The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-11
ENEMY DESERTER
TELLS PLANS Of
COMING ATTACK
BRITISH COMMANDER PRE-
PARED FOR RUSH AND
USED HEAVY GUNS.
GERMANS BADLY CUT UP
Shells From Teuton Guns Demol-
ish Building Occupied By British
Officers, and When Dug Out All
Were Unscathed.


With the British Army in France
and Belgium, March l0.-(Sunday.)
Heavy artillery fire was proceed
ing at various points along the tense
British and German battle lines to-
day, but there has been no infantry
action OF Importance since yester-
day morning, when the British in
violent counterattack hurled the
Germans from the post they sue
ceeded in capturing in the region OF
Poelderhoek ridge Friday evening.
The British deienses here and
south of the Houtholst forest, where
the Germans also seized six posts
Friday have been re-established
completely after severe fighting in
which the Germans lost heavily.
Both these attacks were but apol-
ogies for what the Germans had
planned originally, They had in
tended to make a pretentious as
sault Feb 20 on the northern sec
tor south Of the Houtholst forest
20 pinch off the British salient Just
southeast Of the wood and gain a
number of important positions. This
became known to the British, how
ever, through a desertcr, and they
buried the Houthost front under
an avalanche OF shells that the en-
cmy was forced to abandon his
scheme.
Make Smaller Attack.
The Germans decided, neverthe-
less, to make a smaller attack Fri
day morning, which gained them six
posts temporarily. The final result
was that they were driven out with
severe losses and also forced to
abandon some OF their own for
ward positions.
A strong attack had also been
planned for Feb. 28 against the i'm
portant high ground held by the
British in the region of Poelderhoek
and southwest of that place. A
prisoner taken by the British is said
TO have diyulged the German plans.
The British artillery effectively pre-
vented the carrying out of this pro-
gram, and later German prisoners
said their regiments had been parad-
ed and informed that the attack had
been postponed because the Brit
ish had learned OF it. The same pris-
oners said the attack had been put
of until the morning of March 8.
Under Smoke Screens.
Thursday, the British gunners put
down a terrific barrage and the
Germans did not attempt to advance.
Friday evening, however, they NOV
ed against Poelderhoek ridge under
a smoke barragc and to the accom-
paniment of heavy bombardment
of the British positions.
> The enemy occupied number OF
posts along narrow front and a
q hard fight followed. Early Satur-
day morning the British organized
q counter attack which, although ex-
ccuted gallantly, was without the
desired result. A second counter
attack was completely successful and
the Germans were driven out.
One of the freaks of war occur
red Friday near Poelderhoek ridge
The headquarters of a British com
, pany sustained three direct hits from
German heavy guns, and the build
ing was demolished over the heat
of the entire staff. When the in.
iantry had cleared away the debri'
in an effort to reclaim the bodies
q. it was found that not a single OF
ficer had been injured, although
some of them were suffering from
{ shock.
5 Weather Is Fine.
This has been another magnificen
day. The balmy weather OF til,
past few days, which might prop
erly belong to April or May, ha
brought out the leaves of the pus
- sy-willows and many woodland flow
i ers. The ground still contains som
e frost, but the roads are dry ant
: dusty.