The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-01
British, French and Italians
Crush Teuton Legions at
the Same Time.
.FIERCEsT FIGHTING OF, WAR
Russia's Military, Economic and Po-
liticai Troubles Are Disturbing
Pope's Peace Proposals Discussed
President Wilson Regulates
the Prices of Coal
in America.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

Civilians far from the seat of war
wondered why the allies did not deliver
their smashing blows at the kaiser at
the same time, giving him no oppor-
tunity to shift his troops from one
front to another, instead of taking
turns in hitting him. That is just what
they did last week, for British, French
and Italians all began offensives that
developed into the most furious bat
ties of the war so far. The Anglo
French forces near the Belgian coast
vigorously renewed the attacks begun
the previous week and pushed forward.
The British hurled themselves against
the defenses of Lens and forced their
way further into the outskirts of that
coal center, repulsing all counter-at-
tacks. General Petain's men attacked
along the Chemin des Danes, and then
delivered a series of smashes at the
Germans in the Verdun sector, taking
the twin SUBMITS of Dead Mans hill
and other strong positions that the
crown prince had held for year and
more. In Alsace there was lively fight
| ing. At the same time the Italians
were carrying on monster offensive
against the Austrians along the entire
Julian, Isonzo and Carso fronts, from
PLAYA to the sea. The Austrian defen-
ses were leveled by terrific artillery
fire, new crossings Of the Isonzo were
faroad and Co1rnno,c trnanc o1yopan6
considerably on their way to Trieste
despite the difficulties of the terrain.
Wednesday the British again at
tackled tiercely in the Ypres region and
after a bloody combat succeeded in
taking important positions along the
Ypres-Menin road. little further
north, in the blood-soaked Langemarck-
Frezenberg sector, they hit the enemy
hard in an effort to take the ridge,
known as Hill 35, where the Irish made
gallant but losing fight the week be-
fore.
Germans Resist Stouty.
The Germans have massed immense
numbers Of troops at the points of at
tack and are resisting desperately and
making almost continuous counter-at-
tacks, but up to the time of writing
they had been unable to regain any OF
the lost ground.
All the allied armies took great num-
befs of prisoners and guns and inflict-
ed terrible losses on their hard-fight-
ing opponents, and they themselves
lost many men, for the attacks were
delivered with rather less than the
usual regard for life. In Flanders and
France the tanks played large part,
and on all fronts the aviators were ex.
traordlnarily active and bold. The Itai.
ians introduced one novelty. When
their assaulting troops moved forward
they were preceded by a squadron of
airplanes forming the first line and
using their machine guns on the Aus
trfans at short range
General Pershing and other Ameri-
can officers were present at the new
battle of Verdun.
Disturbing News From Russia.
The weeks news from Russia was
rather disquieting. Petrograd present
ed to America and the entente allies a
statement indicating that Russia would
be unable to continue in the war UNI
less immediate, adequate and continu-
ing assistance were given. She has no
intention of making separate peace,
but says she cannot keep up the fight
unless her associates furnish her at
once with materials ID provisions.
The Russians fear ii. ill be driven