Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
IND all tho Teu,on eoun,erat,ack,

.eeffEht foi the next crash. The Ger
nifhans have massed all the reserves al
.their command for desperate attemp;
,fQ retain their strip on the Belgian
Coast and all 1t means to them in their
:: Slla,iersea campaign.
these armies the British and
10 French for more than three weeks
'.1haSe been massing troops for a blow
'NSffnilar to that which two months agu
carried them forward more than INF
teen miles in Northern France to the
new Hindenburg line
:, GERMAN LINES STRONGEST
$50 POSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT
s.=.All reports from the front indicate
that the German lines are tho strong
Fest it is possible to construct. They
realize that here is the vital sector OF
tho western front. and they have ne
elected no precaution to make their
grip on the Belgian lowlands as tight
as possible.
Tonight the weather was beginning
to clear, heralding a new drive to-
morrow, or perhaps on Friday. The
terrain along the entire front is of
such nature that infantry operations
before the sun has had q chance to dry
and almost impossible. The troops are
suffering terrible hardships in their
Hooded trenches. but the big guns have
never ceased. With the tightening Of
the rain mist their fire is reSuming
It's former degree Of intensity, a bonn
bardment that for days has been heard
IN London.
With the breaking OF the clouds
fresh swarms of allied aviators also
have been let loose upon the German
lines Raids on concentrations behind
the kaiSers front have been effective
iy carried OUT and the German de-
lenses plotted for the artillery.
Rumors Of 4 plan for a great aerial
bombardment of the submarine bases
at Ostend. Bruges and Zeebrugge in
connection with the infantry offensive
are heard. Warships availa BILE for
inshore fighting-monitors, torpedo
boats. destroyers and other light-draft
vessels-also are said TO be ma ssed for
an attack in an effort to turn the Ger
man wing along the sea.
Indications tonight were that if this
combined drive from the air, land and
sea is made against the Germans it
will not be until the ground has dried
out.
GAINS OF FIRST DAY
HAVE TWO RESULTS
The gains OF the first day of the
drive have had two results
!. They have placed the French and
British armies in a more favora BILE
position for new stroke
?. They have proved that. despite the
German ingenuity and infinite care.
the Teutons have been unable 10 make
their 'impregnable lines ia this sec
-0on strong enough 10 withstand allied
artillery FIRE.
The drive is designed to clear the
Germans from French and BeIeiao
Flanders, to w-est from them their
hold on the Belgian sea coast. where
they have established a number OF
hornets nests" OF submarines, and 70
turn their flank in such manner thar
further Withdrawn! in Northern
France Will be necessary.
reserves were brought up and sen,
iato action by Crown Prince Rupprech.
d Bavaria German commander on this
'EenI ou, their utmost efforts were
oAsFsi!iaE They finally los. heart
Oade! the heavy losses inflicted nm,
them.
One OF the most important features
OF tie situation is tina, on N. f-o,,
now under attack the allies apparently
have complete command o, the a;r a.
well as artillery performance. None
'ne's extensive preparations was
Ano"h 70 the Germans. Neither the
ss'hs OF men nor the massinS OF
a'''!'ery mad been known in Berlin.