Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-16

British Front in France and Bel
GUM. Aug. u.s. CBy the Associated
Press 10 a. Forces of the entente
allies at daybreak today began am
other drive against the troops Of
Crown Prince Ruppreeht OF Bavaria
along "a wide front from q point Oppo-
site Polyg0n wood east Of Ypres to
the left Of the French positions on the
northward
Tn the first onslaught the right flank
Of the French surged across the Steen
beke river and at the same time the
left wing pushed forward correspond
iuely-
100 Prisoners Counted.
These meagar facts represent the
total nows af 1his hour from the zone
of the new offensive with the exCep-
flon that the French already have
counted hundred prisoners.
Paris. aug 16.-FTeuch troops in
Belgium, attacking early today in
conjunction with the British on both
sides Of the road between Steenstraete
and DiEuude, captured all their OBJ
jertives and crossed the Steenbeke
river. The war Office announced TODAY
t-Af.t - 49, -fit-T iH+tA.th -
the river.
The French made an attack on
the Aisue and captured German
trenches on front OF one kilometre.
Four German counter attacks we're
FepuIsed
Germans Try 10 Save Lens.
Canadian Headquarters In France.
Aug la by Canadian Press Ltd j--
The Germans are now fighting with
great teuacltE to- maintain their pre-
carious hold on the central portion Of
Lens Throughout he day they have
been bringing zap fresh troops with
which 10 carry ON counter attacks
The original German force which
met our assault was pretty well ac-
counted fer bE tIe attacking forces Il
consisted OF two aaFtaliOua OF the One
Hundred SiEtE-6ftb regiment. two of
the Twenty sixth Two 81 1a One Hun
8red iiity-5iEth. and one of rhe Two
Hundred &iUeiy-tBiTd German reEi-
meHt5 consist of three battaIous each
and after the battaiions of the thres
FIRST mentioned regiments holding the
trenches had been put on of action
the reserve baftaIiona a6re moved up
HgrriealN Az - % clock. while beaded
toHargt@AfsI 10. these battaions were
caught under our artillery fire and dis
persad.
III Attacks Fail.
The enemy leaders next called upon
The fourth guard division. which had
been held On this section of the line
for such an emergency as that which
confronted the defenders of Lens The
guards proceeded toward Bots Hugo
with the evident intention of retaking
bill p. They too. were caught under
eur artillery and machine gun barrage
and so roughly handled that two ar
tempts To advance, one al III so O'Clock
and the second shortly after noon, had
30 bee abandoned
tl8 10 was not even seriously men
aced during the remainder Of the day.
AZ short way 90 the north between
ST. Laurent and Lens. the enemy re-
covered q portion of line Of reserve
trenches, the position Of which lessons
for q moment our pressure from he
north
Artillery and machine gun experts
have just explained that the enemy po-
sitlon is an Impossible one, and that II
he cannot drive rs off Bill 10 he viii
1ave tC get out o. Lens
Our casualties can no@ be spoken Of
rs slight
Capture $500 in Rumania.
Berlin. Aug IL. 1via London Rus
sian and Bumanian forces which had
held the western bank from the river
Sere5h on tine Bumanian front. vester-
day were driven across the river by
troops Of Field Marshal Won Maeken-
sen. according 10 the statement TO-DAY
Of the German general staff Moe
than $500 prisoners were taken and
l6 guns were captured.