Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
F|CE7|NC 1T POLYGON
UNUSUALLY DESPERATE
London Troops Finally Forced Grad.
uslly to Withdraw Before Su-
perior Encmy Forces.
YIELD, FIGHTING ALL THE WAY
Hold On Determinedly, With Rife
and Bayonet Until Simultaneous
Counterattacks From Different Di-
rections Compel Retirement.
IHy Associated Pre...l

Icy HseociAton rFess
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND
BELGIUM. August 1s.-The lighting
Thursday at Polygon wa. unusually
desperate Wave after wave OF the
enemy came surginE up against the
/, London troops. who held on deter
! minedly with yine and bayonet until
two simultaneous counterattacks from
different directions forced them to re-
treat
Gradually they withdrew. nshtins all
tho way. Sons few Of them indeed
were surrounded, and fought until!
forced to surrender. One young officer
In command OF ton men. found himself
sncirclcd by tho enemy and his men
being swept by a machine gun. The
last heard OF him was contained in q
messa8e no siGnaled back TO his d!vi-
sion. saying his men were facing
DEATH, and that he saw no way but TO
surrender to save their lives.
Along most OF tho French front 1t
wau comparatively quiet. although q
hard local battle was continuing
shout strong German redoubt known
as Les Liza which lies about 1000
yards southwest OF the ST Jansbeek
River.
CoUSTERATTACK REFUSED
~ ARTILLERY FIRE
In their advance, the French surBed
forward on either side Of this position,
making sort of pocket about it. and
u was expected that the small German
garrison would be compelled to CUR
render shortly. The Germans delivered
a nfnr 4 ~
right flank. but this was repulsed by
artillery fire.
= Tho contact between Tho French and
British armies was excellent. The
prisoners accounted for to date total
moro than $40. and this figure repre-
sents considerably more than the en-
: ure French casualties along their
whole front in Thursdays offensive.
Tho remarkably small number Of
. casualties was duo to the nne work of
he French artillery. Preliminary bonn
oardment OF German positions was
very effective, and the advance was
made under a perfect barraEe.
/. AS was the case on the British front
about Langemarck. tho German bar.
rage was totally inadequate. and the
counterbattery work whercon SO much
depends gave no trouble. French
, counterbattery firing resulted in
E shencing large number OF enemy
guns and az result the French have
> been little troubled by gunfirc in
carrying out consultations
Z Tho work OF the French engineers in
this difficult terrain. which as it an
proaehcs the river is a veritabIe morass.
mad been thrust forward swiftly. and
when 1t came to bridging the flooded
steenbeke for crossing at dawn Thurs
day. there was not the slightest delay
In getting tho numerous bridges over.
The French air service played an i'm
portant part in the advance. going
ahead OF the infantry all along the
line and keeping up the contact of the
patrols at the height OF zoo or 400
meters The German airYnen who ven
tured In the direction OF tho French
wero driven back. and the air was
cleared OF enemy machines. In addi.
ton to patrol work. the French air
men ala good execution with machine
guns and bombs on enemy redoubts.