The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-10-18
METHODICAL ADVANCE IN
FLANDERS PROVING Eff
FECTIVE IN THE WAR
French and British All
Doing Well
Typhoon Fire Compels the Ger
mans to Amend Their Tactics on
the Western Front and TO
Yield Ground.
q. n. S. Leased Wirel


WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE great
value of French cooperation in the
allied offensive in Flanders during the
last few weeks is emphasized by Sec
retary of War Baker today in his
weekly review of operations on the
various European battle fronts. He
also comments optimistically upon the
typhoon fire of the allies batteries
and the fact that the Ypres salient has
now become an ever extending wedge,
driving deeper and deeper into the
German lines despite desperate coun-
ter attacks.
Secretary Bakers statement fol-
lows:
"The allied offensive in Flanders
continues methodically.
Assigned detectives attained with
Increasing regularity indicate the ef-
ficient coordination of operations
continued
"The precision of the allied barrage
is proved by the low casualties of
the assaulting columns.
"The deadly effect of allied artillery
fire is confirmed to us by reports
reaching us regarding the concern Of
the German high command at the new
allied 'typhoon' fire which is com
pelling the enemy to amend his tacti-
cal disposition in an effort to meet
the shock of shell rained upon his
lines.
French participation in the opera
tions in Flanders is the outstanding
feature of events during the past week.
''The successes attained by the
French forces operating north of the
British sector more particularly in
the neighborhood of the Houtholst
wood, have given the added advance
in Flanders the needed elbow room
Breadth of front is an essential
condition for operations which are to
have far reaching results, for con-
fined to a too narrow base, really
important encircling movement can
have no sustained value if along its
entire length it can be thanked by
artillery fire.
"The zone of operations in the Ypres
salient, formerly too narrow for the
proper disposition of large masses OF
troops, has now, by the French Co
operation and their recent successful
advance, so extended the line thai
fighting in what was the Ypres sal
lent has changed in character 1t Is
/. no longer to be considered a SALEM
! but an ever extending wedge progres
!, sively driven into the German lines
1.-THE operations of the French dur
: ing the past week are in fact compll
+ mcntary to the engagement resulted
i'm the CAPTURE of Messines by thI
o Rritish last June.
= During the engagements of the
\ week, the French everywhere main
= tanned the positions won in the fac
of repeated onslaughts.
Strong German detachments wer
ordered to dislodge the French, wh
now hold the advance positions be
4 tween the Victorie and Hategou
I farms east of Drabank. These, how
n ever, were repulsed.
"As was to be expected at this sea
, son. bad weather has somewhat re
o tarded the allied advance.
: Operations were hampered OWN
Il to the fact that the well draine
n ground of the Passchendaele ridg
q once passed over, the advancing col
h umns are confronted with the water
logged, soggy Flanders plain, whic
II stretches on to Roulers and beyon'
q "The infantry was further impede
70 bv the fact that allied artillery pref
aration has so plowed up the groun
that the terrain has been turned int
a sea of mud, making the going a
most impossible.
"Torrential rains and low lyin
clouds rendered aircraft Observable
- difficult and under ordinary circun
stances would have caused a suspel
sion of offensive operations, but Il
ry irclement weather has not preventt
ed the extension and consolidation of a
lied gains during the week.
1.-THE enemy, as usual countera
tackled in force. His efforts to retail
rv the positions captured by the alli'
:; have in a few instances been success
IN full but eventually they were drive
C out.
II 1.-THE Germans, fearing lest the a
'a1 lied advance in Flanders would be fc
~, lowed by similar effort along 9th
- sectors of the front, particularly nor
a Of verdun, endeavored to thwart 9
he lied plans by launching a powerful a
ho tack preceded by the usual artille
- preparation in this section
90 1.-THE enemy was able to gain a tel
y porary foothold in certain advanc
-, French lines. Latest advices she
-, he was driven out after some h
-, fighting.
~, THE enemy's success was mo
"a shortlived than was to be anticipat
- when its cost is taken into consider