Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-12
BRITISH STEAM
ROLLER CRUSHES
GERMAN LINES
Great War Machines Moves
Steadily Through Teuton
Positions in Belgium
RN .4ssocintcH Prctc

BY associated PreSS
The British steamroller goes uphill
very slowly. but it is now going
downhill and battles are following
each other more and more rapidly"
said Major General Maurice, director
of operations at the British War Of
flee. yesterday.
The truth of this assertion was
driven home less than twenty four
hours after it was made by the be-
ginning this morning of another Brit
ish attack in Flanders. Only three
days had elapsed since the last at
tacks made on Tuesday. Tuesdays
push was launched after a four-day
pause, the last previous drive having
been carried out the preceding Thurs
day. Previously intervals of a week
or more had elapsed between the Brit
ish attacks.
Good progress was reported early
by Field Marshal Haig along the six
mile front northeast of Ypres, on
which today's assault is being deliv-
cred.
To Clear Ridge
Field Marshal Haigs latest effort is
being pushed in the same region as
the attack of Tuesday in which the
British, in cooperation with the
French. drove back the Germans
along a front of seven miles and
captured more than 1000 prisoners.
1t is probable that the present effort
is an attempt to clear the Germans
from the remaining portions of the
dominent ridge east of Ypres. Tues
days attack gave the British more
ground on the ridge and left the Ger
mans with only a small section in the
region of Passchendaele. The British
now hold most of the good positions
on the ridge. from which they domi-
nate with their artillery the impor-
tant RoulersMenin Railroad and the
railroad towns of Roulers, Staden and
Menin.
Fight in Rain
Apparently the present drive is
being made under weather conditions
similar to those which existed Tues
day. Following several days of heavy
rain, Field Marshal Haig threw his
men forward and surprised the Ger
mans, who did not think that the
British would attempt to attack while
the battlefield was waterlogged.
Another notable fact in connection
with the present series of drives is
that each is now apparently being
made regardless of weather condi-
tions. One good day for airpIane OBJ
bTlIlSU
in this instance to get their ranges
launch their drum fire. drop their
barrage and push to attack through
the mud and renewed rainfall.
Morale Weakcns
Military observers in this con-
nection credit the British high COM
mand with the belief that it is prob
ably of little use to wait for good
weather at this time of the year in
Flanders. Another consideration
pointed to is the reported weaken
ing state of the German army NOR
ale, an opportunity to be seized with
all possible promptitude if the ut
most advantage is to be taken of it.
There is no indication that the
French forces on the British left
which pushed forward approxi-
mately mile to the edge of Houth-
olst wood in Tuesdays attack are
participating in to-day advance
Their task for the moment seems
to have been completed by the bring
ing up of their lines to a point where
efficient protection would be given
the British left flank in the renewal
of the wedge-driving process being
carried out between Passchendaele
and GheluVelt.