The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-05

BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND BEL
GUM. Oct. 4.-The trial Of strength
among the strongholds comprising the
Germans'- crucially important system OF
defences along the Observation-Disclosures
welt Ridge was renewed at dawn to-day
when the British again surged forward
over wide front to the east and north
east OF Ypress. Within few hours
great success had already been recorded
throughout the zone involved
At some places the British had pene-
trated to n depth of mile. and had
ovcrrun the crest OF the ridge, which the
Germans had held so long. Hund, eds
OF Germans were surrendering at an
early hour
On the northern wing the onrushing
troops are battling forward within a
short distance of FoclCapelle. They have
got a footing ON the famous Craven
stafel Ridge. which juts out from
Pass chendaee Ridge to the west, and
they have crashed their way through
the blood dicuchcd Zonnebeke- Brood
seide Ridge which forms an integral
part Of the rasschendaele Ghluvelt
chain.
Grrnt T"li Of Grrnnn Dead.
Between tn" village of Rroodseinde on
the north and Noordonhoek, Il mile to
the south, at an carly hour they were
holding to The crest of the ridge itself
in the face # heavy counter attacks
from the desperate enemy. Some had
penetrated well beyond the hamlet of
, Broodscindc. IN which lie the crossroads
formed by the highways between Xoune-
heke and Mo"rsi.dc and fasschendaclo
R,y ~ no IA /,
have recently given their lives to swell
the toll claimcdby the British artillery
Further south Cameron Covert, which
/ mas been the scene q. 50 mich haiN
! fGhtins. had been left we'll in the rear
! Everywhere the British arms have
! done splendidly IN the opening hours Of
q the offensive, which II one OF the most
, pieteutious atteu,tcd along this front
Tho atttck Was. lauu, he'd at & o'clock
under heavy clouds and mist. There
had been Il slight dri2zlc during the
ght, winch caused some anxiety to the
. British Observers Bu' the threatened
heavier rain held OF and the prospects
were little damaged,
\ tremendous hirraGe preceded the in
fantry into the enemy country. leaving n
trail Of death and devastation behind II
As this terrifying dclugc broke over tn"
German lines patches of the enemy
rushed forward in many places and
raised their hands in token of surrender.
( prisoners were coming in much more
rapidly and in greater numbers than i'll
the last push.
Enemy Divisions Trapped.
There was an unusual feature ia the
battle near XoUne ehcho. Three German
divisions Of la.OuO men each had been
ordered To rctako the line the Rrtish
captured here last week Tho attack
WAS set for O'Clock. Tn" Germans
We're caught in the British barrage as
they were preparing to push forward
and lost rricvouS!y. oncc before, in
August. around Lens, the British and
Germans planned an attack at the same
hour, and Canadian troops Song over
the top and advancing quickly came
upon masses of Germans moving toward
them in the thick haze, and few min
utcs later the Germans were making
their last stand on the parapet of their
trenches.
The left wing OF the British offensive
to-day was heavily shclled by the Ger
mans, and Giencorse Wood and Inver-
ness topse We're put under an Intense
hre. The British casualties Wero re
ported as exceedingly Light but tho bat
! tie is still raging furiously, and much
sanSulnary lighting seems certain he
fore It's close, The .,;ermans undouht-
edly will use every means IN their power
to retake this Invaluable territory. and
determined counter attacks are expected
vital German Defence.
The Passchendaele- -Gheluvelt ridge
which makes its sinuous way in north
, easterly direction from the old Ypres
salient has been a vital defence OF the
Germans In this section Of the western
front II has been a barrier between