Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-13
From a Staff Correspondent OF
The Associated Press.

.L AZ
British headquarters in France, via
London, April 1.-THE speed and pow
er of the British assault, in what viii
probably be known in history as the
battle of Arras, seem to have thorough
ly surprised the Germans. So much
SO in fact that their usual retaliatory
artillery fire has been absolutely neg
ligible in the last two days. This is
partly due, of course, to the number
of guns captured, to which must be
added the number knocked out by the
British artillery before the actual as
sault began. 1t is also due to the fact
that the Germans have been too busy
trying to get their remaining guns
away from immediate danger to bother
firing them at the enemy. In a Ger
man artillery position east Of Arras,
known as battery valley, could be seen
the remains of t~wenty-four field pieces
Today.
A trip over the newly taken lines re-
vealed a condition of trenches closely
aDprOXimating those recently %evacuat-
ed by the Germans in the valley of the
Somme.
Many dugouts remained with only
damaged portals. but the trenches, in
Guiding all communication lines. have
been numerically battered about.
So successful was the artillery bar
rier set up by the British back of the
German lines that some of the German
prisoners reported they had been with
out food supplies for four days.
Rarbed Wire is Gone.
The barbed wire entanglements pro-
tecting the German positions we're
o%bliterated and only stray strands
could be seen here and there on the
first line. The thoroughness with which
the wire cutting was carried Out by
the artillery was a big factor in acce1.
eratino the speed of the infantry in
the attack.
The Zest of offensive warfare could
be felt in all parts of the British front
today. Troops were swinging forward
with hantbags playing CAV tunes. The
N>.tna+o@ps behind their pipers,
were particularly picturesque for not
even the vicissitudes of nearly three
years of war have caused them to dis
card their kits. Out over the newly
won ground airplanes were scouting,
while beneath them we're tanks at rest.
The tanks had done splendidly
~throughout. especially in attacking
STRONGLY wired points with which the
artillery had not dealt. Some German
anti-tank guns were captured. Machine
guns and trench mortars were taken
In such large numbers that they have
not yet been counted.
A cavalry corps had the unique dis
tinction Of capturing two big howitz-
ers. Thew charged these guns in the
open, killing several members Of the
crews before the others surrendered.
A German motor transport column was
captured intact. 1t had expected to
meet German troops at a certain point
but encountered British instead. The
drivers said that when they left Douai
there was no idea that the attackers
had reached so far.
Thousands Are Prisoners.
Thousands Of German prisoners
could be seer along the roads today.
Some had little round caps and others
were wearing the great coal ~scuttle.
steel helmet. Although the intense
cold continues only a few had over
coats. They are a docile lot and some
what surprised their captors by care
fully sorting themselves into their re-
spective units before being registered
and temporarily Gagged. Smaller cages
we're provided for the officers. Four
of the latter have been in a furious
rage ever since they were taken. They
were in a forward observation post,
they said. and saw the infantry coming
back from their front line but had no
idea that they were actually retreat.
Ing. Their anger was due to the fail.
IRE of these troops to give them warn
ing so that they, too, could flee.