Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-31
rBy the Associated Press. Il

British Front In Belgium, oct. so.S-
The forces Of Prince Rupprecht Of Ba-
varia today suffered another stinging
defeat when the British reached out
across a sea of mud and Wrenched
away still more Of the few remaining
defences of the enemy's Passchendaele
system. It has been another proud
day for Canada Her troops this ar.
ternoon were sitting almost at the
gates of Passchendaele and from
their positions astride the Broodseinde-
Passchendaele highway, along the
ridge, they could see only 400 yards
away the great church which stands
in the center of the village. :.
While the Canadians were battling
their way forward here in the face or
fierce resistance from the Bavarians,
comrades on their left were hammer.
ing their way along the Bellevue spur
to points which seem to have carried
them beyond the hamlet Of Meetchsale
and the numerous machine gun de-
fenses with which the elevation was
covered. There was sanguinary fight
fng in both sections. The German losses
were heavy and the men from over
seas did not achieve their triumph
without some cost in casualties.
Home troops Also Advance.
Meanwhile British home troops on
the left of the Canadians had under
taken the task Of crossing the Paddle
beke river and the morasses in order
to bring their line forward and protect
the Canadian flank. How the men from
ic1 c1a $1,a 0lf fv,U
ing mud probably they themselves
could not tell. One heavy counter at
tack delivered by the Bavarians as
early as 8: 80 o'clock from the Massele-
markt against the Canadians was
caught by artillery and machine
gun fire nd smashed. The gain on the
Canadian front averaged between 500
and 1000 yards most of 1t.
The Canadians encountered stiff
opposition early in the advance atF'ries-
land Copse, machine gun defense ly-
ing in the valley of the Ravebeek,
which runs down the slopes at the
junction of the Meetchele spur and the
Passchendaele ridge. The enemy turn
ed heavy machine gun fire on the
advancing troops and when they clos
ed in fought bitterly to hold to their
concrete defense.
But Friesland Copse fell and the
Canadians pushed on up the slopes.
The infantry; working eastward along
the crest of the Passchendaele ridge
toward the village, progressed rapid
lily, altho under severe fire from many
points. Crest farm, Just north Of, the
highway put up Atrenuous resistance.
Ine IarIn was iies@@i...y5 armed '. ~: ~:
rapid fire guns and the Canadians at
tackled 1t with rifles and bombs.
While the British were struggling
with the enemy at Crest farm, the
troops on their left were meeting with
trouble with the enemy guns, which
were concentrated on them.
Artillery TO Rescue.
The British artillery came to the:
rescue with such an intense fire that
the hostileS sheiling decreased greatly.
In this lull the Canadians stormed,
their way to the village Of Meetcheele.
A violent struggle followed at close
quarters among the cottages OF this
place. Those Of the enemy who were
able retreated but at $3.50 the Bavar-
ians appeared for counter attack.
The British to the south were the fii1tt
to, see the great Developments against,
their, comrades. Anumber of cap-
tured enemy machine guns were turns