New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-08
Germans Unable
To Counter Attack
At Passchendaele
Canadians Consolidate I'M
portant Captured
Positions
Teutons Kill Own Men
Many Prisoners Slain When
on Way to Brit
ish Cages

LONDON. Nov. The Canadians
have consolidated all their positions
won yesterday. in and beyond Passchen-
daele, without interruption from the
enemy. General Haig's statement to-
night. emphasizing this. is significant:
an spite of the great Importance which
il is known the enemy attached to this
commanding locality. no hostile reac-
ton has yet followed its capture
The morale of the German troops was
never before exhibited at such low
ebb. for Field Marshal Won linden
burg. according 10 reliable informs-
ton, had issued stern edict that L
his troops lost Passchendaele it must
be recovered at all costs. Some indl-
cation of the fury of the British at
tack and its deadly effect Oh the enemy
may be seen in this failure Of the
Germans to strike back at such vital
point in the battle line Of Flanders.
One other highly important feature
connected with the latest struggle east
of Ypres was revealed to-day. The
British took many more than four hun
bred prisoners, but only four hundred
reached the cages alive. The rest were
slaughtered by their comrades guns as
they were being brought back TO the
British lines.
Reuters correspondent telegraphs to-
night: About four hundred prisoners
were taken at Passchendaele. con
siderable number were killed by the fire
of their own guns as they were being
brought back. whether by accident or
design has not been learned; otherwise
the total would have been much
higher
British Losses Light
The British losses are declared 70
have been extremely light
The Berlin War Office statement TO-
day, while admitting that the attackers
penetrated into Passchendaele, asserts
that the eastern part of the village was
wrested back and that the British were
unable with fresh forces 10 extend
their point of penetration beyond the
village. North Of Passchendeele and on
The heights near Becclaere and Ghelu-
welt. to the south, the British assaults
are declared 20 have been shattered by
artillery fire and in savage hand-to-
hand fighting. o.,
While the London newspapers, with
the exception Of The Chronicle and
.'The Daily News" the two leading Lib
eral organs. are strangely unmoved by
the victory of the Canadians, the
French papers declare the struggl e
marked a glorious stage IN the battle
Of Flanders.
at is the GROWING Of a nightmare
struggle and the attainment Of an end,
saws ale Petit Parisien.' "Le Matin'
agrees. saying: THE victory marks the
concluding stage OF the formidable
third Battle OF Ypres. which Will re-
main one Of the most poignant and per
haps one of the most decisive battles
of the war
Haig's Advantageous Position
Unuuestionably, the conquest of Pas
schendaele ends the struggle Of the
British for the great ridge that formed
the backbone of Germany's defence IN
Flanders, and thus they have gained
positions from which the mighty OF
fensive operations of next spring may
be launched with promise of certain
success.
From the little hamlet which lies in
ruins from the battering Of countless
shells the rolling Flanders plains can
be seen, stretching out for many miles.
Il is doubtful IL Haig will make any
further great efforts here this winter,
for he has now reached his ideal win
ter headquarters" with his army
placed where it can swoop down upon
the German lines next spring under
fewer difficulties than it has had to
face for three years. II the Germans
do not retreat before then they VIII
not be able to hold on many days after
lighting is renewed.
The day was comparatively quiet on
the French front German attacks near
St. Quentin, Rheims and the Chsume
Wood, north Of Verdun. were beaten
back by the fire OF the French guns
and won not foot of ground. The
artillery duel along the Ailette River,
north of the Aisne, continues spirited.