Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-15
HA|G GETS READY
FOR A NEW DRIVE
Heavy Cannonading in BEL
gium Believed to Foreshad-
ow Advance by British.
MUD THE CHIEF OBSTACLE

Heavy artillery actions are again in
progress on the Flanders front. Lon
don's official report today speaks of
strong bonn bardment of the new British
positions on the main Passchendaele
Gheluvelt ridge, south Of Broodseinde.
In the light Of previous experience this
may be viewed as indicating German
counter battery work against the in
tensive British artillery FIRE in progress
preparatory to another push.
British Guns on Ridge.
The British artillery now has superior
positions from which to work, as there
must by this time have been ample OPP
portunity for the heavy guns to be put
in position on the dominating high
ground taken in the recent advances.
1t thus seems probable that Field Mar
shall Haig will not delay his next
stroke beyond the time when these
guns have had an opportunity to break
up such concrete construction the
Germans have been able TO construct
in what they describe as their de
fensive zone" which week by week is
being forced farther eastward.
The weather. however. is a decidedly
important element in this considera-
tfon. the continuation of hard storms
not only keeps the ground in a state
we'll nigh prohibitive of co-ordinated
infantry advances, but interferes seri-
ously with the vital aerial observation
work.
Germans Suffer in Raids.
BY the Associated Press
LONDON. October I5.-No further in
fantry engagements have occurred on
the front of the British attack in Bel
GUM. In successful raids yesterday
large losses were inflicted on the Ger
mans. Following is the official account
Of these operations:
Our positions on the main ridge
south OF Broodseinde Were heavily
hombarded during the night by the
enemy. No infantry action has taken
place.
In a successful raid carried out by
us yesterday afternoon southeast of
Monchy le-Preux, east county troops
captured thirty-six prisoners and two
machine guns. Two hundred Germans
were killed by the infantry and seven
of the enemy's dugouts were destroyed
with explosives.
Another successful raid was carried
out by South Midland territorials early |
last night northeast of RoeuX. A num- |
outs destroyed and twelve prisoners |
were taken"
Artillery Duel at Verdun.
PARIS. October 15.-violent artillery |
fighting is again in progress on the |
yerdun froI--, but no furth- infantry !
statements. The French raided the
German lines in Champagne during the
night. The announcement follows:
'On the Aisne front very active ar
tiilery fighting continued in the region
of the plateaus between ALLIES and
Craonne. In the Champagne we made
an attack on the German lines east of
Maisons de Champagne. and brought
back ter prisoners
"On the right bank of the Mouse
(Verdun 'front.' there was violent artil-
lely ming noftn of Hill 344. There
is nothing to report from the remain
der of the front
"Ger~an aviators dropped bombs
last night in the region of Dunkirk.
II IS reported there were several VIC
tins among the civilian population"
Flanders at Its Worst.
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND
BELGIUM. Saturday. October IA
With the exception Of two brief in
tervals of sunlight there was a con-
tinuous hard rain today on the Bel
gian battle front This was most i'm
portant news from the new battle line
for II meant that the low-lying fields
IN Flanders were rapidly being turned
Into that state Of liquidation which
represented Flanders at its worst, and
Flanders at its worst has few COM
petitors.
Troops in the forward IfpaS ~ +ba
opposing armies were lying out in
this wilderness of mud and water
with little protection from the cold.
driving rain. watching each other in
tently. but making few attempts to
stir from the morass- bound positions
Desultory fighting was continuing for
the lines come close together in many
places and rifles and machine guns
were pouring streams of bullets across
NO Mans Land"
The British were clinging doggedly to
the strips of territory which thew had
wrested from the enemy on Friday
That Field Marshal Haig's men were
able to advance at all over this almost
impossible ground is still matter O.
wonder among observers
AS result Of yesterdays attack the
British greatly improved their positions
especially along the important Pass
chendaele ridge and on the left wing
OF the offensive north of PozlcapelIe In
some few places they made no advance
NJ all or rather were pushed forward
. and then were forced to fall back, be-
cause Of the mud barriers that thew en-
countered.