Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-13

En- JOCNAN<1As O@AA CAsO<A . "
Press)-Today's dawn again saw the
great British war machine set in ac-
ton across the Flanders mud fields
against the German position northeast
Of Ypres. At an early hour the attack
ing forces had penetrated several hun
bred yards into the enemy's territory
along a six mile front extending from
a point near Houtholst forest down be-
low the Ypres-Roulers railway and
were battling along the Paschendaele
ridge within a thousand yards of the
center of Paschendaele village.
The offensive started at 5.25 in the
morning The condition of the ground
was appalling but by 7.45 the report
came back that everything was going
we'll and the troops over wide sec
ton of the front had pushed forward
TO depth averaging 500 yards Or more
Prisoners already We're beginning to
come in although slowly owing to the
condition of the ground. The enemy's
artillery barrage was slow in response
at the hour Of attack and the fire was
not severe. but the Germans We're put
ting a heavy machine gun barrage all
along the line The enemy's guns We're
very active during the night against
the central and southern portions Of
the battle front, especially about
Broodseinde ridge and the Ypres- Roul-
erS railway.
Between 4 and 430 this morning a
large number of gas shells were
thrown along the British front line,
probably indicating that the Germans
were aware there was trouble ahead.
Mud Chief Enemy
The chief enemy of the British to-
day was not the Germans, but mud. No
worse conditions under foot could be
imagined than those that impeded the
assaulting infantry this morning The
recent rains already had turned this
whole section into a vast morass in
which men sank to their knees or to
their waists. and even were engulfed
to their necks, as they made their ard
uous way. Last night rain again fell
TO add TO the difficulties Of the situa-
ton but this morning the sun was
struggling through the clouds to cast
some measure of warmth of the bleak
and dreary waste
SO far as the Germans themselves
We're concerned. there was no doubt in
the minds Of the British that thew
could handle them. The emperor's
troops in this section now are far less
formidalre than they We're, owing to
the REORGANIZATION caused in their
ranks by the recent terrific blows dealt
to them This is not an individual
opinion. 1t is generally recognized
along the front by the British and the
Germans too, that a change has come
over the morale of the invaders AL
most any prisoner would admit this
fact
British Spirit Wonderful
The spirit of the British troops. how
ever has been wonderful throughout
lt was only yesterday that Field Mar
shal Haig in speaking to the cor
respondent mentioned this feature and
! paid the highest tribute t, the gallant
work of his men from the differont
parts OF the empire under these IN
! describably trying conditions.
Inc British commander does not con.
| me himself to headquarters in con-
Quoting operations He is here and
there and everywhere and knows what
his men are enduring. It is an in+er-
esting sidelight on the character Of tho
man who is guiding the destinies ~
the British armies in France that he
| heart undoubtedly is with the mon in
! the front line and he feels keenly their
suherlnSs. The field marshars whole
conversation indicated that.
The battle of PoelcapeIIe took On Va
neWed activity at daybreak. but no Of
hcial statement has been received 70
indicate whether the Germans hos
been pushed from their stronpbo,ds =,
me eastern stronghold
Air service NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 49,
wind was active
never Were Difficulties Greater
Not even the mud fields of the SommA
odteie front presented such difficulties 40
nave oeeh encountered during the mas,
g" "aEs IN FLANDERS. Even the infan-
Try without equipment to carry. found u
nara 20 make progress over these shell
pl'ted morasses, which sometimes drae
man and beast down to death . o,,
ago it often took full % ,,,in,+a. -.
man without gun or baggage 70 neeo.
&C. a hundred yards and since then the
rains have greatly intensified obstacles
Ii was over such ground that the man
from the British Isles and overseas were
hghtlng today. But their spirit was not
broken b. the handicap. Even the wound-
ed who returned from the forward Enas
were cheerful and full of grit. though
suffering from pain, dog tired and soaked,
from mead to foot with pasty mud. n
was revelation to see the smiles on
their faces as they waited their turn in
the dressing station
striking instance Of the determina-
ton with which the men undertook to-
days work was seen on one section or
the front. The men from overseas were
advancing over ground that can be swept
by machine gun fire from various points.
AS they struggled along behind their ar
tlilery harrage the combination OF mud
and bullets several times became more
than flesh and blood could endure. and
with the cry of Lets get on and at the
Boches and end it, they deliberately
charged through their own barrage and
hurled themselves on the enemy with
rifles and bayonets
GROANS AND LAUGHTER