Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-21
TAKE POSITIONS
. HELD BY GERMANS
IN VERDUN REGION
Sharp, Decisive Blows De.
livered on Both Sides '
of the Meuse.
ITALIAN FORCES ALSO
ON MONSTER OFFENSIVE
Now at Deadly Grips With En-
emy Along Line of About
Thirty-Seven Miles.
fEUToNs SUFFER BIG LOSSES
Nearly $4,000 Prisoners Already
Counted by Allies, and Num-
Der Is Still Growing.
fEUToNs SUFFER BIG LOSSES

With the British troops busily en-
gagged in the successful parrying OF
German counterthrusts against the
newly won ground in Flanderc. tho
French and the Italians have started
monster offensives-the French against
the Germans, near Verdun, and the
Italians against the Austrians, from
the region of Plava to near the headl
waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Sharp. decisive blows have gained foe
the French positions held by the Ger-
mans on front of more than eleven
miles. extending from the Avocourt
wood eastward across the River Meuse,
and into the BoiS-de-Chaume whi7e
the Italians, after bombardment Of
an Intensity never before experienced
in that theater. have leveled Aus
trian defenses. crossed the ruins. and
also the Isonzo River. and now are at
deadly grips with the enemy along the
front OF about -thirty-seven miles.
Nearly 10000 prisoners already have
been counted by the French and tItaix.
inns. and doubtless this number will
be n,aterially ly yaugmented when fill, de-,
tails or the lighting are At hand In
addition. the Germans and Austrtana
lost heavily In men killed or wounded.
and in guns and machine guns cap-
turcd. f>.r tF
NEWLY WON TERRITORY
SCENE OF BLOODY BATTLES
The new territory taken by the
French embraces positions that have
literally weltered in French and Ger
man blood in battles that have waged
to and fro since the German Crown
Prince started his most costly enter
prise. the attempt to take Verdun,
which resulted in utter failure as a
military maneuver and cost the lives
of tens of thusands of his r,=n. &
Notable among the captured posi-
tions are the Avocourt wood, two sum-
mits OF lie Morte Homme. the Cor
beauX wood and Champneuville. all OF
which were held, Notwithstanding VIZ
cious counterattacks by the Germans.
which were broken up by the French
fire, with heavy casualties to the ene-,
my. French airmen materially aided
the infantry in the. press forward,
swooping forces and emptying their
machine guns into the ranks. and In
fights in the air with German ma
chimes. eleven OF which were sent hur-
tling to the ground.
Likewise the italian flyers are Civ.
ing their infantry valuable support.
more than zoo of them being engaged
in attacking with bombs and machines
gun fire Austrian troop formations be-
hind the lines. At last accounts, the
italian guns were energetically pro:
ceeding with the work OF destruction
of the new positions taken up by the
Austrians, endeavoring to blast road
through the defenses In order to make
more easy the march Of the Italian
troops toward Trieste, Austria's princf-
pal seaport lying at the head Of the
Adriatic Sea.
CALM IN FLANDERS .
AND NORTHERN FRANCE
The situation in Flanders and In
Northern France Is Virtually calm az
compared with last week, but both
the British and French continue to
make sallies at various points and to
strengthen the positions won In the
recent fighting. The Canadians around.
Lens daily are biting further into tho
German line. and now have the coal
center virtually surrounded. except on
the east. Even on this sector the Ca
nadians' guns have the range. and are
making almost impossible any move
ments Of the enemy from or into the
town. The entente allied airmen still
are carrying out raid. on German post
tons in Belgium. many tons OF bombs
again having been dropped by them
In Roumania The ro-German
forces have driven back the Rou-
manians on both sides OF the oituz ana
Trotus Valleys. according to the Berlin
Official communication. In the former
sector more than 1.5oo Roumanians and
thirty machine guns fell into the hands
OF the Invaders, while In fightins on
the Sereth River 1000 additional pris.
oners were taken.