Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-10-24
HUNS HARD HIT
 BY THE DARING
 FRENCH A|RMEN Most Important Gain of Terrain Since the Ver
 dun Victory. THE RUSSIANS WIN IN BIG SEA FIGHT Two Hundred Drednaughts and Many Smaller Graft Destroyed in Gulf of Riga Combat-England Loses
 Merchant Cruise.

engaged in consolidating positions won Monday in Flanders the French forces of General Petain struck mighty and unexpected blow against the German line nor theast of Sois- sons 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 beseiging Verduh.
 Airmen Give Aid.
 The stroke was made over d, front of about miles from east of Vai,x- saillon to Jergny-filiam under rai1fx and generally unfavorable weather condition. The French pushed for ward along the line aided by auda- cious aviators, who flew over the German positions at an altitude, of about 150 feet using their machine guns and penetrating the German lima at one point to depth of 1-5 miles. Numerous important positions fell, one by one, into the hands of General than 7,500 Germans and enormous amount of war materials and heavy field guns were captured.
 Enemy El0eB HI UlSOrueFs
 The greatest depth of the drive was in the center of the line, where the village of Chavignon was captured af- ter violent struggle, which resulted in the enemy fleeing pell nell. Some of the best troops in the army of the German crown prince were engaged in endeavoring to hold back the on- slaught but their efforts were 'unavail- ing under the enthusiasm of tho French to win positions which would place them more advantageOusly to press on later toward LaOn.
 For abou ta week, the French ar. tillery nas been hurling 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 addition to the prisoners taken by the French, the Germans also suf- fered heavy casualties in Flanders. Both the British and French troops are holding all their gains made in Mondays drive northeast of Ypres, except at one place on the southern fringe of Houtholst wood where the Germans in fierce attack f0rced q slight retirement by the British.
 German Sea Loss Heavy.
 The last advices concerning the ra- val activity in the Gulf of Riga be. tween the Germans and Russians show that although tie Russians lQst the battleship Slava and a large .ot- pedo boat destroyer. the Germans were the heaviest losers, two of their dreadnaughts, one cruiser, 12 torps1o boats, one torpedo boat destroyer and numerous mine sweepers were put out of action by the Russian fleet. While the exact fate of the vessels has not been ascertained by the PetrOt grad government 1t is announced tLat at least six of the Gel man destroy era were sunk.
 Further German attempts to land forces on the Esthonia coast to the north of Werder, have been repulsed by the Russians.
 U-BOat Sinks Cruiser On the other fronts no important engagements are in progress except in the nature of bombardmeEts. The British merchant cruiser O.aGa. a vessel of 12,927 tons, las bee sunk by a submarine, and British de, stroyer has been lost in collision. There was no loss of life on the Drama. but only two officers and n men are reported to have been saved from the destroyer.