The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-10-11
British Take Thousands
Prisoners in Offensive

in the. new drive against the Germans
which was begun this morning east of
Ypres in Flanders. All the detectives
of the British were won including pc.
sitions characterized by Field Mar
shall Haig's report from headquarters
tonight as "of great Importance"
The report read:
"Our attack this morning was
launched on a front of over eight
miles, from south of Tower Hamlets
to the Ypres.Staden railway, north OF
Langemarck, and has been completely
successful. All our detectives have
been gained, positions of great i'm
pOrtance have been won, and over
5000 German prisoners have already
reached the collecting stations d
I'VE are now in possession Of the
main ridge UP to a point of 1000
yards north of Broodseinde."
British Advance Admitted
!, Berlin, via London, Oct. 4. The
German version of the battle in Elan.
ders as reported in the supplementary
statement tonight is as follows:
ION the battlefield in Flanders the
British during today's great attack,
penetrated only about one kilometer
deep into our defensive zone between
POelcapelle and Gheluvelt. Especially
bitter fighting is still proceeding to the
east Of Zonnebeke and west of Beet
laere. ,es
g"On the other fronts there is moth
ing Of Importance"
-lSf
Climax Seems Coming
- Washington, Oct. 4. = American
army officers have been watching with
intense interest the situation on the
western front, which apparently Is
reaching a climax in the great drive
launched today by the British.
From the many reports indicating
the development Of some important
movement, coupled with the continual
futile attacks 81 the Germans along the
British front, some military observers
here have become CONVINCED that the
Teutons were covering a great with
drawal of their line. Other officers,
however, believe that the German high
commander has been hurting its men
at the enemy with the desire to check
an advance, determined to hold it's
present lines at any cost until white;
comes to the rescue.
Expect New Positions
Officers who think the German &C
tivity has covered a withdrawal to
shorten and strengthen lines and ease
the strain on the army expect that be-
hind the German divisions through
which General Haig's men were cut.
ting their way today, will be found
new positions, fully manned and
strongly built, against which the often.
sive will crash.
Early reports from the front show
ed the Germans to be surrendering by
hundreds. This may mean deteriota-
ton OF morale to such an extent that
the rear guard will fail in it's mission
and spell disaster to the newly chosen
positions.
6 Some observers are to be found here
who believe that the German army
spirit generally is badly shattered. In
support Of this they cite the continual
peace cry in Germany; the expressions
Of prisoners captured by the allies; the
youth of prisoners and the repeated
failures Of German attacks during the,
last few weeks to make any impress.
sion on the British and French fronts.
Upper Hand Believed Won.
In view of these developments o.
ficers believe a definite ascendency
has been established by the allies in
the morale of their armies. They re-
gard that condition as forecasting
complete victory, although none are
willing to venture prediction as to
when the German collapse may come.
There have been indications that
the allied commanders have been in
tent upon the destruction of the NOR
ale Of the German soldiers as much as
upon forcing their way forward in re-
cent battles. The lavish expenditure
of artillery ammunition in which they
have engaged steadily for. months may
have. been designed largely to shake
the nerves Of the men among whom
the shells were falling day and night.
The result Of today's drive, some
officers believe, may prove clearly
that the demonstrated preponderance
of allied artillery shown over and over
again to the men of both armies, has
served not only to hearten the men of
the British. and French allies and in
still into them absolute confidence in
the final outcome Of the war, but has
served to equally depress and render,
doubtful the rank and file of the
Germans.
Open Fighting Possible
There are many observers, also, who
back out of the more rugged country
the fighting may assume more open
character next spring. In the wide
level lands into which the battle lines
are being carried, there Is no natural
strong position. Sandbags must re-
place ridges and concrete and steel