Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-07
DETERMINED. BUT FUTILE,
u ATTACKS BI GERMANS
fRY Associated Pre.sl

tBy Associated Press]
BRITISH II K d = u A r T E r S IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, August c.
4 determined. but futile. counterattack
delivered by the Germans against Hol-
lebeke and heavy artillery lombard
monts on both sides represent the main
activity along the battle line in 1Tland-
ers during the last twenty-four hours.
but the cessation of the rain and the
temperance of the sun. which rapidly
is drying out the water-soaked roads
in the lighting area. is the most i'm
portant event Further attempts by
the Germans 10 regain at least part
OF the ground they lost in Tuesdays
onslaught are looked for at various
points along the wide front affected.
In addition TO the assault on HOLE
beke. the Germans also delivered
< .counterattack against section OF the
left wing OF the British army above
Xpres during the night. after heavy
artillery preparation. but here also
they were thrown back.
The clearing of the weather TO a
point where infantry lighting on a
much larger scale is possible. finds the
british firmly intrenched throughout:
the entire length of the advanced po-
-stions wrested from the Germans.
SECOND DAYS BATTLE
.-t MADE DIFFICULT By RAIN
81 The accounts of men engaged in the
Capture of HODGE indicate that the sec.
,pnd days battle in this section was
.Hnade extremely severe and doubly try
,ans by the heavy rain that began th.
Hight before. Hooge itself was occu-
iHied with little trouble soon after the
tattack began because the place HAD
Poem SO knocked 10 pieces by the Brit.
!ash guns as to make it untenabic. The
rRritish attack began astride the Men-
IN Road, and the advancing TROOPS had
to make their way around Bellewaard.
lake. just north of Hoogc, in order 10
SSeach the strong line OF German de-
iferses along the Rellewaarde ridge
(which dominated this section This
,ftise was taken in hand-to- hand nght-
ing one hour after the offensive began
iiahe British inflicted severe casual,!,
land captured Il number OF prisoners.
;N.From here the British pushed Oh
Into the swaHlpy ground between the
tSeilewaarde ridge and the wes,hock
.<iage, still further east and along
(which runs the F-ezenburg Road
tHhese latter positions were captured
'tHithout much fighting, and the British
began 10 consolidate themselves along
tshis line. No communicating OF i'm
,portance occurred on Tuesday That
might tina rain fell in torrents. and
morning the troops were
!. Wallowing In two feet OF water and
!: mud, and in some cases were in water
, waist high
I ATTACKING REFUSED
By MACHINE-GUN FIRE
! Under these trying conditions for the
. defenders, the Germans coun,erattacked
; with large body OF troops. but the
( British poured heavy rachiae-gun
FIRE into the advancing lines and re-
|. pulsed the attack. The Germans then
! turned heavy gunflre on the Westhoek
= position. and after i fierce prel!n,!-
:, nary bombard2!ent. again coun,erat.
{ tackled. but were unable 70 stand up
( under the heavy machine gun fire from
J. the British positions.
. There Was one space OF nifty yards in
: this section Of the British line. which al
= one time contained virtually no troops.
= and the Germans, seeing this. made a
!; hurried advance to occupy IT. One Brit
ism Tommy. with machine gun, stood
:. OF the entire attacking force md com.
= PEELED n. to retire. Since Wednesday
. the Germans. have made no further at
( tempt TO regain this ground