Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-17
|B|G GUNS IN DUEL
IN THE CHAMPAGNE
Berlin Records RepuIse of
Enemy Attacks on
the Aisne.
FRENCH GAIN IN ALSACE

BY the Associated Press
| PARIS. February 17.-Artillery duels
in the sector of Maisons- de-Champagne
are reported in this afternoons official
communication.
The French made an attack at Am
merzweiler. An appreciate loss was
inflicted on the Germans.
The statement follows:
There was active artillery fighting
in the sector of Maisons-de-Cha
payne. In the region of Eparges a
German surprise attack was broken
up by our fire.
after spirited bombardment late
yesterday one Of our detachments
penetrated the German salient at AM
destroyed it. 1t was ascertained that
the enemy suffered appreciate losses
We took prisoners; the night was
calm elsewhere.
Information now at hand establishes
the fact that on January 90 Capt Dou-
mer brought down his fifth German air
plane. Yesterday one of our pilots de-
stroyed captive German balloon in the
region of Marvaux, south of Fouzieres.'
French Repulsed, Says Berlin.
BERLIN. February II, by wireless to
Sayville.-French troops made attacks
yesterday on the Aisne, west of Berry
au-Bac, and the Champagne. south OF
Ripont. Today's official communication
says these efforts failed. The statement
reads:
Western front: Army group of Crown
Prince Rupprecht: On the Artois front
and in the Somme sector, especially on
both sides of the Ancre, the artillery
duel reached considerable violence. At
several places attacks by British recon
noiter1ng parties were repulsed. and
south of Miramount stronger attack,
launched after drumfire, was repulsed.
Army group of the German crown
prince: On the AisEe and west of
Berry-au-Bac. and in the Champagne,
south of Rfpont. French advances failed.
Our air squadrons extensively bonn
barded important establishments behind
the hostile front
"On the somrle several ammunition de-
pots of our adversaries were blown up.
The explosion and earth shaking were
noted as far away as st. Quentin"
Germain Gain in Champagne.
Troops of the German crown prince
in an attack against French positions
south Of Ripont. in the Champagne, yes
terday, the war office announced last
night, on a front of about a mile and a
half captured ground to depth of a half
mile. The Germans took S5S prisoners.
including twenty-one officers.
The attack. which was preceded by in
tense artillery fire. was made mainly
against French positions at Maisons de
Champagne farm and Hill 1856, about one
third OF mile south of the farm Four
lines OF French positions were stormed in
the attack. The French made counter
attacks last night and this morning, but
We're repulsed with losses. The German
losses are said to have been small.
British Official Report.
LONDON. February 1.-THE official
communication from British headquarters
in France issued last evening reads:
1--WE entered German positions south
east of Souchez during the night and cap
tured eleven prisoners. All our party
returned safely. An enemy party that
reached our. lines northeast of Armen-
there's early this morning suffered a num-
Der of casualties and was at once driven
cut
THE enemy's artillery has shown
great activity in the neighborhood of
Saillisel tSomme). There was consid-
cradle activity by both sides near
Morval
Yesterday one British airplane and
.hree German airplanes. one of which
fell on our side Of the line, were
brought down in aerial fights. Five
other enemy machines were driven
Town damaged, while ninth hostile
airplane was brought down by our
anti-aircraft guns Four other British
machines are missing"