset, for the capture of positions
of value was reported by Field Marshal
Sir Douglas Haig during the forenoon,
and the progress made was described as
satisfactory.
Civilian Population Moved.
This would indicate that the main
force of the drive was directed toward
Eoulers and Courtrai with the probable
object of driving a wedge farther into
the German Flanders front and even
tuslly compelling a German abandon
ment of the Belgian coast with its val
liable submarine and aerial bases. The
civilian population is recently reported
TO have been removed from towns in
the German rear along a wide stretch
of this front including two cities
named. The Flanders operations were
opened this year with the blowing up
of the Messines ridge on June and the
capture of the Wytschaete salient by
the British, and was continued with the
opening of the present great offensive
by a combined attack of British and
French troops on July 81. Progress
a notable scale continued to be made
during a considerable~pa of August.
but in the latter part of that month
I'D rirer Cnpsa hsy y,,fS
infantry fighting has largely been con-
fined to local drives and extensive
trench raids.
The renewal of the offensive came
after long pause in which intensive
preparatory work had been carried on
increasingly. The fighting in this Pc
riod. indeed, was such as to pile up
heavy casualty lists on both sides.
while the crushing drumfire from the
British guns has been admitted by the
Germans to have had a destructive ef-
feet upon their positions.
Early reports did not outline def
nitely the extent of the front attacked
but clue seems to have been furnished
by Berlin. which yesterday reported the
drumfire to be pounding the line from
iouIholst wood. some five miles south
of Dixmude. to the FLYER Lys, distance
of about fifteen miles.
From the French front today only ar
tillery activity is reported The state
rnent covered only last nights opera
tions. and the early reports today did
not indicate whether the French in
Flanders had Joined in the renewed
drive there.
British Announcement
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 2o.-The British
official statement announcing that Field
Marshal Haig had taken the offensive
this morning. says:
We attacked at $40 this morning on
wide front east of Ypres. Satisfac-
tory progress is reported. Our troops
already have captured some valuable
positions"
Scores Marked Success.
BY the Associated Press
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, September
which was begun at dawn this morn
ing or the Belgian battle front is pro-
ceeding with marked success, especially
in the crucial sector between the Ypres-
Roulers railway and Hollebeke
A bitter fight is in progress in the
reighborhood of Inverness copSe. Nuns
wood and Glencorse wood. If the at
tacks maintain the positions to which
they have advanced in this section they
have accomplished one of the most re-
nlarkab Bile and most important achieve
r1ent in recent months.
Today's offensive will be known as
the battle of the Menin road. Fair
wealth. had improved the ground but
the rcud still wao deep and the whole
territory covered with waterfilIed shell
holes, tangled barbed wire and shat
tered trees. The German defenses were
compos = largely OF concrete redoubts
Germans Fight Stubbornly.
Tho Germany infantry Is making a
most determined resistance to retain
this vital ground and the Teuton ar
is fat t-o-
the British big guns
The Germans poured a wicked strea m
or bullets into the ranks of the ad
Eancing troops from concrete redoubts.
Every little elevation and all the woods
were choked with rapid-fre guns
The British encountered hard fight
ing at many places. but their rnagnifi-
cent artillery work had done much to
make the first stage of their drive
easier
Sharp Actions Near Lens.
By the Canadian Press Limited
CANADIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. September 20.-Sharp outpost
actions occurred west of Lens yester-
day and today in which the enemy
were the agereSSors. The objective of
today's skirmish was d house in the
western part of Lens. occupied by us
as an outpost. Last night a strong
party of Germans attacked the house,
bul were Oh. Iney returned to
the attack in stronger force and cap
tured the house The Canadians who
had held 1t at once organized a coun-
ter attack. driving out the Germans.
Artillery activity has been greater
today, aided by brilliant sunshine, than
for several days. The tendency of the
enemy already noted to devote more
attention to shelling our back areas
with long-range, high-velocity guns in :
crease. as does his use of gas shells
in sections where on-combatants live
The object, apparently. is to terrorize
mineworkers and their families aud
make more dificult the work of raising
coal.
Answers Gun With Gun.
In company with a Canadian artillery
officer who took part IN the battle of
ST. Julien, In April. 1915 the cor
respondent visited the scene OF that
splendid victory. when the Canadians
saved the situation and carried the
road to Calais. Standing on the bank
of the User canal and looking north
easterly up the slope of Pilkem ridge.
there is little change In the Landscape.
The ruins of farmhouses in the fore
ground set on fire during the battle OF
st. Julian, have been smashed into
heaps Of rubbish: but the shelter
trenches On the upward saeDe- &rea- tha