The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-09-28
GERMANS FIRING
FLAMING BULLETS
British Encounter New Kind of Fright
fulness. Enemy's Morale Affected.

brlJlSn headquarters IN FRANCE ana
Belgium, September 24.-It is reported
that the British battalions that cap
tured the Shrewsbury forest and Bull
gar wood to the east of the former
place, in Thursdays drive experienced
a new kind of German frightfulness.
The advancing troops are said to have
been fired on with Flaming bullets"
These bullets set the mems clothing
afire, and in several instances, accord
ing to the account received here, woun-
ded men had to be rolled in the mud
by their comrades to eXtinguish the
flames.
That phase of the Battle of Elan
ders that occurred last Thursday and
which has been characterized as the
battle of Menin road is now largely a
matter of history. Hard local fighting
was still in progress yesterday at a
point west of Cheluvelt, known IS Tow
er Hamlet, but notwithstanding the
determined efforts of the Germans to
regain the ground they lost here, they
were unable to dislodge the British
troops who have battled their way
forward so CALAMITY over the marshy,
wooded ground west of that place.
the enemy still chung to af ew de-
sirable posts on an elevation near
Tower Hamlet, but their possession in
no way affected the general situation,
as they were not vital points. Else
where along the front of the British
offensive there has been no change in
the situation. An intense artillery
duel continued by the enemy, who had
abandoned, at least temporarily, those
futile and costly counter attacks which
marked the first days fighting,
The German military code in the
past has taken little count of losses
in the men if results could be achieved.
In the present instance the German
counter attacks have not only been
costly, but useless, for the British ar
tillery has in a majority of cases torn
advancing columns to bits and driven
the survivors back in hasty retreat.
How great the German losses have
been it is of course impossible to esti-
mate, but it can be stated definitely
that they were exceedingly severe.
Prisoners say that their casualties
during the last few days of the Brit
ish bombardment prior to the attack
were very heavy and especially on the
night of September 18. During that
night ration parties were so badly
smashed that they were unable to
reach the front line with food.
The battle of Menin road has fur
nished further evidence of the deterior
alton of the fighting qualities which
have been going on in the German
lines for some time. 1t must not be
assumed from this statement that the
Germans are in a demoralized condi-
ton. During the last few days they
have fought with great determination
and skilfully, but they are not so good
as they were.
1t is significant, perhaps, that the
counter attacks delivered by the enemy
on the first day were lacking in the in
tensity of previous counter attacks,
although the Germans had known that
the offensive was pending and had
had time to prepare for ev~entualities.
In this connection a change had been
noted in the attitude of captured Ger
man officers, Apparently they no long
err have faith in the future and have
abandoned hope of success in the west
ern theatre. 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 the present. Every
where along the line one finds the
same feeling. The men are imbued
with the idea that they have proved
themselves stronger than their adver-
saries and they are filled with the de.
termination to see the affair through
to the finish.
The arrival of the American troops
in France has done much to make
even stronger this confidence. Every
where the old timers at the front are
talking about their new allies from the
United States, and it is agreed that the
Americans will make a magnificent adj
dition to the fighting power of the al
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