The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-08-01
ALMOST IMPASSABLE
MARSHES BRlDGED IN
NEW FLANDERS SMASH
CONTINUED From Page ~


brecht's Wurttemherg troops were
swallowed up in the flood let loose BY
opening up the sluics gates in October,
1914, the enemy had not tried to cross
the marshes nor had they tried to get
over the User since the Belgians in the
spring OF 1914, after sanguinary fight
ing flung them back across the bridge
head at Lize.ne,
The Ypres salient itself furnished as
nasty a problem as could be presented
to an attacking army. The country here
is saucer-shaped and the Germans had
held the lip Of this saucer, All the
lower lying land within this dish had
been dominated by the enemy, who could
send a stream Of she'll and machine gun
fire into the troops and supply columns
advancing across the salient,
Seventeen Bridges Constructed.
The situation was rendered still more
difficult by the presence within the
saucer OF a large number OF waterways
that must he crossed by mean OF
bridges which might at any moment be
destroyed by g%unfire. This difficulty,
however, was overcome by a brilliant
feat of the British engineers, who threw
seventeen bridges across the waterways
in the face of terrific gunfire. Similar
and equally remarkable work was done
by the French engineers who were
forced TO bridge the User for their at
tack.
The Germans little feared, apparently,
that the battle would turn in the direc-
ton Of their right wing. 1t was early
in June that rumors Of the impending
attack began to find their way to Ger
man ears and were voiced in Berlin
Gradually the rumors assumed certaint,
and the Germans began feverishy to
strengthen their lines, pouring large
numbers OF fresh forces into Flanders
and bringing up all available guns. The
surrounding country was evacuated OF
civilians and stripped for the conflict.
Knew Offensive Was Coming.
The Germans knew they faced an Of
f~ensive. They were unable with all their
cunning to gather more than q fragmen-
tsry idea Of the story Of these prepare
tions, which is in itself a marvellous one.
Day after day the building up OF new
armies continued under cover OF a
unique concealment in plans
Enormous numbers OF great guns
made their way TO selected positions
and were mounted on concrete iounda
tons laid long before. Millions OF
shells which are today turning the
German front into an inferno of death
and destruction were brought up and
stored while the enemy watched with
unseeing eyes. Long lines Of dreaded
tanks took the road and the living
monsters crawled clumsily but persist,
emily nor,hward to take their place in
the allied battle line.
Clearing Stations Established.
Clearing stations were established a,
vantage points and everything possible
was done to care for the stream Of
wounded which was sure to result. Al
this and much more went on for week,
before the offensive waS launched. Tn,
Germans were like a man who wait,
with tense muscles in the dark for IN,
attack OF an unseen foe, knowing IN,
onslaught must come bu, ignorant o
the moment or nature OF il.
T~horoughness of preparation is on,
striking Characterize OF the BritisI
method and It is safe to say tina, thcr,
was not man who had not rehearse,
the par, he was to play in the open
ing stage Of the great conflict.