New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-20
Intense Drunhre
Is Unchecked on
British Front
Germans Order Evacuation
of Newport, as Attack
Is Expected
French Suffer Loss
Driven Back In Savage Battle
Near Meuse, Berlin
Declares

LONDON, Sept 1s.-For the second
,iro in four days Berlin reports TO-
night that the British artillery IRE
on the Flanders front has reached the
pitch Of drumfre. Significance at
taches TO this statement chiefly be-
cause il is moro indicative of coming
great offensive than any other single
feature Of hght,ng activity. Before
their powerful drive against Messlnes
Ridge the Sritish gunners opened up
a raking drumfre against the obJee-
tivcs at intermittent stages during
period Of nearly three weeks ono
dsv the artillery fire would reach the
highest pitch of intensity, and then
for two or three days afterward would
come a marked lull in the duel Of the
giant guns.
Berlin Admits Destruction
The destruetiyeness OF the British hre
is frankly admitted by the German War
Office, which speaks Of most violent
waves OF FIRE directed against our de-
fensive zone" At the same time the
German counter fire is declared 70 have
"visibly affected the work of :he op-
posing gunners. The main artillery &C
tions centred along the front between
Houtholst Wood and the Lys, probably
the scene Of the next British drive,
aiming at the capture Of Zonnebeke and
the dominating ridge running north
from that point to the outskirts OF
Roulers. That the German command
oxpects drive at this point, as we'll as
in the coastal region near Newport has
been emphasized by the removal OF the
civilian populations. go.
Although weather conditions continue
unfavorable, the British slrmen con-
Quoted important operations to-day over
the enemy's lines, losing two macnlhes
and accounting for one German plane.
Berlin states that sixteen Allied aero
planes were brought down in the conrS1
of the days fighting
Foe Lines Penetrated
On the French front fighting was
marked by an attack by Petain's troops
on a two-mile stretch of territory on
the east bank Of the Meuse, which Der
lin declares broke down, with exceed
insly heavy losses to the French. After
short and powerful preparation french
storming waves broke forward west OF
the beaumont Vacherauville road and
assailed the enemy's positions. Inc
first body Of attackers, striking against
tho full blast Of the defenders barrage,
fell back with broken ranks. They were
quickly followed by other masses OF
"deeply serried reserves" as Berlin de-
scribes them. These forces succeeded
in penetrating the German lines, where
a furious hsnd-to-hand struggle devel-
oped. Outnumbered and outfought, the
French finally gave up the attempt ana
retreated. The retiring masses were
raked with fire from the German ma
chine guns and cannon, and suffered
heavily in dead and wounded, accord
ing to the German report.
Local assaults of the Germans east
of Craonne, west Of Froidmont Farm
and northwest of Sancy, were repealed
. by the French, who, in their turn
. carried out successful raiding opera
tions and surprise attacks in the re
gion of Four de Paris, northwest OF
Rheims and in the Woevre, taking 9
number Of prisoners and Inflctine
casualties on the enemy.
Berlin asserts that in the Allied
I bombing raids on southern German
. cities last Sunday three Allied ma
!. chimes were destroyed. The damage
is declared 20 have been small.