The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-25
(By Associated Press.)

WIN lHc DIlllSu Armies IN france
and Belgium, Oct 25.-The consolida-
ton of the positions won by the allies
in Mondays attack was being rapidly
completed today under bright sun,
which mitigated somewhat the diff.
culties of the work in the morass-like
ground. Active artillery fire marked
the night east and north Of Ypres.
The British big guns have never
ceased to pour a fierce fire into the
German lines. Last night the Ger
mans directed heavy fire against the
sector between the Ypres- Menin high
way and the Ypres-Roulers railway,
and also concentrated on Abraham
heights.
Counter Attack.
Shortly before dark last evening
the enemy launched counter attack
against the British south of Houthlost
forest near the junction with the
French, but this was repulsed with
machine gun and rifle fire. Both the
French and British were holding their
new positions in this difficult territory
on the edge of the forest strongly.
The assertion in the German official
statement that the British on Monday
also attacked on both sides of Gheul.
welt and were repulsed is entirely er-
rOneous, as no such attack was made.
The British offensive was confined to
operations along a narrow front along
several miles north of Gheulvelt.
Officer Killed by His Men.
The report that British troops had
found Il German officer who had been
executed by his own soldiers has been
confirmed. The incident occurred at
a redOubt south of Poelcappelle. There
were II German soldiers and young
officer holding this place. When the
British troops stOrmed this redOubt
the German soldiers surrendered, and
the British found the dead officer with
five bullet wounds in his body. The
reason for his execution was that the
men desired to surrender and he re.
fused to give up his stronghold with
out a struggle. This affair is another
link tending to substantiate state
ments made by prisoners that com.
manders of certain bodies of troops
along the Flanders front are losing
control over their men. There is no
doubt there has been considerable
deterioration in the morale OF the
German troops in this region, hut the
German fighting machine is still rec
Ognized as being powerful one. One
nOn-cOmmissioned officer belonging to
the tenth Bavarian division, who was
captured, asserted, as has other pris-
Oners before, that the officers were
losing their grip on the men.
Desertions Frequent.
lie said that deSertiOns in the rear
were frequent, and cited the cases OF
f.; of his own men, who had deserted
a fortnight before, declaring they
were going home. Some were arrest
ed on the way. but some reached their
homes. -Four were brought back as
prisoners. but the officer did not know
whether any of them had been pun
ishcd. lie added that this was not
an exceptional case.
Morale Very Bad.
An equally interesting statement
was made ny captured officer of the
guard reserve division, who had
Joined his regiment in the middle OF
October He declared the morale in
Germany was very bad and that the
civilians were raising an OutCry as to
why the war was being prolonged.
Throughout the country he said. there
was talk of overthrowing the Hohen-
zolerns and the establishment OF
republic. The morale in his own divi.
sion he characterized as bad, although
formerly it had been good.
This officer further said that the
authorities have already called out
the 1920 class in Brunswick Germany
was suffering from serious shortage
of horses and there was a shortage OF
canvas, as the result of which the
manufacture of tents had virtually
ceased, huts being erected instead.
Another officer prisoner had charge
of the guard in prison camps. There
were British, French and Russian prls-
oners there The food was not good
he said, and a number of deaths had
occurred from hunger and typhus.
TEMPORARILY STUNNED.
British Front in France, Oct. 20
The success of the British on the
French front seems to be temporarily
stunned, but they are moving their
artillery, it is thought. There was