The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-10
BY HENRY.WOOD.

With the French Armies in Flan-
ders. Oct 10.-Charging over flooded
fields "bridged" by great chunks of
cork held together by barbed wire,
fighting amid a roar of wind, rain
and gun fire, the men of France re-
claimed Belgian ground held by the
Germans since 1914.
France worked a modern miracle
to make her soldiers literally walk on
the sea in achieving the great victory
in this battle of the Inundation.
Feverishly working in a deluge of
rain, French engineers carpeted the
great barrier of water which was No
Mans Land in Flanders with great
islands of cork. They built miles of
trestles and countless bridges.
1t was over this mo mans water
that the French swept on TO victory.
No Cost Too Great.
Today the desperation of the Ger
man counter-attacks told of the ene-
my's realization of what he Erench
and British victories mean. The Teu
ton command threw fresh divisions
into the Flanders maelstrom with un-
paralleled prodigality. That the Ger
mans had sacrificed so many thou
sands of her troops, when her high
| command is now faced with steadily
waning man power, is proof OF the
|
enemy holds the France British sue
| cess.
The Germans know they cannot re-
treat without abandoning the Flanders
coast That means abandonment of
| the great submarine bases-curtail-
meat of the submarine campaign.
/ Every yard they are compelled to
| yield il Flanders makes relinquish-
melt of these bases that rnuch nearer.
Moreover. the British victory took
u fY1fr
heights and observatories controlling
ali the Flanders plai--s. The French
| contribution was restoration to the
allies of the land heretofore securely
held by the Germans behind the in
| undated section flooded by Celgium
| in 1914.
TorrentiaI rains sent down deluge
| of water which linked the whole
semi-inundated wilderness, she'll
| holes. streams valleys, canals, marsh
| es and rivers into a veritable sea.
Whether the French soldiers waiting
all night for the advance or the Ger
| mans awaiting the attack suffered the
most from the torrents, having no
shelter either above or below the
| ground, it is impossible to imagine.
1t was certain, however that the
French artillery superiority wiped
out any equality which nature con-
descended to give the Germans
Battle of Elements, Toe.
fire, earth, and air-Monday night.
before "zero'-the moment for the
attack. At one spot the most dense
artillery concentration of the war
caused the entire Flanders plains, as
far as the eye could reach, to vornit
up endlessly and uninterruptedly a
sheet of fire and sparks and flames.
Giant explosions of shells seemingly
mingled with natures own rumbIes of
the storm. The driving, binding rain
increased every moment as If USE
lesSly seeking to extinguish the fury
of the artillery. For every increase In
} the whipping rain, it seemed the
French artillery likewise increased.
Towards morning nature gave up the
, struggle. Then the artillery reached
a triumphant crescendo, as it spat
| forth rolling barrage.
Behind this the French infantry
: leaped from it's half-inundated posi-
tions to the marsh covered pIaina
7 before it-leaped from island to is-
) land to the attack.
The assault Came before the Ger
: mans expected it. The enemy was
: caught while first line division was
) being changed. The new defenders
Z a fresh division rushed from the Rus
sian front, was caught and decin1 q ted
! by the tremendous barrage fire. The
z French attained their detectives with
r minimum losses. The victory wa
7 won.
Third Victory Since August L.
Tuesdays great drive is the third
one since August 1. Since the begin.
ming of the allied Flanders offensive
while the British were gaining tn.
n last observatory domination and con
trolling the Flanders plains. to thu
coast the French have been steadiIl
e ttontinuea Page 1woi