The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-25
GERMAN BLOWS
GROW WEAKER
SHOCK OF ASSAULTS IN WEST NO
LONGER AS INTENSE AS
OF OLD.
By the AssocIated Pressl.

British Front in Belgium and France
Sept. Obtaining bullets which tear
into the allied ranks like a sheet Of
flame are being used by the German
troops on the Flanders front in their
counter attacks TO the British push last
week These bullets set the mems
clothing on fire and in several instances
wounded men had to be rolled in the
mud by their comrades to extinguish the
flames.
The phase Of the battle Of Flanders
that took place Thursday, and which
has been characterized as the battle
OF Menin road was today largely mat
ter Of history. Hard local fighting was
still in progress at a point west OF
Gheluvet, known as Tower Hamlets.
but Notwithstanding the determined ef-
forts Of the Germans 20 regain the
ground they lost here, they were un-
able TO dislodge the British troops. The
enemy still clung to few isolated
posts on an elevation near Tower Ham
lets. but their possession in no way
affects the general situation, as they
were not vital points.
The German military headquarters
has taken little count Of losses Of men
If results are achieved In the present
instance the German counterattacks
have. not only been costly. but useless,
for the British artillery has in ma
ority Of cases torn the advancing col
umns to bits and driven the survivors
back in hasty retreat. How great the
German losses have been, it is, Of course
Impossible to estimate; but it can be
stated that they were exceedingly Sc
we're.
Ration Parties Smashed.
Prisoners say that their casualties
during the last few days Of the British
bombardment. prior to the attack, were
very heavy and especially on the night
Of September IS During that night ra-
tion parties were so badly smashed that
they we're unable to reach the front
line troops for food.
The battle Of Menin road has furnish
ed further evidence Of that deterioration
in the fighting qualities which has
been going on in the German lines for
some time. II must not be assumed
from this statement that the Germans
are In a demoralized state. During
the last few days they have fought with
great determination and skill; but they
are not so good as they were.
Counter Attacks Less Forceful
II is significant perhaps. that the
counter attacks delivered by the enemy
on the first day were lacking the inten
sity OF previous counter attacks, al
though the Germans had known that
the offensive was pending and had time
10 prepare for eventualities.
In this connection a change has beer
noted In the attitude Of captured Ger
man officers. Apparently they nc
longer have faith in the future and
have abandoned hope Of success in the
western theater. The thing they are
most interested in now is peace
On the other hand, the morale Of the
British troops has never been at SO
high a pitch as at present.
New Combination Invincible.
The arrival Of the American troops
in France has done much to make even
stronger this confidence. Everywhere
the old.timers at the front are talking
about their new allies from the United
States. and II is agreed that the Ameri
cans will make a magnificent addition
to the fighting power Of the allies in
the west and that the new combination
will be inVincible.