New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-20
Capture All Their Objec-
tives East Of Lange-
marck
German Prisoners
Now Number 2,1l4
Wreck Trenches in Somme
Raid; Lose in Air
Fighting

LONDON, Aug. 19.-The British line
in Flanders moved forward 500 yards
on a mile front early this morning on
both sides of the Ypres-Poelkapelle lie
road, just east of Langemarck. Halg
detectives, several fortified farms, were
all conquered after brisk hghtlng IN
which the British losses were unusually
light, while the enemy suffered con-
siderably. No German attempts TO re-
take the lost terrain were reported
throughout the day.
The War Office announces to-nigh'
that the number of German prisoners
taken in the recent Allied advance
through Langemarck and nortn OF 'ne
c+serhoke River has now risen to 2,ll4,
including ffty-hve officers. Inc h,gh
nercentage OF officers els presumably
sxnlained by the fact that the Germans $
are lighting in comparatively small
groups. each under a commissioned
leader.
Thoro vas also a shift in the British
nressure to-day from the Flanders sec
tor "a the Somme front as 1t stooo
after the Hindenburg retreat last
sprinp. Haig's fighters at dawn moved
forward in a strong local attack and
seized German trenches in the neigh-
borbood of the Gillemont Farm on the
high road from Bspaume to Cambria
For a time the fighting was sum- out
those Germans who were not driven out
of their defences were either killed or
made prisoner.
Trenches Wrecked in British Raid
A we'll organized British raid was
carried out in this region near Havrin-
court, slightly to the south. where the
German trenches were entered and
wrecked. many casualties being IN
Nicted on the enemy. French fiers
were active on this front, bombing
Cambrai heavily and setting snre the
railroad station and nearby establish
ments. 1t hardly seems likely that the
Allies are contemplating major stroke
an this front. but to-day's efforts may
h. reminder to Hindenburg not to
thin his lines anywhere in order 70
mass troops in Flanders or around
Lens.
Near the extreme eastern portion OF
the French line, where it curves south
ward along the Lorraine border
Petain's forces were called upon to
withstand a series of vigorous German
thrusts. carried out after repeated
gusts of artillery fire. The hostile at
tacks took place near the bois le
Pretre, or Priest wood, and east OF
Badonvillier, and also north OF Celies-
sur-Plaine, in the Vosges Mountains
According to Paris the German storm,
ing detschments gained nothing and
suffered important losses, leaving
prisoners in French hands.
Along the Chemin-des Danes. south
Of Laon. there were infantry encount-
ers. contingents of the Crown Prince
attempting surprise attacks near braye.
Bermericourt and Pompelle, all or
which were repulsed. Probably these
were feeling-out operations, as Paris
reports that the opposing batteries
have shown a marked increase OF ac-
tivity both at Brsye and Cerny.
Germans Shell Rheims Again
German gunners were busy on both
sides of Rheims, dropping 500 shells
in the city and wounding a civilian
The duel of the big, guns north OF Yer,
dun has not ceased for week. and
their FIRE to-day was concentrated
around Bezonvsux.
On both sides the opposing air squad
rons are showing more activity than
at any other period of the war. Ger
man bombing planes both on Thursday
and Friday nights showered the BRUSH
casualty clearing stations. General
Haig reports that ten German prison
ers were killed and ten wounded Ger
mans were further cut up by bomb
fragments. =,
French aviators were out in force all
last night and to-day, paying particular
attention to the Flanders section,
where they dropped projectiles on the
railway stations at CortemarcK'
Thourout, Lichtervelde and Ostend, as
we'll as on enemy encampments IN the
Houthhulst Forest, just north OF
Langemarck.
Meuse and munitions depot at
Rantheville were attacked. The French
DESTROYED eleven German machines and
seriously damaged six others. For the
first time in many weeks the honors IN
the air fighting were against the Brit
ish, eight of their own machines beng
reported as missing, while only seven
German fiers were accounted for. Pre-
vailing westerly winds are cited IN ex-