South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-24
SMASH GERMAN
LINES On THE
WEST FROM
Canadian, French and Italians
Deliver Crushing Blows and
Continue Advance.
Russ Retreat.
International News service

international News Service.
LONDON, Aug. Heavy fight
ing for three big base cities marked
the operations on the western, Ital-
ian and eastern fronts today.
Canadian troops are reported to
have penetrated Lens. i'm northern
France, and are savagely battling for
the possession of this German fort
ress.
ON the Italian front the Italians
have approached two miles closer 20
Trieste and the Austro- Hungarian
positions defending the city are
under the fire Of more than 100 bat
teries OF guns.
Prince Leopolds German army is
driving close 10 Riga, at the northern
end OF the eastern front. and there
is determined fighting among the
swamps and marshes that lie south
OF this important city.
Russians Retire.
Muuny in the Russian ranks. such
as enabled the Austro- Germans 20
make a successful drive through Ca
hcia and Bulcowina, has made its
appearance in some Of the MuscOvite
regiments in the Riga center.
Certain units holding the line near
the "A river retired before the Ger
man advance without Offering battle.
However, the loyal regiments are
sternly resisting the Teuton advance
and violent artillery duelIing and
bitter hand-tO-hand struggles are re-
ported from the district lying be-
tween the Bluadnek-Riga narrow
gauge railway and Babit lake. This
railway skirts the northern side Of
the Tirul marshes and the zone OF
lighting in this sector is just about
, miles from Riga
10000 Prisoners Taken.
The number of German and Aus
lro-Hungarian prisoners i'm the hands
Of the allies on the western and ItaI-
ian fronts was estimated today at
about $4,000.
There have been no official figures
issued TO give an estimate Of the
Austro-Germcn casualties but they
IRE known 10 be enormous Whole
regiments have been shattered by the
Unprecedented bomoardments of the
British, French, italian. Belgian and
Portuguese guns.
ON the Nerdun front the French
have paused 20 link up and strength
% the positions they have captured
from the Germans ON both sides OF
the Meuse Ii is now necessary Co
move up the gums and 20 repair the
lines of communication for the ueNr
phase of the lighting on that front
King Views Battles.
The past I'VE days Of lighting along
the Isonzo river. i'm the Austro-Ital-
ian war theater has been taking
place under the eyes of King Victor
Emmanuel OF Italy. The Italian king
saw his gallant soldiers go forward
against positions that the Austro-
Jfuugarians deemed impregnable six
months ago. But that was before
they got a taste of the Italian ar
tuIery fire nj it's climax of eff
cheney. Gigantic mountain fortresses
orumbled 20 dust under the terrific
ire OF the Italian guns and the de-
tenders were either killed or dazed
30 completely that they could offer
10 resistance.
An increase OF activity is reported
from the Macedonian front. Tn the
region north OF Netrenik. two col
umus or Bulgarians tried 20 advance
hut we're rolled back with severe
losses. French artillery. stationed i'm
the bend az the Tcherua river south
east Of Nouastir. has begun cannon
pdiug the Bulgarian batteries i'm re
taliation for the destruction OF
rrea- section OF Nonastir and nu-
Ynerous explosions and fires have
been observed.