Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-10

fire, the men of France reclaimed Bel
gian ground held by the Germans since
1914.
France worked a modern miracle to
make her soldiers literally walk on the
sea in achieving the great victory in
this battle of the inundation.
Feverishly working in deluge of
rain, French engineers carpeted the
great barriers Of water which was No
Mans Land ir Flanders, with great
islands Of cork. They built miles of
trestles and countless bridges. 1t was
over this emo mans water" that the
French swept on to victory.
Today the desperation of the German
counterattacks told of the enemy's real
ization of what the French and British
victories mean.
The Teuton command threw fresh di-
visions into the Flanders maelstrom
with unparalleled prodigality. That the
Germans should sacrifice so many thous-
ands of her troops, when her high COM
mand is now faced with steadily wan
ing man power, is proof of the immense
Importance in which the enemy holds
the Franco British successes.
Retreat Is Dangerous.
Tbe Germans now cannot retreat with
out abandoning the Flanders const. Thas
means abandonment of the great sun
marine bases-curtailment Of the SUD
marine campaign. Every yard they are
compelled to yield in Flanders makes
relinouishmert of these bases that much
nearer. Moreover, the British victory
took from the enemy the dominating
heights and observatories controlling al
the Flanders plains. The French eontri-
button was restoration to the allies OF
land heretofore securely held by the
Germans behind the inundated section
flooded by Belgium in 1914.
Fleeing before the invaders at the
start of the war, Belgium invoked ma
ture,s waters to flood the plains ana
stop the enemy. But they also have
since constituted the greatest obstacle
TO liberation in Flanders.
Tuesday mornings attack had been
long planned. The French, however, had
NOT prepared to fight nature as they
were forced to fight. At the moment
of tbe attack it seemd as though ma
ture herself had joined against the
French. Torrential rains sent down a
delupe of water which linked the whole
contaminated wilderness shell hoies.
streams, valleys, canals, marshes anu
rivers into veritable sea. whether the
French soldiers, waiting all night Tor
the advance, or the Germans awaltins
the attack suffered the most from the
torrents, having no shelter, either apove
or below the ground, it is impossiDie
to imagine. -
II was certain, however, that the
French artillery's superiority wiped OUT
and inequality which nature condes-
cended to give the Germans.
The Attack Described.
saw this battle of the clements
fire. earth, water, air-Monday night'
before "zerov, the moment for the at
tack AT one spot the most dense ar
t;llerv concentration of the war caused
tbe entire Flanders plains as far as the
owe could reach to vomit up endlessiv
and uninterruptedly a sheet OF fire anu
snarks and flames. Giant explosions OF
shells seemingly mingled with nature
ovvn rumbles of the storm. The driving
binding rain increased every momentS
as if uselessly seeking to extinguish
tbe furv Of the artillery. For every m
sreaae in the whipping rain it seeme1
tbe French artillery likewise increased.
morning nature gave up tne
strnggle. Then the artillery reached us
fr;umnhant erescendo as it spat forth
, rolling barrage Behind. the Frenen
i fantrv leaped from its half-inunda.eo
+renebes TO the marsh covered pialhs
,efore it-leaped from island TO islahu
10 the attack. So.
The assault came before the Germans
,1nected 1t. hTe enemy was eaeghe
yb;le n first line division was oelng
.banoed. The new defenders. fresn
,;ris;on rushed from the Russian front
.,ss eanght and decimated by the IRE
mendous barrage fire. The French az
ta;ncd their obiectives with minimum
osses. The victory was won.
Tuesdav's great drive is the third Ohs
.;nee August !. Since the beginning OF
N. allied Flanders offensive. while sne
er;tish were regaining the last opseI-
ystories dominating and controlling tne
FLANDERS plains to the coast. the trens"
,ave been steadily driving back the
from the protection OF the
,reat water barrier. In each Of the three
5reat French attacks the Poilus have