The Washington times., 1917-07-16
POILUS MAKE BIG
GAIN OVER ENEMY:
HOLD ADVANTAGE

LONDON, July 16-with some
what of q slackening OF the Russian
offensive in GalIcia owing to bad
weather, the French and the Ger
mans along the Chemin des Danes
and In Champagne have come to-
gether In mighty struggles, in which
the advantage rests mainly with the
forces OF General Petain.
In Champagne to the north OF
Mont Haut and northeast OF the Te-
ton the French in a violent attack
captured powerfully organized Ger
man trench elements on a front more
than 500 yards and to a depth of
more than 800 yards and held and
consolidated the positions despite
heavy counter attacks, in which the
Germans suffered heavy casualties
and lost in addition 800 men made
prisoners.
German GaIns Small.
Along the Chemin des Danes the
Germans west of Cerny Saturday
night,( after heavy artillery prepara-
tion, threw heavy forces against the
French line. The battle waged back
and forth throughout the night, but,
although the Germans broke through
the French line at several points. day.
light saw them completely evicted, ex-
cept from front-line trenches about
500 yards in length.
Although rain and swollen streams
are initiating against the fast prose-
cution OF the Russian offensive In
Galicia, the troops OF General Brus-
siloff nevertheless have driven the
Austrians from positions southwest OF
Kalusz and taken about / 900 prison
ers and many guns.
Apparently the Austro-German lines
are stifening as the result OF the ar
rival OF re-enforcements, for Petro-
grad records the repulse of attacks
along the Dobrovdiany-Novica front
and says that the enemy has gone on
the offensive along the Lomnica river
near Perchinsko and Is stubbornly re-
slsting the Russians on the SlivkiIasen
sector.
U-BOat Bases Aimed AZ.
In the Champagne the French de-
livered q strong thrust between
Nauroy and Moronvilliers, winning.
after bitter fighting, a network Of
trenches 800 yards wide and 300 deep,
which was consolidated today after
nObNllC ICdIAlOnH nAo DGtn suppressed.
Paris reports 800 prisoners; Berlin,
$50.
Meanwhile, along General Haig's
front, the artillery fire. has reached
a pitch OF unusual Intensity. Berlin
describes a gun duel OF great vio-
lence" on the sand dunes OF the Bel
gian coast and In the Ypres sector,
from Boesinghe. above the Flemish
city, to Wytschaete, below IL. That
! the British intend to strike in force,
probably in both sectors. is apparent.
Ten days of constant developing bonn
bardment preceded the assault on the
MessInes- -Wytschaete ridge.
The Channel coast obJectives are
Ostend and the other Berlgian ports
which have been used for submarine
bases. The objectiVes beyond Ypres
are the important towns OF Roulers,
to the northeast, and Menin, to the
southeast. British patrols were active
and won small successes southeast OF
Havrincourt, near Bullecourt and
Gavrelle and south OF Amentieres,
while a German raid was dispersed
north OF the latter town.
Use Selected Troops.
The troops selected by the Crown
Prince for the attack along the Chem
in-des-Dames were carefully chosen.
The infantry regiment OF Field Mar
shall Won HindenburE and other East
PrussIan units. as well as the Seventh
Storming Battalion, were employed.
Flame throwers were literally
sprinkled through the assaulting con-
tingents and intense use was made
OF liquid fre. The lighting, according
to Paris. was violent throughout the
night. and advances and retirements
followed in quick succession.
At first the Germans swept clear
over the forward trenches and man
aged TO force their way into the sup
port galleries, but finally they were
beaten back from most OF the con-
queTed territory. Berlin mentions
desperate resistance" by the poilus.