The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-20
WEATHER CAUSES
LULL IN FIGHTING
Both British and French Troops
Stick to Their Trenches on
the West Front.
ARTILLERY OUELS CONTINUE
Opposing Positions Vigorously sheIIed
by Both Sides-Russians Resume
Heavy Fighting in Rumania-

Heavy Fighting in Rumania.
Washington, Oct 12.-Comparative-
" little fighting activity is in progress
on any of the battle fronts except in
the nature of reciprocal lombard
ments. In Flanders Thursday both
the British and French troops kept to
their trenches, neither essaying at
tacks nor being forced to sustain coun-
ter offensives against the new posi-
lions they hold as a result of the drive
of Tuesday.
The big guns on both sides, how
ever, were Smelling opposing positions
vigorOus1y-those of the allies in the
work Of destruction and those of the
Germans in the nature of disturbers
Of the peace of the Allies in their new
trenches.
Mere Rain in Flanders.
Additional rain over this region has
: accumulated the swampy condition of
ground and it probably will be several
days before the British and French
! again jointly unleash their men for
another raid against the Teutons
Wednesday night the French repulsed
heavy counter attack east of DraeI-
bank The Germans during this time
let the British alone with their in
| fantry, but hurled masses of shells into
| their line west Of Passchendaele.
| Along the southern front in France,
the Germans again have met with de-
feat in attempts to capture French po-
sitions on the east bank of the Mouse
in the Verdun sector The attacks,
however, were not made in strong
force, being more in the nature of
trench raiding operations.
SIaVs May Resume Fighting
The prospects of a return to heavy
! fighting in Rumania with the Russians
as the aggressors, seem good. On the
Rumanian plain near Braila the Rus
slams have heavily bombarded the
Teutonic allied positions, while the
Germans in reprisal shelled the i'm
portant Danubian town of Galatz,
! their shells causing several fires.
Daily the artillery duels in Mace
donia with the entente forces exerting
the greater power are increasing, es-
pecially in the direction of Dorian and
north of Monastir, and it is possible
that at no late date the predicted al
Allies Hold Their Gains.
British Front in France and Belgium,
October 1.-THE British and French
armies, who yesterday made such
spectacular assault over the Flanders
bog lands against the German de-
lenses east and north of Ypres, were
! digging themselves in today along
/ line that represents an important gain
But the never ending reaches of mud
had during the last twenty-four hours
robbed Field Marshal Haig's men Of
some of the laure1s which they had
won.
Over much of the front involved
| those small bodies of hardy pioneers
who floundered forward through mo-
rasses to the most forward positions
that were reached, had to fall back on
the main line of advance. In some
places this was due in part to German
counter attacks.
French Improve Position.
The French line today was still
nestled firmly almost at the edge Of
the great Houtholst forest and the
poi1us had even improved their line
somewhat during the night. On their
right the British also were establish
ed some two thousand yards in ad-
vance of their jumping off place Of
yesterday. They had surged forward
to line about five hundred yards east
Of the oelcapelle-Houtholst highway
and maintained themselves.
The guardsmen who fought on the
left pushed through rapidly and the
ground reached was found to be fairly
dry. The first stages of the journey
were comparatively easy. the British
mortars having played havoc with the
forward positions of the enemy.
French Gain Again.
Paris, Oct IA further advance
has been made by the French troops
which took the offensive yesterday in
Belgium in cooperation with the Brit
ish. Papegoet farm has been cap
tured, the war office announces. and
| more prisoners have been taken.
London, Oct. 11.-Seyeral counter
attacks were made by the Germans
last night in the neighborhoOd Of the
| Ypres-Sladen railway. Today's official
statement says these attacks we're re-
pulsed, but south Of the railway on a
front of 1000 yards the British ad-
vanced troops were forced back a
short distance.
AL Rf1