The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-03-14
TIP
/. OFF HUN PLANS
British Ready and Waiting When
Germans Go "Over the Top"
and InfIiCt Severe Pun
iShment on Them.
The BIG DRIVE Is ABORTIVE
Tommies Deliver Counter Blows
Taking Back Own Lines and
Part of Teuton Trench
On Wide Front.
The BIG DRIVE IS ABORTIVE

With the British Army in France
and Belgium. Sunday, March TO-
Heavy artillery fire was proceeding at
various points along the tense British
n German battle lines today, but
there has been no infantry action of
Importance since yesterday morning
when the British in a violent counter
attack hurled the Germans from the
post they succeeded in capturing in the
region Of Poelderhoek ridge last Fri
day evening.
The British defenses here and south
of the Houtholst forest where the Ger
mans also seized six posts Friday
morning, have been reestablished com
pletely after severe fighting in which
the Germans lost heavily.
Attacks Were Tipped Off"
Both these attacks We're but apollo
gies for what the Germans had planned
originally. They had intended to make
a pretentious assault on the northern
sector south Of the Houtholst forest
on February 20, to pinch off the British
salient just southeast of the wood ana
gain a number Of important positions.
This became known to the British,
however, through a deSerter 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
a smaller attack Friday morning, which
gained them six posts temporarily.
The final result was that they were
driven out with severe losses n also
forced to abandon some Of their w
forward positions.
A strong attack had also been plan
ned for February % against the i'm
portant high ground held by the British
in the region of Poelderhoek and south
west of that place. \ prisoner taken
by the British is said to have divulged
the German plans. The British artil-
lery effectively 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 because the Brit
fish had learned OF il. The same prison.
ers said the attack had been put or
until the morning Of March s.
Thursday the British gunners put
down a terrific barrage n the Ger
mans did not attempt to advance. Fri
day evening, however, they moved
against Poelderhoek ridge under a
smoke barrage and to the accompanl-
ment OF a heavy commandment of the
British positions. The enemy occupied
a number of posts along n narrow
front and a hard fight followed. Early
Saturday morning the British Organized
a counter attack which although exc
cuted CALAMITY, was without the de-
sired result. A second counter attack
was completely successful and the Ger
mans were driven out.
One of the freaks of war occurred
neal Poelderhoek ridge or Friday. The
headquarters of a British company sus-
tanned three direct hits from German
heavy guns and the building was de-
molished over the heads of the entire
staff. When the infantry had cleared
away the debris in an effort to reclaim
the bodies it was found that not a
single officer had been injured. although
- 800. a.ffrAsfN~ A1tshfl
from shock.
This has been another magnificent
day. The balmy weather Of the past
few days, which might properly belong
10 April or May, has brought out the
leaves Of the pussy willows and many
woodland flowers. The ground stlll
contains some frost, but The roads are
dry and dusty.
RAID ON NEW FRONT.
London, March Ia successful
raid in which several of the enemy
were killed or taken prisoner and two
machine guns were captured. was car
ried out by us last night south of st.
Quentin" says the official statement
from Field Marshal Haig today. "A
party of the enemy which approached
our lines northwest of La Bassee was
driven off by artillery and machine gun
fire.
There was considerable artillery
activity on both sides early this morn
ing southeast of Armentieres.'
This is the first report of any British
activity on the line south of st. Quentin
since the British took over the sector
from the French several weeks ago.
Previously Ule British front had eN-
tonde only to st. Quentin
WAIT BLOW BY HUNS.
Washington, ID. c., March 12.-Norn
ing has developed to indicate that the
Germans have abandoned their plans
for a great offensive in the west, says
the war departments weekly review OF
the military situation published today.
Meanwhile the allies, the statement
continues, have taken an alert defensive
and are content to let the enemy
break himself against their impreg-
nable line.
The review diScloseS that the princi-
pal sector occupied by American troops
Is four and q half miles long and 1t
emphasizes that the Americans hold
trenches at four separate points on the
French front.
Germany's sweep into the heart of
Russia is seen as another futile attempt
TO shift the center Of the war from the
western front.
BLOW MuNlTiON DUMP.
London, March 12.-3ritish aviators
of the British naval air service made a
raid over Belgium dropping bombs ON
the airdrOme and ammunition dump al
Engel, the admiralty announces. Two
fires were started. In aerial combats