Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-24
SMASHES THROUGH
ENEMY POSITIONS
ON S|X-M|LE FRONT
Advances to Depth of More
Than Two Miles in s
scissors Sector.
TAKES $500 PRISONERS
AND rs FIELD GUNS
Best Troops of Crown Prince
Unable to Stay Mighty
Onrush.
CHAvIGNoN Is CAPTURED
Most Important Gains Of Terrain
Since Germans Were Thrown
Back at Verdun.
Is RED
TBy Associated Pressl


While the allied troops were busily
engaged In consolidating positions won
on Monday in Flanders. the French
forces OF General Petain struck a
mighty and unexpected blow against
tho German line northeast Of Scissors
on Tuesday morning and made some
OF the most important gains of terrain
since they threw back the army OF the
German Crown Prince which was be-
sieEing Verdun.
The stroke was made over a front
of about six miles. from the east OF
Vauxaillon to ParCny-Filain. Under
rainy and generally unfavorable
weather conditions. the French pushed
forward all along the line, aided by
audacious aviators who flew over the
German positions Mt an altitude Of
about $50 feet. using their machine
guns, and penetrated tho German line
at one point to depth of two and
nth miles.
Numerous important positions fell,
one by one. into the hands Of General
Petain's men, and In addition more
than $500 Germans an enormous
amount OF war material and twenty
five heavy and field guns were cap
turcd.
EFFORTS OF GROWN PRINCES
BEST TROOPS UNAVAILING
The greatest depth OF the drive was
In the center OF the line, where the
village of Chavisnon was captured
after violent struggle which resulted
in the enemy fleeing pell-mell. Some
OF the best troops In the army Of tho
German Crown Prince were engaged in
endeavoring to hold back the on
slaugh,. but their efforts were un.
awaiting under tho enthusiasm Of the
French to win positions which would
place them more advantageousIy to
press on later toward Laon
For about week the French artfl.
lery had been hurting tons of steel
into the German line in front of them
In preparation for the drive, and when
It was started sad havoc already had
been wrought by the guns In addi-
ton to the prisoners taken by the
French, the Germans also suffered
heavy casualties. >.
In Flanders both the British and
French troops are holding all the gains
made In Mondays drive northeast OF
Ipres. except at one place on the
southern fringe of the Houtholst
forest. where tho Germans, in a fu-
iouS CouHteTattack. forced q slight
tirement by the British.
The latest advices concerning tho
naval activity In the Gulf Of Riga be-
tween the Germans and the Russians
show that although the Russians lost
the battleship Slava and a large tor
pedo- boat destroyer. the Germans were
the heaviest losers. Two of their
Dreadnoushts. one cruiser. twelve tor
boats. one transport and nu-
mcrous mine sweepers were put out
OF action by the Russian fleet While
the exact fate Of these vessels has not
been ascertained by the Petrograd gov {.
eminent, It Is announced that at fleast
six OF the German destroyers wera
sunk. ~ !
RUSSIANS REFUSE
ATTEMPTS TO LAND
further German attempts to land
forces on the Esthonia coast, to the
north OF Werder. have been repulssd
by Russian detachments ,as
On the other fronts no important en-.
Eagements are In progress. except in
the nature Of bombardments. On the
Julian front. OF the Austro-Italian
theater. the artillery activity again has
become intense. An Austrian ATTACK
with infantry in the Galore region was
repulsed by the Italians with heavy
losses