New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
Allies Advance on User
and at Ypres in
Rainstorm
London Disappointed
At Results of Drive
Teuton Artillery Believed
Too Powerful to
Overcome

London, Aug. The great battle Ia
Flanders precipitated by the Anglo
French offensive CT yesterday ragged
throughout last night and to-day over
sixteen miles Of front, despite an al
most tropical rsinstorm. which only
now shows signs OF cessing.
The British managed to advance their
line slightly southeast OF Ypres, and
the French gained more ground on the
north bank Of the User, between Dix
nude and Bixschoote. But at the point
Of greatest penetration, east and north
east of Ypres, the Germans attacked
ssvagely and successfully, retskins tn.
village Of ST. Julien and winning back
half the town of Westhoeck, though
Haig's fighters succeeded in holding al
most all the cuplike rim Of high ground
conquered in the first rush.
The British War Office announces
that the number Of prisoners taken ex-
ceeds 5000, including 95 officers, and
adds that several guns were captured.
together with many trench mortars and
machine guns.
Germans Win on Aisns
The fighting on the Aisne and Verdun
front was also intense. Paris minimizes
the actions there, but admits that GER
tain trench elements on the left bank
of the Meuse were lost. Berlin asserts
that an elaborate trench system was
seized from the French on the Chemin.
des-Dames, near La Bovslle farm, and
that the victory yielded over 1900
prisoners.
An additional 500 prisoners were
taken between Ayoeourt Wood and Hill!
304, at Verdun. when the French were
driven back from positions they recon
quered on July 4. The German pene-
tration is given as about 700 yards
deep, over a front of one and q third
miles.
That the German high command is
fully alive to the gravity Of the situs-
tion and the menace Of the combined
drive is clearly apparent in the day
bulletin from Berlin. 1t is admitted
tat the fsr-hung engagement has Just
~or menced, but the assertion is made
Il p. the first day Of battle was q Ger.
MN victory.
The grea. battle in Flanders has
commenced it reads. at is one OF
the most tremendous Of the third year
Of the war. which is coming 70 an end
to-day with promises Of success.
Great Masses Used
with masses such as have never
been used at any period Of this war. not
even in the east by General BusiloF,
the English, and in their wake the
French, attacked yesterday on Q tven-
ty-fve kilometre front between Eord-
schoote and Warneton. Their aim was
lofty one. Il vas intended to de-
liver an annihilating blow TO the IT,
boat pest which form the coast of
Flanders is undermining Engisnd's
The advance is described as one Of
"close-packed waves" in which tanks
and even cavalry units were freely
mendous pressure" Of the attacking
German defensive zone, but an "im-
petuous counter attack" which led 10
all day hand-to-hand fighting, 10 said
10 have thrown the French and British
back either out Of the fighting zone"
or into the crater field.
The British are credited With having
retained this crater field 10 . great
depth around Ypres end the loss Of
Bixschoote Is admitted. Additional
Anglo-French assaults In the evening
are described as fruitless before our
newly arranged battleline." r.
Germans Confident ~
The fighting quality Of the German
defenders in all branches Of the service
Is dwelt upon, especially the purpose
ful quiet of the leadership" which of
fered certain guarantees for tho tsrmi-
nation of the battle In our favor Ths
communique ends with q note Of con
fidence as to the outcome Of the FUR
ther battle which must be expected
In London, too, the decisive char
acter which the great action may as
sumo at any moment is fully realised,
though a continuous. grinding battle
of the character Of that on the Somme
is expected. Il was not expected that
Hsic and the French could break
through the enemy's complicated de-
fensive zone at a single blow, and the
German jubilation that this was not se-
comulished in the first twenty-four
hours is discounted.
Nevertheless, perhaps because OF the
comparstively small number Of pris-
oners taken in the initial attack, per-
haps because Of the cold, gloomy
weather, there is a certain amount OF
disappointment. The people had known
for so long OF the preparations being
made and their hopes he'd run so high
that the reports from the front,
couched in a mild, temperate tone,
fail 10 arouse any degree Of snthusi'
ssm. The tendency Of the war critics
| and the correspondents 10 explain and
apologize injuries rather than helps the
| situation.
Battle May Last Wesn
Undoubtedly the attack was henv-
ered severely By weather condition..