The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-17
Whole Divisions Sacrificed in
Counter Attacks.
Battle of Lens Continues DeS-
perately Again Today.
TRENCH EXCHANGES HANDS
But Canadians Again Win 1t,
Taking Men and Guns.
Many Americans in Seething
Battle in British Force.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.

With the British Armies in the
Field. Aug. Hill 70 ran red with
the blood of German divisions, sacri-
feed in repeated efforts to recapture
this important dominating height from
the sturdy Canadians
Along the entire new Lens battle
front, the most desperate fighting has
been in progress for the past twelve
hours.
The Canadians have respulsed all
attacks. At the time this dispatch is
filed they have re-taken positions west
of Cite st. Auguste. from which they
were forced by sheer weight of num-
bers during the night.
Prisoners continue to arrive behind
the British lines. The total will prob
ably prove to be greater than first be-
lieved. In addition the Germans left
considerable number Of guns in the
mud. 1t is as yet impossible to give
the number thus captured.
Airplanes as Messengers.
!, over the flaming, bloody field,
British aeroplanes have been accom-
plishing miracles. They are acting as
dispatch riders between the advanc-
ing infantry and headquarters. Bat
tie planes guard them as they fly thru
shell-filled sky carrying orders and
reports from front lines to command
ing officers to the rear.
Last night was one of death. The
Canadians, in whise ranks are ma nv
Americans who enlisted with the
Maple Leaf forces in the dominion,
fought valiantly, hanging on to every
position with bulldog like tenacity.
The Bavarians opened the counter
attacks on the outskirts of Lens. They
charged and counter-charged head
long against the Canadians in their
mad endeavor to retake Hill 10 The
attack opened about dusk After the
ia a1.f1e,
They threw themselves forward in
close formation. Canadian artillery
Fnd machine guns blazed forth
~. Struck Straight at Center.
The attack was headed straight for
| the Canadian center. 1t never reach
ed the lines. Shells broke over the
advancing Germans. Machine gun
/ fire ripped thru their ranks The
Bavarians wavered, then fell back.
But that was not the end
AT $3.50 fresh German troops boiled
out from their trenches. The Prus-
sian guard moved up the slope. They
went the way of the Bavarians. Then
| came more, and still more Germans.
| always rolling up the eastern slope of
Hill 30. They came in thick waves
this time. By sheer momentum they
forced back the Canadian posts to the
left of the line that was held Thurs
day morning, but they did not remain
| TIE NlCIOrS long
The Canadians came back. With
| various, determined thrusts they
| pushed forward toward the positions
! they had been forced to reIinquish
| With bayonet and bomb they charged
| over the shell torn ground. There was
| a sharp fight and then the enemy be-
| gan to give way. Slowly at first
| Then they went down the slope which
! they had just climbed at heavy cost
Their Vifbdra wal heca cop.
| fused retreat, and the Canadians were
soon establishing their positions
| west of Cite St. Auguste and rectifyins
and consolidating their lines along the
remainder of the entire front.
Fierce Battle at Verdun.
/ On the Verdun front heavy fight
| ing was resumed with q German
stroke on front of two kilometers
| between Caurieres wood and Bezon-
vaux. At points the att'ckers sue
ceeded in gaining a foothold in the
/ foremost French trenches, but subse-
quently they We're driven cut of the
greater part of these positions.
Predicts Another Winter OF It.
Another winter campaign is regard
! ed as inevitable by Lieutenant Gen.
eral Korniloff, Russian commander
| in-chief.
| In an interview at Petr grad he also
predicted operations on a vast scale
on the Rumanian front, and limited
at important developments in the
north. with the possibility of COM
| bined land and naval actions