New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
West
BRITISH

LONDON, Aug. % DAY).-South and
west Of Lens the new positions captured by
us yesterday morning on the outskirts oil 'he
town have been maintained, and iurther
progress has been made at certain points
Northwest and north Of Lens, also, as re-
suit Of heavy fighting. in the course OF when
German counter attacks were repulsed by our
rife and machine gun fire or broken up by
our artillery, some additional ground has
been secured in advanced positions captured
on the 18th. There has been great artillery
activity during the night on both sides east
and northeast OF Ypres.
(NIGHT)-Successfu operations we're un-
dertaken by our troops this morning to the
east and northeast of Ypres for the capture
of series Of strong points and fortified
farms lying a few hundred yards in front Of
our positions astride the YpresMenin road
and between the Ypres- Roulers railway and
Lanpemarck.
Bitter hghting has taken place at all
points. The enemy again launched repeated
counter attacks, which suffered heavy losses
from our artillery and machine gun fire.
The struggle was particularly fierce IN the
nelEnhOrnCOd OF the 1pres-NleIlu IOdu' Niitlt
the enemy fought desperately to retain COM
mand o. the high ground. There our line has
been advanced to a depth Of about 500 yards
on front Of about mile.
A position giving important observation 10
the eastward was captured by US, and our
troops established themselves in the western
portion of Inverness Copse. Further moth
our line has been carried forward on front
Of two and a half miles to greatest depth
of over half 4 mile.
-. 81 fIa avff
strong points resisted with great stubborn
ness. In many cases isolated positions were
reduced only after fighting lasting through
out the greater part Of the day.
In these operations we captured over go
prisoners but by reason of the obstinate
nature Of the fighting the prisoners taken
bear more than usually small proportion 10
the total losses inflicted on the enemy. The
number of prisoners taken by us in the
course Of Yesterdays fighting in the neigh
borhood Of Lens is 1914. bringing the total in
this neighborhood since the morning OF Au-
gust - 20 1913. In the same period We also
captured in this area thirty-four machine
guns and twenty-one trench mortars. so far
counted.
Yesterday there was again great activity in
the air on both sides Severe fighting took
place. Twelve German airplanes were
brought down by our machine. Five others
were brought down out Of control. Twelve
Of our airplanes are missing. including two
which collided behind the enemy's lines dur
ing the bombing raid.
FRENCH
PARIS Aug. % (DAYl.-The Germans
last night violently bombarded our first lines
at various points on the Aisne front. They
made several strong attacks in the region of
Mennejean farm. east of Brsye-en-Laonnos.
south OF Bovelle. between ALLIES and the
Hurtebise monument and on IN. California
Plateau. Everywhere our troops maintained
their positions entirely. Prisoners were
taken.
On the left bank Of the Mouse (verdun
'front.', late yesterday, we repulsed violent
German counter attack between Hill 304 and
Dead Man Hin. Certain enemy detachments
which succeeded in gaining footing in our
new first line trenches were elected by n
brilliant attack. which gave us sixty prison.
ers. Our reconnaissance were pushed for
| ward "a far as the village OF FORCES.
On the right bank of the river the enemy
also made several attempts 20 drive us from
/ the positions which we had captured. especially
north of Normont farm and at Hill 344. Our
| fire inflicted heavy losses on the Germans and
Z broke up their assaulting waves. which were
/ not able to approach our lines at any point.
North OF Caurieres Wood the attacks. accom-
: panied by the use Of flaming liquids, were
\
added 20 his losses. The number Of un-
wounded prisoners we have taken since Au-
I gust 20 has now reached GLE OF these / "A
are officers. This does not include the pris-
oners captured yesterday in shelters, or 90
/ wounded prisoners who are in our hospitals.
According 20 information now at hand
| important booty has been captured, especially
/ in the three tunnels in Dead Man Hill. where
we found dressing stations and complete cleo
trica plants. At this point we took prisoner
an entire regmental staff and an officer OF
Z engineers,
/ (NIGHT-In Champagne our batteries
carried out eTicacious fires and destroyed adj
ditional gas reservoirs.
] On the Verdun front the enemy reacted
during the course Of the day with artillery,
notably on the left bank OF the Meuse. but
/ made no attempt 20 attack our new positions
One Of our heavy guns destroyed the under
structure Of an observatory at Romagne-
SOus-les-Cotes.
/ German airplanes last night dropped
bombs in the region OF Gerardmer. there
were neither victims nor damage. During
the day six German arplanes were destroyed
in aerial engagements five others fell within
their own lines in a damaged condition. II
i established that additional German air
planes were brought down on August 20 By
our machine guns.