Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-31

The launching of the drive was SEEM
ingly a surprise to the Germans VINO
only yesterday were boasting that the
Intensity of their reply to the British
bombardment had caused the British
punners to lessen the violence OIL tnelr
fire. 1t comes moreover. after the faii-
ure of the tremendous efforts the Ger
man crown prince has been puttins
forth to break the French front IN tne
Aisne region. The brencn reserve ,oie
evidently is great enough not only to
withstand such a powerful hammerlne
successfully, but to allow OF Go-opera-
tion with the British in stroke al an
other portion of the line.
In addition, Gen. Petain last nlght
made a successful attack on his own
account on the Aisne front, carrying
German positions 1,5OO yards Wloe on
the Chemin-des-Dames at La hoyere
and west of Epine de Chevregny. break
ing a German counter attack and cap
turing more than 100 prisoners.
Reach German Second Line.
BY the Associated Press.
british FRONT IN FRANCE. July
31.-The entente allied forces, Which
launched their offensive this morning
nave advanced well beyond the shell
shattered front line German trenches
In many places they have reached the
secoud-Iine defenses on a twenty mile
front of attack, according to the early
reports. ~, ~
into battle under cover of what per-
han was the greatest barrage hre ever
seen during the war.
The entente artillery is moving forward
and the whole situation Is Satisfactory
in every particular.
Retween Dixmude and Boesinghe the
attackers reported they had secured
! the first two lines of trencnes a1ter
having fought over the most d1fhcult
terrain imaginable.
Capture La Brassee Vile.
The British again have captured La
Rassee Vile. which they recently re-
linuuished to the Germans
The British and French forces are
facing a large concentration of German
artillery and fresh troops which have
been rushed up
the entente allies have estaoilsheu
complete air superiority.
The entente military officials say the
morale Of the Germans here IS not up
to the old standard.
Progress Satisfactory.
LONDON. July sl-The long-expect-
ed Anglo French attack. for which
tbere has been three weeks of the most
intense artillery preparation. was com
menced this morning on VIDE front
north of the Lys river. in flanners. and
according to Gen. Sir Douglas Haig, the
British commando. satisfactory prog
,ess has been made at all points anu a
considerable number of prisoners taken.
The attack was made on the new
front gained after the capture of the
Nessines ridge. which was prelimi-
nary to this latest move.
Artillery preparations for the attack
were as violent ard extensive as ever
have been made in the war and the
lighting in the air also has been on an
unprecedented scale. The guns. which
had been at work along the whole
front with only P few short lulls. thus
keeping the Germans ignorant of the
enact spot or the moment OF the COM
irg attack. were redoubled Sunday,
since which time the roar, which on
some occasions could be heard in Lon
don. has been !nccsSant.
,,;suatches received in London yes
terdag from Holland said thar never be-
fore had such violent BON ba rdr ent
been heard as that during the last
twenty four hours The sound came,
apparently, from the direction of Ypres.
Attack Begins at $50 AN.
LONDON. July 31--The text of the
British statement announcing that an
offensive had been launched by :he
British and French against the German
positions north of tie River Lys. in
Flanders. says:
In conjunction with the French
troops operating on our left we at
tackled at $50 O'Clock this morning on
:, wide front north of the River Lys.
The allied troops have captured
their first objectives on the whole front
attacsa I'd and are reported to be making
satisfactory progress at ali points.
considerable numbers of prisoners
already have been captured.
German Positions Bombed.
The Official report from British head
quarters in France last night reads:
"a party Of our troops raidsd the
anemy's trenches last night Sunday
near Lombaertayde. Tine hostile artil-
,ery was more active than usual during
the day in the neighborhood of Armen-
there's.
SATURDAY night bombs were dropped
Sy our eirp,anes on German air
.ircr.n 90 imDort2nt railway sia-