The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-13
Gen. HA|G REVIEWS
FLANDERS DRIVE
German Lines on an Eight-MiIe
Front Shattered in the
First Days Rush.
all The DETECTIVES TAKEN
British Penetrated More Than a Mile
Into Teuton Defenses-S,ooo Pris-
oners Were Captured.

Washington, Oct 5.-The antici-
pated renewal OF Field Marshal Haig's
big offensive in Flanders has begun
and all the detectives of the first day
have been won and held.
As in the preceding attacks, the
latest one was timed to the minute
The British forces at the given signal
at daylight swarmed from their
trenches over ground that had been
narrowed by myriads of shells from
the great array of artillery and all
along the front of more than eight
miles, from south of Tower Hamlets
to the north of Langemarcke, they
made notable new gains of terrain, in
flicted heavy casualties on the Ger
mans, while themselves suffering
slight losses, and took many prison
ers, large numbers of whom gladly
surrendered in order to reach a haven
Of safety from the maelstrOm.
Attack Delivered Swiftly.
The attack was delivered with all
the dash of previous offensives and
swiftly and surely the Britishers, not
withstanding heavy counter attacks at
various points, took positions that had
been marked out for them, some of
them to a depth of more than a mile
The main ridge of the heights running
north and south to the east Of Ypres,
which affords a dominating point for
the launching Of future attacks, is
nearly all in the hands of the British
ers and at several points the Ostend-
Lille railway now is virtually within
the range of Haig's guns.
Take 5000 Prisoners.
More than 5000 German prisoners
had been passed behind the lines when
the latest official communication con-
corning the days fighting was sent
and many others were being gathered
in
Especially bitter fighting occurred
to the east of Zommebeke, the nearest
point of approach to the railway line
which connects Ostend, Zeebrugge and
other northern points of supply with
the German line to the south. The eff
forts of the Germans to stay the Brit
ish here were fruitless, however, as
likewise were their efforts further
north in the region of PoelcapeIIe,
where the British gained ground to a
depth Of about twO-thirds of a mile.
Germans Attack in Vain.
Washington, Oct. 4.-Since the mid
die of last week the German armies
in Flanders daily have been trying to
win back the British territory taken
from them in the recent big offensive
of Field Marshal Haig.
As on previous days Crown Prince
Rupprecht of Bavaria on Wednesday
unleashed large numbers Of his troops
in an attempt to recapture terrain on
the Ypress sector, where the British
are seriously threatening his commu-
nication line with Ostend and the sub
marine base at Zeebrugge. Ever watch
full; the gunners of Marshal Haig's
forces again wrought havoc among the
attacking waves and dispersed the
Germans with heavy casualties, and
retained all their position intact.
Although the German war office as
serts that in Tuesdays fighting along
the eastern bank of the Mouse in the
Verdun sector the Germans captured
a comparatively long line Of French
trenches, the French official communi-
cation makes no mention Of this, and
asserts merely that violent artillery
fighting and spirited patrol engage
ments took place.
Likewise the Italians are giving the
Austrians little respite from aerial in
cursions, again having dropped four
tons of projectiles on military objec-
tives at Pola, the great Austrian naval
base on the Adriatic, and bombed
other points of military advantage. In
addition, the Italians have Tepulsed
decisively another Austrian attack on
the western slopes of Monte San Ga
briele, in the Gorilla sector.
Germans Wasting Men.
London, Oct. 1.-Two more counter
attacks were attempted by the Ger
mans against the British lines on the
northeast corner of Polygon Wood and
the Menin Road last night, but. as
in the case of three heavy assaults
made during the day, the enemy was
smashed by artillery and rifle fire.
Hard local fighting occurred at the
place known as Cameron House, where
the Germans yesterday forced the
British back slightly, but, with the
exception of two small posts, lost in
this area, the British line was intact
this morning.