The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-06
Heavy Artillery Fire Is Con-
centrated in T euton Trenches
on Whole Front
ITALIANS START FIRES,
IN AUSTRIAN MAYA LBASE
Russians Desperately Holding
On Until Moscow Confer
ence Decides Upon Next Step
in National Defense

in National Defense
Paris. Aug 5.--Heavy storms con-
huusd to deluge Belgium today while
fog like a blanket rolled IN from the
sea. But despite the handicaps OF
ground and weather the allies have
materially improved their front and
await only signs OF clearing before
resuming tho drive to clean out the
su bmarine nests which infest the Bel
gian coast
The greater burden of toaays scti-
vities was borne by the French In
tho region of Btxschoote. taken by the
allies In the frst days drive Along
almost the Aatire Belgian front. how
ever. the allied artillery. despite the
bad weather, reopened on the Ger
mans The "sottening up of the next
German defense lines already is under
way. This artillery is construed to
herald . new infantry drive the mo-
ment the ground becomes passable for
infantry.
Two farms west Of the Steenstratc-
wodmen road were captured by the
French In today's actions These
places. which had been strongly for
tIted by the Germans. lag in front
OF the French lines and were consid-
cradle menace to a new advance. They
were consistently shelled until their
further defense became useless and
carried them.
No sign is missing of the determine
ton Of the allies to dash 'over the
top" again the moment the weather
and terrsins are suitable.
Once past the present difficult
ground. low ana marshy. flooded from
the cutting of the bikes in the early
stages OF the war, the allies will md
operations easier.
Meanwhile the Germans are attempt
ing to divert attention from their
threatened right flank In Flanders by
strong demonstrations on otha< sec
tors OF the front. The German crown
prince is devoting especial attention
to the Atsne again. He launched two
attacks against the French 20 the east
Of cerny both of which failed. ard
also resurasd his heavy bombardment
of the Verdun lines.
London, Aug. s--Great Ares have
been caused at the Austrian naval
base Of PolaN by u new raid Of Italian
aeropianes. The naval works and ar
senais were heavily bombarded. &C
cording to reports reaching here, fog
interfering with the Austrian anti
aircraft guns.
The raid. the second in three days
was made at night and under cover
Of the fog. Tho Austrian searchlights
could not locate the Italian planes we'll
enough for the guns TO get into action
while the Italtan niers had little diff
hculty In locating their detectives and
dropping tons OF explosives upon them
Fires were observed 70 spring up at
many places.
Attempts at offensive action by the
tus.ri~ne in TIE Monte Remhen region
proved abortive In the italian artillery
Gre.
Russta Fighting for Chance.
London. Aug. 5.--Russia. with her
back to the wall Is fighting TO ind a
solution Of her problems which viii
save her honor and her pledged words.
Kerensky, the iron premier. still
clutch!nE firmly the reins Of power. is
sndAavoring by every means that of.
fers TO reorganize the government for
the fourth time and bring a halt TO
the mutinous Hsht of the Russian
Hours will veil. from all Indications.
whether he will be able TO save honor
ana Democracy out Of the ruins.
armies.
Kerensky has wide support. bur
working against him are the monar-
chists the industrial conservatives and
the ultra-rad!cals. all with German
support.
But still the allies hold hope that
Russia will survive. David Llotd-
George. Britafn's prime minister, today
expressed this confidence in a long
telegram to Kerensky. He told the
dmAn who has become known as Rus
sia's Lloyd George" that he felt sure
Russia would remain in the war.
Decision may be reached at the great
Moscow l-Russia conference. engl-
scared By Kerensky. Representative
Of every walk of life in Russia Will de-
4ermins whether TO get together In
one trem endous effort OF rehabiIita-
ticn both in the capital and on the
fro -
The conference Is Kerensky's own
And there are those who predict thai
the tremendous power Of the man vii
sway II to his ends; that he will be-
made absolute Dictator and given 2
free hand to do whatever is necessary
70 Bring Russia through"
Germany Is WORKING desperately e
force the immediate collapse OF Rus
sia before Kerensky can get absolute
power. Her military drives are al
politic-military