The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-09-21
BRITISH CAPTURE
1000 IN DRIVE
ON SMILE LINE
Advance East of Ypres and
Pierce Foes Positions to
Depth of Mile.
TAKE VALUABLE POSITIONS
Object Believed to Be the Cutting Off
of the kaiser's Submarine Bases
on the Belgian Coast-Turks
Fight the Italians

London, Sept. 21.-Field Marshal
Haig's official report says that North
Country and Australian battalions pen
etrated the German positions in the
center to depth of over mile and
captured the whole of their detectives.
These included Hemlet, Veldhoek and
the western portion of Polygon wood.
Further north Zevenkote was cap
tured, and also q few guns.
London, Sept. 21.-British troops on
the Belgian front attacked the German
positions east of Ypres and are re-
ported to have penetrated the German
positions as far as the Zonnebeke-
Gheluvelt line. The official report says
1000 prisoners were taken.
Reuters correspondent at British
headquarters, reporting the extent of
the British advance, telegraphs that
up to the time his report was dis
patched the Germans had launched no
counter-attacks. They were massing
In certain places, however, where the
British guns We're bombarding them.
The British penetration has reached
the depth of a mile, (which, consider
ing the character Of the ground, is
wonderful achievement" the dispatch
adds. 1t characterizes the result of
the attack as a fine success"
Field Marshal Haig's selection of
the battle front to the east of Ypres,
In Belgium, as the scene of his latest
offensive against the Germans, indi-
Gates that it is the continuance of the
expressed purpose of the British COM
mander in chief to force the armies
of Crown Prince RupDrecht of Bavaria
from the western coast OF Belgium
and to cut off the German submarine
and airplane bases on the North sea
from Zeebrugge to Nieuport, includ-
ing Ostend.
Offensive Well Prepared.
The British drive apparently is be-
ing made in the direction of Roulers
and Courtrai, from which Belgian
towns according to recent dispatches
from the Dutch frontier, the German
military authorities have been evacu-
ating the civilian population.
That the British offensive has been
In preparation for several days was
made known In recent statements of
the German general army headquar-
ters staff. The Germans reported that
the British were maintaining a vio-
lent and destructive fire against the
Teuton positions, the bombardment
frequently reaching the intensity of
drumfire.
Berlin Reports Strong Attack.
Berlin, Sept. 21-A formidable
drum fire On the Flanders front, re-
ports the German general headquar-
ters staff, was followed at daybreak by
front.
Foe Attacks French in Vain.
Paris, Sept. 21.-The official COM
munication issued by the war Office
says that, after a violent lombard
ment, the Germans delivered an attack
against French positions southeast Of
Cerny, but were checked by the
French defensive fire and were unable
to reach their detectives.
Canadians Retake Farmhouse.
Canadian Headquarters In France,
Sept. 21.-Sharp outpost actions oc-
Cured west of Lens, in which the en-
emy were the aggressors. The OBJ
jective of the skirnnish was house
In the western part of Lens, occupied
By an outpost. A strong party of
Germans attacked the house, but were
driven off. They returned TO the at
tack In stronger force and captured
the house. The Canadians who had
held it at once organized a counter
attack, driving out the Germans.