The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-05

1
forced 20 give way until almost the en-
tire ridge has passed from their hands.
Nothing could prove more forcibly the
present superiority of the British IN
both quality aud quantity q men and
guns.
Az a. the latest attack ON the ridge.
IL viii probably he remembered that,
before the attack. the lines ran about
a mile a. the west of Gheluyclt which
marks the southern limit of the ridge,
ana ahout a mile and "a half west of
zonncbeke. which marks The northern
limit Ia other words. the width Of
the ridge al this point T. the distance
hetNe.n Cheiuvelt and Zonnebeke. The
front of attack included these two
points aud extended northwuri beyond
zonnehesc for distance of about three
miles
The time selected for the attack was
unusual After the British attack last
week the Germans. appreoaitding the
great importance 81 the positions which
they had lost began the inevitable
counter-thrusts IN this ease they We're
heavier. more determined. and delivered
by stronger forces than any counter
movement which has taken piacc on
the western front this year The Ger
mans however. were unable o. make
any impression on the new British line,
T, but We're thrown hack with tremen.
dous losses.
~ was the mos; successful cnse ~ al
triton since the Somme. These coun.
ter attack has just iessened in their
Intensity when General Haig struck out
acain within Jess than "a week of the
first attack. over the front I have Just
dcscriLed. For an average denth of
nearly "a mile the British forces again
went forward. reaching the outskirts
o. Gholuvelt and Passing well To ;he
east % Zonnebcse on the western SLOPES
uf the ridge ~ this point General Halg
reports that all Of the objectlyes were
reached. and il is readily conceivable
that this was the case. A. matter
az fact, 10 is .omarkahlc that any ad-
vance was mace in the face of the
krown German concentration al this
point
The Germans simply mast hold thL
ridge AZ whatever cost Their entire
line. both north and south. win be
threatened by their failure. and failure
Is staring them in the face. At Zonne.
bcke. where the British lines now are.
the ridge il but hall "a mile distant ana
Is but mile wide. Al Gheluvelt. an
advance of lses than half mile win
bring tine British Ia the foot Of the
eastern slopes--clean across the ridge.
Ia the centre AT PolygOn wood. which
the British occupied completely. the
ridge is al its widest point Here two
miles separate the British from the
eastern slopes. As the matter now
stands. the Germans hold but a small
portion Of the ridge, by which they are
making secure the northern limit OF
their line. The sesson. however. will
probably preclude further operations
after the ridge is occupied in its en-.
iirety
In ordinarily dry weather the surface
Of the ground in the low country is
dry ami offers a firm footing. Water.
however, is but foot below the sur.
face, making excavation difficult mat
ter Wha; this means in trench war.
fare il obvious. The Germans viii
have a difficult time making their
trenches secure once they are forced
INTO the low country as they VIII have
TO depend 70 large extent on sand
bag protection. The situation viii be
perilous one. which win tax to the
utmost the ingenuity Of German mill.
tary engineers.
Absence Of artillery positions Will in. /
crease the danger The Germans can. ,
not oppose the british artillery with
The allies We're forced to do |
this in the early part of the war. and
know what the expense was The cost 4
to the Germans viii he even higher be- /
cause Of the very great development Of !
tn artillery art.
The drive Of the British is bringing
them directly toward the railroad from
Menin 10 Roulers. which is the direct
link between Lille and Ostend. When
the ridge gives way there IL no natural
obstacle between the British and this
line, There VIII stnl be roundabout
onnection Between these points
through Roulers and Courtrai but this
"iii be brought directly under artn
cry fire at reasonably close range