The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-10-26
French Give Kaiser
Years Worst Beating
Continued From Page l

three miles into the pivotal base
OF the German line. curylng around
the western extremity OF tn. Che
min Des Danes.
A terrific drive launched Monday
carried the French tri-color and the
British Union Jack forward on the
raaachendaslc ridge. and drove the
enemy back nearly a mile further
Presumably todAyg drive Ia In
exactly the same location All o.
iiaisa operations foi tho past
month seven blows in Rll-hayc
been here
The 'punh" IN TO cut tho Ger
man artery line Of communication
a RoulerN. and thus 10 menace
from the flank the German sub
marine bases al zesbruggr and o.
tend Roulcra IL now only abou,
live miles from the most advanced
positions reported before today
resumed drive Not only that. bot
the British and French have taken
practically all % III. high ground
on the Passeheudaela ridge. As
soon as all Of this dominating tor,
rltory IL reclaimed. the way will
bc open TO the pivot olty-ercepi
for the Flanders mud OF the inter.
venlng iowlands.
The greatest satisfaction was ex'
pressed here today over the mag
nl'leent evidence afforded BY
France Of her military strength.
Gen petain Is now conducting
two major uifcnsives. one on the
Alsne front. by which tho Germans
have been thrown back in con.
fusion from n key position. the
other with tho British In tire.
mendously important assault in
Flanders,
Six hundred prisoners taken at
Plnun evidenced this demoralixa.
ton OF the orderly German military
brain thru Petaln's staggering
bios.
The Germans had no, even
thought Of defeat At the corner
Of their line. where the French
struck. Their lines were "impreg.
uabls when those "impregnable"
positions melted before the French
fire. the decentralization must have
been sudden. dramatic and bitter
to the German high command.
Total captures Of men reach
more than 5000. More than 100
guns have been taken 40 far Sew.
erai hundred trench mortars and
machine guns are not included in
tbs count
Judging from prisoners stories
and an estimate of the mangled
heaps OF German dead. the German
losses IN Tuesdays drive and
Thursdays accoleration may be
conssrvatively estimated at equiva.
lent to three whole German diyis.
ions-ap approximately $4,000 men.
In proportion to the size OF the
battle front seven miles-this is
the heaviest loss which Germany
has sustained in single series
OF military operations since the
German retreat last spring.
Not only that. but the French
victory ls cumulative one. Poilus
now dominate the entire Ailette
valley Their hold on the obserya-
tories here practically renders un-
tenable the German lines along
the northern edge of the Bloody
Chemin Des Danes all the way to.
ward Craonne. far TO the east.
Today the battle Numbered on.
the enemy apparently seeking to
make stand on new lines opposite
the Heights of the Allette.
How great was the Jar TO Ger.
man army morale when linden
burg's troops felt the impact OF
Petaius pivotal blow was evidenc.
ed in n series OF proofs today. Like
a boxer. struck a staggering blow
on the Jaw. the German army ma
chine reeled backward, it's mind
confused, every sense OF apprehen-
sion attuned TO the keenest point
and then. with muddled, befogged
comprehension. strove TO cover up