Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-15
TE:(jTON[)E:A[)
PILED; FUTILE
EFFORT SEEN
English Hold Village Base
Against Mass Attack
Of Enemy.

With the British in Belgium,
Wednesday. Nov. 14.-fBy the As
ISOLATED Press.)-The forces OF
Grown Prince Ruppreelt OF Ba-
Faria have made their first preten-
ti0Us effort 10 regain passchen-
dazzle village, in accordance with
the ediet OF Field Marshal Won
HindenbHrg chat the place should
be reeaptured, and have failed.
The enemy's attack made late yes
terday afternoon against positions on
crest Of the ridge north Of the hamlet,
was attempted with large forces and
was a most determined effort 10 retake
this gem of their defenses. but the as
sauking troops were hurled back after
a grim struggle, leaving the British
line before Passchendael intact
The greater part Of the enemy infan-
try was stopped by the tremendous
British artillery barrage, which
pIoughed through their ranks as they
began the advance; but some OF them,
answering TO that famous discipline
ingrained by Prussian military rule
pushed through this rain of death and
reached the British front line.
British Drive Enemy.
A sanguinary struggle followed al
close quarters. The Germans battled
doggedly, but the British soldiers flung
themselves upon the enemy with such
ferocity that he was compelled t. give
ground and finally retired. leaving
many dead upon the barren crest,
The enemy attack was prefaced by q
terrific bombardment The German
guns opened on the right at 4 O'Clock
yesterday morning. The British has
/ been expecting the counter attack fol
/ several days.
/ All day Passchendaele and the for
kward area were shelled continuously
/ by the concentrated German artillery
while the British heayies and fielt
guns replied with a violent lombard
ment No such artillery duel had oc
Cured along the British front in man!
weeks. For hOars It was maintained
/ by both sides with a drum fire inten
sity that shook The country for mile
about
About 4:30 o'clock in the Afternoon
enemy infantry was seen advancin!
southwark along the ridge on a from
of about seven hundred yards toward
] the British position At the same tim
! the Germans dropped a heavy barrag
on Goeberg Spur TO the west, prevent
ing Infantry assistance coming to tn
British from that quarter
Artillery Hurts Death.
The IS o. s." signal went up from
I the British lines and the great Brit
ish artillery machine responded a
( though a lever had been thrown. Al
| the British guns within range cam
into action with an inferno Of nois
4 that was appalling. and their myriad Q
shells began breaking in a steady raj
1 across the ridge in front Of the advanc
! ing Germans
The enemy was attacking n forct
and as they surged along the hig
ground they were caught In this tor
nado OF jagged steel Many of ther
went down, never to rise again. Man
more were wounded, and the maio
part Of the attacking line was force
to retire after struggling Blind
against this awful deluge for fe'
moments.
Some Of the more determined mel
however, pushed on The orders ha
! been given that Passehendaelem must
retaken regardless of cost. They wei
paying the cost now in their spectay
ular but futile charge
German Defeat Complete,
They reached the British front lii
and hurled themselves against it. The
came the Interest work of all;
| close quarters. It is possible that vel
few Of those Germans who braved Il
final rush ever Eegained their own lin
The rest were left lying before Il
British defenses.
| When the attack finally vi
smashed it was q complete defeat {,
the Germans.