Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-10
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD.

After twenty days OF the most ire
mendous artillery fire of the war, the
Anglo-French armies In Flanders be-
gan on Tuesday great drive that
aroused the highest hopes for definite
results. Great masses Of troops dashed
forward along a front Of twenty miles,
overran the enemy's first three lines of
defense between Warneton and Dix
nude and captured eleven towns and
more than 5000 prisoners. They
crossed the User at many places, the
engineering corps performing prodigies
In the way of bridge-building under
fire. Tanks and airplanes played i'm
portant parts in the terrific conflict.
The Germans resisted stoutly and on
Wednesday, when the allies advance
was checked by torrential rains, the
Teutons by fierce counter-attacks won
back q little of the lost ground. Next
day the British again drove the Ger
mans back, and then the artillery re-
sumed the task Of blowing Prince Ru-
precht's men out of the supporting de-
fenses to which they had retired.
Generals Haig and Petain exchanged
telegrams of cOngrntulation on the
success in Flanders, and the kaiser,
not to be outdone, congratulated Ru-
precht on his great success" and at
once called a conference In Brussels of
his commanding officers on the west
front and other officials. The German
losses are reported to have been ire
mendous aud those of the allies COM
.paratively light. Several American
surgical teqms worked on the fighting
line side by side with their British al
lies.
The exact objective of this drive was
not officially announced, but the peo-
pie of the allied nations hoped and the
Germans assumed that the Anglo
French armies intend to push along the
Belgian coast and force the Germans
TO abandon their submarine bases
Such q movement would also turn the
right end of the German line ant
might well compel a general retire
ment toward the Rhine. If the allies
could reach the Dutch border 1t is be
lieved Holland might be persuaded t
throw in her lot with them, a decision
which Germany evidently has feared
for some time.
Conditions in Russia.
The dlsorganized Russian troop
continued their retreat eastward
through Gallcia, and at some point
the pursuing Teutons and Turk
there was perceptible stiffening Of re
slstance by the Slavs, and furthe
north they held their lines fairly well
On the Roumanian front the Russo
Roumanlan army fought bravely an
successfully, making considerable &C
vances. It's good work may go far tC
ward saving the rich grain fields G
southern Russia from the enemy.
Meanwhile Kerensky and his co
leagues are working fast to avert dii
aster. Their program, according to tn
official newspaper, is to restore tn
nrmy's power by a clear definition {
the limits of Russia's present libert
the taking of the severest and MOI
merciless measures for re-establishir
military discipline, and the restoratiC
of the shaken authority of Russia
most disinterested and self-sacrificir
servants, her officers. Hundreds
German spies in Russian uniform
found mingllng with the soldiers ha'
been executed summarily, and the m
dnous troops are being punished
traitors. 1t Is now reported that L
nine has escaped from Russia, prob
bly, to Germany through Finland al
Sweden.
Russian secret service agents repO