The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-06
comrades in the front lines when fh'
German attacks should begin.
Enemy Resistance Weak.

comrades in the front lines when the
German attacks should begin.
Enemy Resistance Weak.
Taking tho battle as whole the
Germans offered weak resistance 10 tho
British advance yesterday morning.
iiut despite tho heavy blow dealt TO
the enemy It wns not considered i'm
probable that th"y would make strenu-
Gus countsr-attacks as soon as they
could reform their shattered forces.
The story OF yesterdays fighting is
that Of perfect organization which
worked with Clucltlike precision. II WIS
still dusk when the British began the
steam roller advance. for low hanging
clouds blankcteH the country and \
light drizzlc was falling For days an
Intens. bombardmcnt had been main
tanned over the German front. but The
artillery fire which opened US tn" great
harrare dropped was appalling. Gun" OF
all calibrcs. from enormous howitzcr9
N light field guns Joined in the internal
thunder. which shook 'he countryside
like IN earthquake. Solid lines OF vivid
fire bleched from tho earth and from
the murkv sky abo:e as the great shells
ard Shrapnel burst along tho German
lines The ruins OF the little hamlclS
rerchcd on tho ridges STOOD out in
chostly silhouett" against the flashes.
and over the whole scene the clouds
threw back crimson glow.
On the loft OF the advance the
around in tho region OF Poclcaprelle
was not in bad condition, except along
the stromh"ch river. where It was very
rlarshy nec"sSitatinE a slow advance.
Tho tanks operating with the troops
here did excellent service. reducing n
number ct strong redoubts and concrete
pill boxes poalcappclle vas we'll gar
rtsoned. but apparently did not offer
strong resistance.
Two Towns Destroyed.
Meantime others were making their
wav oyer Abraham Heights. near
Gravcnstafel. There was some cellar
Fighting here. BIZ: il was brief. The
nnain trouble WAS encountered near the
fort where III. Germans had eight
strong concrete rcdoubts. Sharp fight
Ing followed hu: thu Germans finally
were forced. with rifles and bombs
10 surrender. Both Poolcapelle ana
GravanstafelI are masses of ruins. Tho
latest reports show the British have
syvarined over virtually all OF Craven
staiel ridge.
South Of the Ypres-Roulcrs railway.
which cuts the e-GheiuVeI'
II. The British were on the crest OF the
ridge or beyond /. throughout the re-
nlaiuder of It's length. They had little
trouble in reaching II. There was Il
brief battle near Hol"naarelsthockc cross
roads. which were fortified. Just north
90 here the Gcrmaus held farm from
which they poured heavy machine gun
fire into the british ranks until tho
r1aca was Subduel.
Prisoners were secured in Polderhoek
and the Chateau near there was carried
after sharp lighting. JoiSt farm. near
the southeastern ridge Of PolySon
Wool. which had been . sore spot 10
tho British for days. still held out at
the latest reports. although tho British
had pushed beyond it on both sides. This
was the only snae OF the kind encoun-
-erad as far as Is known.
Rroodseiuda. which lies on the ridge.
was the approximate center Of tho day =
attack, and here was the deepest point
Of the advance. From this village the
line tapercd off gradually to the rorth
end tho south.