Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-12
GIANT GUNS
ROAR ALONG
WEST FRONT
Artillery Battles Engage Al
lies and Germans In
France and Belgium; Brit
ish Infantry Retakes Posi-
tions From Germans.
TEUTONS PLANS FOR
ATTACK ARE SPOILED
IBy The Associated Press
c+~ C<,rres1opdo

+.
TBy The Associated Press
staff Correspondent
With the British Army in France
and Belgium, March 10.-Heavy artil
lery fire was proceeding at various
points along the tense British and
German battle lines today, but there
has been no infantry action of i'm
portance since yesterday morning
when the British, in violent counter
attack, hurled the Germans from the
post they succeeded in capturing in
the region Of Poelderhoek ridge Fri
day evening.
The British defenses here and south
Of the Houtholst forest, where the
Germans also seized six posts Friday
morning, have been re-established
completely after severe fighting in
which the Germans lost heavily.
GERMAN PLANS SPOILED
Both these attacks were but apollo
gies for what the Germans had plan
ned originally. They had intended to
make pretentious assault on the
northern sector south of the Houtholst
forest on February 20 to pinch of the
British salient just southeast of the
wood and gained a number of import.
= ant positions. This became known to
the British. however, through desert
or, and they buried the Houtholst
front under such an avalanche OF
shells that the enemy was forced to
abandon his scheme. The Germans
decided. nevertheless to make q
smaller attack Friday morning which
gained them six posts temporarily.
The final result was that they were
driven out with severe losses and al
90 forced to abandon some OF their
own forward positions.
PRISONER DlvULGEs PLANS
A strong attack also had been plan
ned for February 2S against the i'm
portant high ground held by the Brit
ish in the region of Poelderhoek and
southwest of that place. A prisoner
taken by the British is said to have
divulged the German plans. The Brit
ish artillery effectivally prevented the
carrying out of this program and later
German prisoners said their regiments
had been paraded and informed that
the attack had been postponed be-
cause the British had learned of it
The same prisoners said the attack
had been put of until the morning Of
March g..
eARRAGE DETERs TEUToNs
Thursday the British gunners put
down terrific barrage and the Ger
mans did not attempt to advance Fri
day evening, however. they moved
against Poelderhoek ridge under
smoke barrage and to the accom-
- hNo h1v hov ri nf
the British positions. The enemy oc-
cupied number OF posts along mar
raw front and hard fight followed.
Early Saturday morning the British
organized counter attack, which al
though executed gallantly. was with
out the desired result. A second coun.
ter attack was completely successful
and the Germans were driven out.
HEAoQUARTERS DESTROYED
One Of the freaks of war occurred
near Poelderhoek ridge on Friday.
The headquarters Of a British COM
pa1y sustained three direct hits from
German heavy guns and the building
was demolished over the heads Of the
entire staff. When the infantry had
cleared away the debris in All effort
% reclaim the bodies, it was found
that not a single officer had been in
jured. although some of them were
suffering slightly from shock.
This has been another magnificent
day. The balmy weather of the past
few days, which might properly be-
long to April or May, has brought out
the leaves OF the pussy willows and
many woodland flowers. The ground
still contains some frost, but the
roads are dry and dusty.