Evening star., 1917-10-03
FRENCH PREPARE
VERDUN ATTACK
British Play Havoc With Enemy
Observation-Disclosures
Under Terrific Gunfire.
TEUTON MORALE WEAKER

~ SbS
Along the French front the artillery
duels have been vigorous at many
points. The activity was especially
marked north of Verdun. where the
French are apparently preparing an at
tack to recover few trench elements
which the crown princes troops re-
tanned when their main attacking force
was thrown back north of Hill No. 3i4
yesterday. A German attempt to attack
east of Rheims was broken up by the
French artillery.
Germans Checked Near Rheims.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, October 3.-Violent artillery
fighting continues on the Verdun front,
says today's official announcement. No
important infantry operations occurred
during the night. The statement fol-
lows:
East of Rheims our artillery effec-
lively shelled the German batteries and
broke up preparations in the enemy
trenches for an attack. West of Nava-
rim French detachments penetrated the
enemy lines and blew up several shell
ters. bringing back prisoners.
on the NerQun front tne nlSnt was
marked by violent artillery fighting on
both banks of the Meuse. particularly
in the region north of Hill No. 344.
where spirited patrol engagements also
occurred.
IAN incursion into the enemy lines
In the region of the Casque gave us
good results. Everywhere else the
night was quiet"
Communications Disturbed.
Ry tbe Associated press
LONDON, October 3.-Dispatches from
Holland Forwarded by frontier corre-
spondents say that the allied airmen are
playing havoc with the German railway
communications and military establish
ments in Belgium.
On Sunday night, according to the Tele-
graaf. railway communica ton with Client
was interrupted. Another correspondent
says that bridge was destroyed just be-
fore the arrival of a military train, the
engine of which fell through the opening,
derailing several cars, which were then
bombed.
Punished Germans Crest"
By the Associated Pross
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, October a.
The badly punished German troops east
OF fpres yesterday were largely resting
on their arms after reverses suffered Mon
day, when they attempted in a series Of
fierce counter attacks to drive the British
is a misnomer. for the enemy was sitting
under terrific bombariment from hum
dreds Of big guns, which were deluging
his back and forward areas with high ex-
plosives and turning his Businesses into
twisted masses of debris which formed the
graves of the defenders.
Any of the nerve-wracked half
stunned German prisoners who have
lived under these bombardments can
tell of the tragedy now being enacteu
along the German front in this section
of Belgium. Thanks to the German
counter attacks. there has been hardly
a moments cessation of the intense ar
tillery work of the British since last
Wednesday, when Field Marshal Haigs
troops executed their latest offensive
Defenses Demoralized.
Captured Germans say that their for
ward defenses have been greatly de-
moralized by this cease'ess pounding
Relief and ration parties venture out
to be turned back or to make their
miserable way forward by circuitous
shell holes. who have often been COM
PEELED to hold on without water or proper
food. Badly needed ammunition has
frequently never reached its destination
Every approach to the German lines
is covered by British guns, making the
movement of enemy infantry an arduous
process. Naturally the question arises
what effect all this is having on the
morale Of the German troops. 1t is gem
orally admitted among the prisoners
that the morale of their men has de-
Perforated since the beginnirg of the
battles in Flanders Divisions which
have been through one siege in the Ger
man front lines sometimes resent being
used second time in this position. This
marks striking chance from the for
nner attitude Of the German troops, who
have worked unthinkino machines to
carry ont unquestioned orders issued oy
their officers.
Meanwhile the s-irit Of the British
troops is daily climbing higher.
Canadians Successful.
CANADIAN HEADoUARTERS IN
FRANCE. October 3-The enemy early
our lines in the Avion sector but was
discovered before he cot to cfos~ quar-
ters. and driven off. after sustaining a
number of casualties. The infantry artiv-
itv is eeneralv less than normal but the
sound of euns never ceases. The Ger
mans are attamptine more ~ way of
Destructive shots on our battery posi-
ffons thar thew did earlie- in the seq :
sti11 far behind the P-itich and Cana
dian gunrers There has hean marked
Increase in the use of lone rance. high
velocity guns nv tn" Germans The re-
suits certainly do not justify the free
use o. these guns The enemy also has
Increased the proportion OF gas shells
ana mas sent rs many varieties OF ~"
This may indicate that the chemicals
from which poisonous gas i~ made are
available in greater quantities than
those required for high explosives.
All the prisoners of good education
now speak OF the growing scarcity of
war materials and particularly of ar
ticles such as rubber cotton and cop
per. which can neither be produced at
home nor obtained from Germany's
European neighbors One o. the prs-
oners taken in Mondays outpost affair
said that while Germany could not be
conquered in the field she would be
forced to make peace because of her
failure to obtain supplies.
The weather is excellent and the men
in the trenches are in good health and
spirits. The casualties continue ex-
tremely light.
British Reports Brief.
LONDON, October 3-"The artillery
activity continued on both sides during
the night in the region east Of Ypres,"
says today's war office statement on
the Franco-Belgian front operafions