New-York tribune., 1917-07-17
Germans Flung Back After
Penetrating Advanced
Positions
British Press Ahead
North Of Messines
Great Gun Duel Resumed
on Scarpe and Near
the Coast
DAYS DEVELOPMENTS

Russians announce capture of 36,733 prs
oners in FIRST thirteen days Of offensive IN
East Calicia. Drive back Ieuton counter
thrusis at Kolusz and press on southwest OF
that town. holding half Of Lodziany. Ber-
lin reports lively fighting at both extremes of
Western Russian from, and at many places
along vast line.
British advance slightly east Of Messines,
in Flanders Berlin recounts repulse Of
strong British attacks near coast.
After all-night battle French retain com
plete control of new positions in Champagne.
Italians more aggressive Gun duel in
creases and successful advance is made on
Carso.
London. July ia second furious
battle was precipitated in the Cham
pagne last night by German attempts
to retake lost positions between Mont
Haut and the Teton. Toward Mont
Haut the massed forces of the Crown
Prince were unable to struggle through
the French curtain of fire, but near the
other height they swarmed over the
new French defences, and the issue re-
mained in doubt until dawn, when the
poilus finally drove them out of every
.k .
st. Quentin to east of Verdun there
were brisk encounters, with little
change of position.
Along the front held by General Haig
the British advanced their line slightly
north of Messines. The duel of the
big guns between the coast and the
French border continues violent, and
Berlin reports that it has developed to
an intense pitch on the north bank of
the Scarpe. to the west Of Douai Ber-
lin also chronicles three strong British
attacks to retake the territory recently
lost to the Germans near Lombaert-
zyde in the sand dunes, all of which
were broken up with heavy loss.
The British War Office remains ST.
lent on this action, merely mentioning
a successful raid near Oppy and the
repulse Of enemy advances near Ar
mentieres and Fontaine-les-C Croisilles.
The German War Office says that Brit
ish scouts were exceedingly active over
the whole Arras front.
The Importance to the Germans of
the Champagne positions seized by the
French yesterday and held against all
reactions to-day is almost vital. There
are five outstanding heights on the So
called MorOnvilliers ridge, and since
April Is the French, in struggle after
struggle, have finally conquered every
crest. Only at one point were the Ger
mans able 10 retain any observation
position. They still managed to cling
TO the saddle between the peaks Of Mont
/ Haut and the Teton, or Head Noun
/ tain" 1t was from an intricate forti-
/ fication they had erected there that
they were expelled yesterday, thus be
ing driven into blind" trenches far.
ther down the slopes.
This explains the vigor of their ef.
fort to reconquer the ground. At then
first onset, in three waves, they recapt-
ured almost all the lost area on one
side and, as they were greatly superior
to the French in numbers, resisted
throughout the night every attempt tC
oust them. Finally, after the sun rose
the poilus organized a charge which
carried them through the traversc'
clear 10 the northern edge of the posi-
tions. re-establishing their lines com
pletely. Berlin insists that partia
gains were made by the Germans, who
took prisoners and machine guns.
Berlin also reports the failure oi
. determined French counter attacks neal
. Ccrny, on the Chemin-des-D Danes
while Paris maintains that some terri
tory was annexed near Allies, while
three strong German thrusts were rem
dered futile near St. Quentin.
The artillery fire is growing in tho