The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-11
Follow-Up After Flanders
Fight Strengthens Ground
Already Taken.
NO TIME Is WASTED
AFTER SKIES CLEAR
Fair Weather Sees Whole
Battle Front a Seething
Mass of Activity.

British Front in France aud Bel
gium. Aug. 10, Hy the Associated
Press. The British today added an
other britt but important sequel to tho
battle of last week, when they carried
by assault German forward positions
along the front between F'rezenburs
aud til" ipres Menin road and thereby
obtained strong lcfenscs, Which had
remained III the cncmy's possession on
the WcSthpCi> ridge after tho battle
of July It. At the same time, their
French allies on the left advanced to
Il considerable depth east and north ol
BiXsChootc
French Push Forward.
Near the junction OF the French and
British armies, the former pushed their
lines across the Stccnhcck river ana
n little north OF this point occupied on
The west bank of tho stream several
farms that the Germans had been
forced to cvacuutc under pressure Of
artillery fire and the gradual tighten
ing of the French lines. Among the
booty captured by tho French We're
five guns,
Tho forcing of the Germans from the
Wcsthock ridge adds a strong link to
the new line OF British dcfcnscs. The
possession Of this ridge has been bit
terly contested because it dominates
the surrounding country.
In the general attack July 81, the
British occupied the ma ior part Of the
Westhoek ridge and 4 large part ot the
village of Wcsthocl, and they main
tanned their position in the face of
fierce artillery fire and several heavy
counter attacks. lfntil today the Brit
iSh have rested on the laurols won in
that first attack. having achieved yir-
tualiN all the ohiccttvcs that they
sought along the wide front involved.
The Wosthoek ridge was found To be
more or less of u thorn in their side.
During the last few days, compare
tiScly fair weather has done wonders
In drying the ground and the British
appear to have struck ut the earliest
poSslh" moment to strengthen their
positions here, The usual German
counter attacks had not materiali1rd
at latest reports. but 30 one doubted
IN the British lines that the enemy
would make II strong attempt to re-
trioye themselves here.
The return of fine weather finds the
whole battle front seething with ac-
ton. Tho Germans now are using big
naval guns to search ont vulnerable
areas far back of the British lines
Towns that arc outside the range of
ordinary cannon, have been undergo
ing u fire of hate. Fortunately the
civil populations have not suffered
much and the material damage to the
inoflensivt towns has not been great.
Under Heavy German Fire.
Tho Canadians. in their trenches at
tho doorstep OF Lens and the British
forces holding trenches south of NimN
Ridge are coming In for intensive
Smelling from the Germans. on the
long neglected front near st. Quentin,
the Germans have delivered Il surprise
attack of considerable proportions. but
were unsuccessful except at some weak
points in the center of the French line.
The Germans suffered heavy casual
ties in these attacks.
Likewise along the Aisne front tn"
Germans have delivered onslaughts
against the French but here also they
met with defeat. At several points the
Germans managed to make their way
into isolated trenches, but they met
death later in hand to- hand fighting
or were captured.
Still Pressing Russians.
Aside from the front in France lti
II" fighting of moment is taking place
except in calicia, Eukowtna and south
rrn MoldaNa. In all these sectors the
Germans and Austro- Hiungarians are
declaX"d by Berlin 10 be continuing
their gains. Southeast of cZcrnowitH
the Germans have penetrated the Rus
sian frontier positions and the farther
south with their allies they have taken
height positions between the Trotus
and Futnn valleys and in southern
MnldasiH. in the region of f'okshani
hay" thrown their ferces across tho
Surhitza river on u wide front.
To Corvoke Great Congress.
l'rtroErad, Aug. i0.--The executives
of ihn MnrlAnrS' and snldinrs' and nnn