The evening current., 1918-08-29
British Successes OF 1917 Pale
in Comparison to Latest
Battles.
Big EVENTS OF FOURTH YEAR
Battles Of csmbral, Third Battle Of
Ypres, Battle Of Menin Road, Of
Broodseinde and Passehendaele
Loom Up Importantly.

British army during the last half OF
1917, including the battles ~ Cam
brnI, the third battle ~ Ypres, the bat
tie OF MenIn road, ~ BroodseInde and
of passChendnele, would loom up Inn
portnntly In any survey W the past
years hghting on the western front but
for one reason: They do not COIN.
purc In any sense with the fighting
since March ~. 1918.
The spring ~ 1917 saw the begin
ming of the allied offensive against
Germany. hut the third miscarricd nj
most from the start, and, after II was
seen TINT there was nothing more to
be expected from Russia, the great
offensive" ~ the allies found itself
diverted into n number of smaller hat
tiles. where occasionally some 20O,0OO
men were employed on either side.
Some 1900 prisoners were taken by
the British In eight of these thrusts
against the German line between
August I, 1877 and the close Of the
year. and important positions were
won, hut the successes were only tac-
teal.
The third battle of Ypres began
July ~. 1917. and continued until Au-
gust 10. again hrcnking out August
10, the British crossed the User
canal. taking nine villages and 6,122
prisoners. when the battle was re-
ncwed. August 10, Lnngemnrck was
taken hesldes 2.114 more prisoners.
Meanwhile. the Canadians on the Lens
sector attacked and captured Hlll No,
TO- took 200 prisoners and maintained
their positions against Ave counter
attacks. This was on August rs.
Smash Foe az verdun.
The French on August 20. attacking
IN nm l1.mlle front NJ Verdun. recap
turrd about two-thlrds ~ the ground
which the crown princes army hnt
won In months ~ slaughter.
The chief action In September 1917,
wan In the hattie of Menin rond.
which began September 20. the object
being 10 loosen the German grip on
the const. Following mn eight hours
bomhnrdment the British advanced
on nm elght.mile front from IIolle-
beke 10 Inngemarck. capturing n
hnlf.dozen important positions and
taking 3,249 prisoners
During October. 1917, when disaster
overlook the Italians. both the French
and the British scored noteworthy
successes ON October 4 n great strug-
gle began on front Of eight miles
a.. Daa nIA IA
the battle of Broodseinde. perhaps
the most important during the year
on the British front. The Germans
had planned an attack for o n. IN.
hut the British launched their offen-
sive nm hour earlier. shattered three
enemv divisions. broke M four others
and took 4.448 prisoners while Cana-
dinns took 1000 prisoners. The
French. on October, %. attacked
northeast Of SoissOns on n slx.mlle
front on the AlSne. from vhuxIllOn To
La Royere, piercing the enemy's line
four miles aud tuliing 1900 prison.
ers. on October q the British took
POelcnppelle mud 2,02S prisoners and
made some slight gains with heavy
attacks In the lpres sector October
%, 20 and 20.
On November q the Canadians won
their great victory, capturing Pass
chendRele Ridge. for which the British
had been battling for months. The
Canadians held the ridge until the re-.
cent hammer blows. November also
saw the British success. which was
partially diminished by h surprise
counterstroke. at Cambria. The Third
British army. under sir Julian Byng,
on November 20 launched It's drive
without artillery preparation on an