New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

London, Aug. 3.-The battle Of Flan-
ders developed new intensity last
night despite the boggy ground and the
still rainy sky. After violent fghting'
which extended from west of Blk
schoote to southeast of Ypres, the
British shouldered their way back into
III. village of st. Julien, which the Ger
man. after costly sacrifices had man
aged 70 retake earlier IN the week
Progress ha. also been made south OF
Hollebeke.
The battery FIRE has revived into a
terrific bombardment in which the
British long range runs are vigorously
shelling Roulers, General Haig's imne-
diate objective, nine miles to the north
east.
In Tuesdays fighting alone, says the
British night official, the Allies capt
ured s,l22 prisoners, including lS2 Of
feers, in addition TO the thousands
taken the day before.
The only German success to-day was
confined to the Arras front, where HIN
denburg Is attacking in considerable
force to ease the overwhelming press
ure In the extending wedge northeast
of Ypres. Here the Germans advanced
on a half-mile front against Infantry
Hill. the British outpost on the Scarpe,
east of Monchy-le-Preux, and managed
IN seize the defensive front line
trenches at two points. Haig's men i'm
mediately counter attacked, and have
already reconquered most Of the lost
positions.
Renewed Drive Probable
Signs multiply that at soon as the
weather moderates and the ground
dries sufficiently 10 allow the mass OF
the British batteries TO be brought up
into their new positions the Germans
will be subjected TO a shock of no less
forcs than that Of last Monday, and
probably on a still wider front. The
guns, which have never been silent for
an instant in the region of the coast,
are roaring In increasing volume, and
NAV herald a combined land and sea
attack on the German-held dunes. In
the Ypres sector the British are again
battering their way toward Langemark,
which, according to seml-offlcial sur
vey Of the battle issued from Berlin,
was captured by the attacking forces
in their first rush, but lost again IN
counter thrust This account says also
that Bixschoote changed hands three
times, but finally had TO be rellnquished ID
10 the French. To-day's Berlin bulle-
tin, which describes the British as at
tacking to the west of this centre, IN
dicates that they have taken over part
of the line moved forward by the
French.
Referring TO the bombardment Of
Roulers, Quartermaster General Luden-
dorfF's communicate is worded some
what ironically. The town is men
toned as "Roulers, 10 which great
part of the Belgian populatI had
fed from the battle zone before the
fire of their liberators.' What this
battle zone ia and exactly what are the
German losses of territory are being
carefully concealed by Berlin. The
German newspaper men are not allowed
10 approach the fighting line and are
permitted to give only the information
which is officially handed TO them.
According TO a dispatch passed by
the German censor, Jney all dsleo III
describing the offensive as a struggle
for the submarine bases in Belgium.
The German idea-a familiar one-is
that II the British fail to occupy
Ostend and Zeebrugge in the near fut-
ure the German public will believe
that Field Marshal Haig has failed.
First German Reports False
German observers admit that the
battle is the most stupendous OF the
war, emphasizing the mass assaults of
the British and French, and while they
all claim the initial victory they con
fess that the heavy fighting may con-
,inue for weeks. London is getting It's
inform alton on the battle in much the
same shape as that on the great naval
battle in the North Sea. The first Ger
man reports, which admitted only the
loss Of the crater field between the
lines, are seen to have been false, and
the solid success of the British and
French grows with each bulletin from
the front.
II was on the Ypr.s front that the