Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-03
ENC|RCL|NG MOVE
|. AGAINST ENGLISH
COMPLETELY FAILS
British Lines Remain Tacti-
cally as Strong as Be-
fore Drive.
CASUALTIES HEAVIER THAN
ANY RECORDED DURING WAR
Germans Occupy Village Long
Evacuated and Report
Big Victory.
GUNS THUNDER ALONG PIAvE
Austro-Gcrman Forces Delay Their
Attack on Italians, but Artil-
lery Duels Progress.
CNs THUNDER ALONG PIAvE

The attempt of Bavarian Crown
Prince Rupprccht by an encirclinE
movement to nullify the brilliant ad-
vance Of General Byng toward Cam
brai has resulted apparently in COM
plcte failure. Although at certain
points the Germans pierced the British
lines and captured positions. men ana
guns. they have paid dearly for their
enterprise in casualties. the dead near
Lavacquerie during the course OF
twelve hours having been greater in
number than during any similar period
of fighting since the war began.
Relatively the British line remains
as 1t was before the German drive.
Tactically it is just as strong. The
enemy. i'll great numbers. has en-
dearored to pierce the front at Mas
nieres. delivering in all ten attacks
there, all OF which were successfully
repulsed. Some of the enemy sue
cccded by rcdoubled efforts in pene-
trating the adjoining village of Les
Rues Nertes, but later were driven
out in Il counterattack
! The sharp salient formed by the oc-
cupation of AIasnieres by the British
was an extremely hard ono to hold.
Byng. to improve his line, ordered tho
evacuation of the village, which was
carried out unhampered by the Ger
mans. who Sunday morning evidently
had not learned of the strategic move,
as they were continuing to lombard
the old position. Later, Rcrlin an
nounced that the Village had been
cleared OF British.
EFFORTS on SOUTH ALSO
BRING HUNS HEAVY LOSSES
Near the southern base OF the line
the Germans also have attempted to
better their positions around Con
nelieu. Lavacqucrc and Bourbon, but
their eHorts. as ut Masniercs, brought
them nothing more than additional
heavy casualties. The German War
Office claims that sixty guns and more
than 100 machine guns were captured
by them in the lighting OF Friday and
saturday.
An interesting feature of the initial
attack by'thc Germans on Friday was
that near Gouzeaucourt a large force
of American army engineers were
trapped in tho cncirciing movement.
They took refuge in shell cratcrs until
the British pressed forward. and then,
joining the British ranks, fought side
|
by side with the Rritons and aided
materially in rcpellinG the enemy.
Tic -tGStro-ocrman forces have not
yet launched their expected attack In
force on the northern front in the
Italian thcater. ut all along the line,
and also along the lave River to the
Adriatic Sea. violent artillery duels
arc in progress. Near Meletta an at
tempt by the enemy 10 break tho
Italian line. delivered with preliminary
artillery preparation of great intensity.
WAS put down and the attacking force
/ compelled to flee.
In Palestine the Turks west of Jcru-
salem cootinuc TO attack the British
positions. hd' everywhere !hey have
been repui'..I with heavy losses \.
one place the OttomanS penetrated a
British position. but later were elected
from it, leaving prisoners in the hands
Of the British.