Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-28
BRITISH HOLDING
TO NEW POSITIONS
Fierce German Thrusts Ineffec-
tually Launched in Efforts to
Regain Lost Ground.
THEY SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES
Village of Zonnebeke Probably
Most Important of All Van
tage Points Won.

With all the obtectives for which
Field Marshal Haig started his men
carly Wednesday, morning in new
offensive near Ypres securely in their
hands. the English. Scotch and Aus
tralian units now are tenaciously hold
ing them. Notwithstanding fierce Ger
man thrusts that time and again have
Intellectually been launched in efforts
to regain the lost ground.
AS had been expected by reason of
the contour of the territory over which
the battle was waged. the fighting
throughout has been of most violent
character Near the Polygon Wood.
where the Australians are facing the
foe. north and northeast of st. Julien
and northwest of Zonnebeke the en-
counters have been of a sangunary
character. the Germans losing heavily
in their countcrattacks
Of all the point of vantage sought
for and gained by Field Marshal Haig,
the village of Zonnebeke probably
was the most important. for six miles
further on lies tho Ostend-Lill rail-
way. the cutting of which by the
British would seriously interfere with
operations between Germany's naval
bases ut Ostend and Zeebrugge and the
southern part of their line.
GERMANS RECAPTURE
GROUND AT TWO POINTS
Only at two points during the fight
inG were the Germans able to recap
ture lost ground. This was east of
st. Julien. where two redoubts again
fell into the hands of the enemy. One
of these had to be relinquished by
the British. and still remains in Ger
man hands. but from the other the
Germans were scattered pell-mell by
a fresh British onslaught
Thursday was spent by the captors
of tho new positions in constructing
them preparatory to starting another
vigorous offensive.
me German crown prince along the
Aisne front and in the Verdun sector
mas made several attempts to break
the front of General Petain. but as on
former occasions, the attacks all were
repulsed with heavy casualties.
or the greater portion Of the limo
! held by the French artillery duels are
In progress.
On the front In Northern Russia
and in Roumania, the activity of tba
Germans and anet-o- Hr--"rlans has
almost ceased. except for small out
posts opera tions and here and there
tions. The Germans, however. apHa--
emily are reoonnoitcring in the Baltic
Sea, preparing for attacks against the
Russian fleet. Their naval airplanes
also are taking part In this work, but
arc flying high and keeping out of
the range of the Russian antiaircraft
and.coast batteries.
no RESUMPTION ny CADoRNA
OF INTENSIVE OFFENSIVE
There has been no resumption by
General Cadorna of his intensive offen-
sive against the Austrians along the
Asonzo front, where only minor en-
Gagements have taken place On the
Carso Plateau the Austrians have be-
gun again violent bombardment of
Italian positions. but the Italians are
effectively countering. Large quanti-
ties of explosives daily are dropped by
the Italians on Austrian positions be-
hind the fighting front
In Belgium the British and the
French airmen also arc keeping up
their raids against German naval bases.
cantonments and other important OBJ
jectives. and are scoring hits which
give visible indications of great dam
age.