The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-10
ENEMY SHATTERED
BY HARD BLOW
FRENCH AND BRITISH VICTORIOUS
TROOPS ARE DIGGING IN
ALONG NEW FRONT.
Ry the Assoclated pressl

British Front i'm France and Belgium,
Oct 9.-tTuesday).-Th blow struck
by the British and French forces today
against wide section OF the German
defenses between the Houtholst forest
and Broodseinde has resulted in an
other great success. Over much OF this
front. the attacking troops swept for
ward to a depth of two-thirds OF a mile
or more. overrunning many important
strongholds of the shattered enemy.
This afternoon, the allies were digging
in almost on the outskirts of Houthost
forest.
The British were beyond Poelcappelle
after sanguinary hand-to-hand lighting
and further south they bad gained the
Passchendaele ridge within less than
900 yards of Passchendaele. thereby
wrenching away almost all that remain
ed to the Germans of their famous Pass
chendaele- -Gheluvelt system of fortifca-
tions.
German LOSSES Great.
Again the German losses have been
great and reports from all along the line
Indicate that their organization was
withered.
1t has been Il wonderful performance
on the part of the allies. and the victory
has been more remarkable because of
the tremendous natural difficulties to
the advance. The rain of the last two
days had turned much of the battle
ground into a rnorass, through which
the French and the men of the British
empire fioundered knee deep. How they
could make their way forward over
such ground. much less fight over it,
is the amazing question. This very
fact undoubtedly contributed to the
days triumph. as the German prisoners
say nobody on their side had thought
the allies would advance under such
conditions. The appearance of the mud
covered allied troops coming out of the
marsh before the German lines. appar-
emily unnerved the enemy. They sur
rendered in large numbers in numerous
places. or ran away.
One Counter Attack. 4
The Germans attempted one counter
attack of considerable size. This was
astride the ,Ypres-Roulers railway. but
was smashed by the British artillery
fire.
As in the battle last Thursday, large
body of Germans was caught unawares
and virtually wiped out One German
division, the i21th. was brought up be-
fore night to relieve the division in
the line of PoeIcappelle and the Hou-
tholst forest The men We're transport
ed in motor lorries from Roulers, and
arrived at the. advanced positions about
3 o'clock this morning. They were ig-
norant of the nature of the country,
and when caught in the attack some
two hours later they. were bewildered.
and put up little resistance.
As Dawn Was Breaking.
The attack was launched as dawn
was breaking. The French army. on the
left flank of the British, were facing
probably the worst section along the
line. as the ground over which they had
to advance was .nterlaoed with little
streams. and the rain had turned the
ground into bog. The French pushed
forward rapidly. however, reducing nu-
-nerous German hillocks and redoubts.
and by ten o'clock had accomplished
all they had set out TO do.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on
the Germans between the preliminary
bombardment and during the fighting.
During an early hour. the French re
ported capture of several hundred pris
6ners and also that their own losses
were light.
The northern flank OF the British
attack had to cross the Boenbeek river
and much mud and water was encoun-
tered.
Germans Surrender Easily.
There was heavy fighting at Koikut,
north Of Langemarck. where ttsre was
nest OF redopbts. For the most part
the Germans In the region surrendered
without making strong resistance.