Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-28
FRENCH CAPTURE
SEVERAL VILLAGES
IN FIERCE DRIVE
Many Fortified Positions Are
Seized From Germans on
Ypres.Dixmude Road.
ADDITIONAL ADVANCE
MADE ALONG THE AISNE
Froidmont Farm Falls to Petain
Canadians Consolidate Their Line
Across Bellevue Spur.

Across Bellevue Spur.
By the Associated Press
PARIS, October 27.-Another power
full drive by the French troops today on
the Ypres-Dixmude road resulted in the
capture of several villages and great
number of fortified farms, according to
tonight's announcement by the war Of
fee. An additional advance was made
along the Aisne front, including the oc-
cupation of Froidmont farm.
The text reads:
I'm Belgium our attack. begun at
thte course of the day with full sue
cess on both sides of the road between
Ypres and Dixmude. Our troops cap
tured all the German positions on a
front of four ,kilometers (two and a
half miles) and a mean depth of two
on the part of the enemy who suffered
very heavy losses.
"On the right we reached the west
ern outskirts of Houtholst forest and
Aschoop, Merckem and kippe. as well
as a great number of strongly forti-
fed farms. We took about a hundred
prisoners.
"onf fthe Aisne front there was feeble
activity on the part of the enemy ar
tillery. We made new progress before
the Chevrigny spur, and further east
occupied the Froidmont farm.
There was spirited artillery fight
ing during the day in the region Of
the MontS and on the right bank of
the Meuse"
British Infantry Quiet.
LONDON. October 27.-The French
troops in Flanders made further ad-
vance this morning, capturing several
villages and taking number of pris-
tonight. On the British battle front
there was great artillery activity, but
no infantry action. The number of Ger
man prisoners captured since yester-
day morning exceeds 1,100, including
800 taken by the French.
French Hammer Forward.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, October 81
The Frehch army in Flanders today
continued the advance begun yesterday
southwest Of Houtholst wood. and this
afternoon was still hammering away
I,
after having reached such important
places as Merckem. Kippe and Asch-
hoop. Latest reports indicated that the
poilus had fought their way through
these three villages. as well as Ver-
brandesmis and Kloostermolen.
Today's drive appears to have been
another brilliant success. The attack
was renewed at dawn after heavy prep
aration by the French guns. The poilus
faced an advance through deep mo-
ra in ho
Jansbeek river and its branches, but
they surged forward with the Same in
domitable courage that yesterday took
some of them across the marshland. in
which they waded to their necks in
water.
Within the territory lay not only heavily
defended hamlets, but innumerable con-
crete blockhouses, each of which was
west of Houtholst forest was a great con-
centration Of German guns, and these
were turning an intense fire on Wercken
and Ripe.
Canadians Better Positions.
Fighting west Of Passchendaele was still
in progress today, and the Canadians
operating in this sector were improving
the position which they had wrested from
the Germans The British have outposts
on the crest of Passchandaele ridge, less
than a thousand yards from the town of
treme advance of about 1900 yards since
yesterday morning.
The overseas men, who performed a
wonderful feat in taking the western
crest OF Bellevue spur: were holding their
positions strongly after having beaten
off intense German counter thrusts
The great success was being talked of
the British zone today. and
the men from overseas were in excel
lent spirits. although exceedingly tired
after their grilling work
Going Is Terrible.
The Canadians advanced on Belle
vue spur from the west over low
ground. the character of which was
branded in the name of one of the
here-Marsh Bottom.
The going was terrible all the way
to the foot of the ridge. and the Cana
dianS at times sank almost to their
hips in the soft mud. They were faced
by a great mass of machine guns in a
myriad OF concrete blockhouses on the
high ground.
as impregnable. The strength
Of the defenses may be seen from the
fact that eighteen machine guns were
found in one strip 300 yards wide. Con-
sidering that each Of these guns was
pouring hundreds of shots a minute
INTO the advancing ranks. some idea can
be had of what it meant to push for
ward at the necessarily slow pace into
The very face Of this hurricane of steel.
Text of Official Report.
The text of the communication fol-
ows:
THE operations of the French north
II st. Jansbeek continued with success
his morning. The French troops ad.
on both sides of the Bixschoofe-
oixmude road in spite of dificultiea
rom floods and the heavy ground. can
ured the villages of Aschhoop. Kinne
md Merckem. with many farms and
'ther strong points. A number Of
prisoners were taken.
"On the British battle front thera wa.
,reat activity by both artilleries. hut
10 infantry action. The number of
;erman prisoners captured since the
Of operations YESTERDAY
morning exceeds loo. which include
100 taken by the French A hostile raid
vas repulsed early this morning west
+ Lens"
Germans Forced Back.
Last night the enemy again tried to