Evening star., 1917-09-22
German Officers Dissatisfied.

German Officers Dissatisfied.
German officers taken prisoners were
impressed greatly with the magnitude
OF the British success and have ex-
pressed keen dissatisfa action with their
own higher command. They freely ad-
NIT the great efficiency of the British
and characterize as awfu, those tre-
mendous barrages which swept over
the German territory ahead of the as
saulting troops. The vast number of
German bodies which lie In the muddy
shell holes within the territory ira
versed by the British and the devasta-
ton wrought by the big guns, give add
ed strength to their testimony
me British infantry did not proceed
without opposition to their objective.
out the details of the fighting show no
particularly spectacular features
The whole operation was a most as
founding performance, but it was ac-
complished with such clock-like regu-
iarity that it, left one gasping 1t was
as though one had witnessed the wip-
ing out of a city by a huge dynamite
mine which does it's work instantane-
ously.
German Prisoners Dazed.
The German prisoners clearly feel the
weight of the blow inflicted. They are
dazed by 1t and many of them look on
the situation as dark for their forces
There was little change in the situa-
ton this afternoon. The British were
resting on their laurels and consoli-
dating their gains at most places. al
though local battles were in progress at
some points where the Germans were
stu clfngfng to some redoubt or small
defense which the British desired for
sitions
Virtually every counter attack the
Germans have attempted since the of
fenstve began has been shattered by
artillery and machine gun fire. and the
enemy undoubtedly lost a great number
Of men in these abortive attempts.
Throughout yesterday he struggled de-
terminedly at many places to regain
the ground lost, but as each attack
was broken by the deluge of explosives
hurled into his ranks, he finally adopted
the attitude Of waiting and during the
night offered little opposition to the
victorious forces opposite him.
Thursdays fighting from Langemarck
southwark to the Ypres-Roulers rail-
way was largely among strong con-
crete and steel redoubts. with which
this section is pitted. Rose farm, Que
bee farm, and many other well defended
positions fell before the British. In most
instances their capture was accomplish
ed after the troops had forged forward
through mud and water and surrounded
then in the face Of machine gun fire.
Many Germans Killed.
Many Germans lost their lives in the
region south of Langemarck. Along
this section the enemy attempted six
counter attacks during the day. the
first being esayed as early as 10 o'clock.
but in nearly every instance they were
met by such murderous artillery
fire that they were forced to withdraw,
leaving large numbers Of dead and
1a@ khA aa1H
Early in the afternoon a column Of
1000 Germans advanced from the di-
rection of COST Rieuwkerke for a
counter attack. AS they proceeded
through the village they came under
the artillery fire and airplanes harassed
them continually. The employment of
gas shells by the British forced the
Germans to put on gas masks and
they proceeded in this manner to the
front. where they deployed in waves
attacking forces was smashed to pieces
with artillery and machine fire. The
second was partly successful east Of
Langf1emarck, but soon was forced
other.
Forced to Withdraw.
strong German position on the high
ground south of the Langemarck-Zon-
nebeke road was captured by the Brit
an important defense the Germans de-
Iivered a heavy counter attack here
last evening and hard hand-to-hand
fighting developed. in which the bayo-
net was used freely. The Germans were
forced to withdraw after a short, but
decisive battle.
South of the Ypres-Roulers railway
the Australian troops carried out the
early stages of their task without en-
many snags. but they were
quickly and sharp
lighting followed at many places. They
had reached their final objective. which
carried them well east of the Nuns
wood, the Glencorse wood and into
the western part of Polygon wood, a
little after 10 o'clock and in some places
the outposts had gone a considerable
distance in advance of the main line.
The terrain over which they had to
travel represented some of the most
difficult ground in this section, but the
artillery had made matters easier by
most of the shell hole de-
fenses and shattering the forests which
clothed the elevations.
When the Australians went over the
ton at dawn the Germans dropped a
heavy barrage just back of them and
put a good many shells among the ad-
yancing men. 1t was not a pleasing sit
mai ton, but the troops were in fighting
fettle and pushed forward without