The Story of the Great War, Volume VII (of VIII)

a front of about two miles on both sides of Hill 344. In one section of the line the Germans succeeded in gaining a temporary foothold. By a vigorous counterattack made

rland troops carried by storm 600 yards of German trenches and took fifty-two prisoners. East of Malakoff Farm the British at

company of this regiment had seventeen casualties from the same cause in one day. The failure of Germany to get a sufficient supply of rubber was a contributing cause of the gas fatalities. German masks were of poor quality and tore easily. M

yards in an attack made on German trenches in the morning of September 11, 1917. During the day the

k a shrewd blow on September 11, 1917, when in successful raids they drove across the German trenches between St. Hilaire and St. Souplet and penetrated the secon

side gained in turn a temporary ascendancy, but the result was indecisive. It was not until the night of September 14-15, 1917, that the French succeeded in ejecting the Germans from the greater part of the trench system here and took possession.

ound to the north and south was not a comfortable one. When they did fight it was with rage and despair. Prisoners taken told of the deadly effects of the British gas projectiles which wrought awful havoc among the troops herded in tunnels and dugouts. The constant bombardment of Lens had reduced the city to the same ruined condition as th

far deadlier destructive weapon than in their own hands. Many times during these days the Canadians had flooded the city with gas which so

, British troops under Field Marshal Haig delivered a powerful attack against the German lines east of Ypres on an eight-mi

ir objectives. The German center along the Ypres

ied the Inverness Copse. Australian troops stormed Glencorse Wood and Nonneboschen (Nun's Wood); Scottish and South African brigades captured Potsdam, Vampire, and Borey Farms; West Lancashi

desired goal with light casualties. In the center North Country and Australian battalions pierced German positions to a depth of over a mile and won all their objectives, which included the village of Veldhoek and the western p

rck to the Ypres-Roulers railway, where there were numerous strong concrete and steel redoubts. Many positions like Rose and Quebec

but many shells fell among the advancing men and caused a number of casualties. The Australians were in an unpleasant situatio

the Germans out of the last strong points in that region, and like operations were succe

ge, where they counterattacked six times. This ridge was one of the key

ough local fights occurred, where the Germans still held on to some small def

officers paid an unwilling tribute to the British artillery and machine

risons in concrete blockhouses with large reserves

s to stem the advancing tide of British troops, regardless of the cost. In the main their attacks broke down, and where they gained a little ground it hardly compensated them for the frightful loss of life incurred. The British were forced to yield ground south of the Yp

spirited counterattack. Three times the Germans assaulted the front east of Langemarck, but after hea

er of shells was needed. Over the wide battle area British aircraft swept in flocks, raining down death and destruction in their flight. Ten tons of bombs were dropped, the stations at Roulers, Menin, and Ledeghem were squarely hit, an aerodrome bombarded, w

ir positions. North of Langemarck in Flanders they won additional German defenses in the morning of September 23, 1917, and took a

some attacks. British troops reported that they were fired on by "flaming bullets" that set the clothing a

tant operations were attempted. The French command was exceedingly careful not to waste men unless there was some highly important advantage to be gained, contented to act on the defensive u

ois le Chaume, along a front of about a mile and a half. The French "75's" broke the front of the attack, but in the center some trench elements were pierced by the Germans and violent fighting ensued. It was a short, sharp strug

ch troops dashed out to meet their assailants and with bayonet and hand grenade drove them in disorder back to their trenches. There were numerous hand-to-hand struggles between the lines. The Germans made extraordinary efforts to regain lost ground around Hill 352, which offered every advantage for observation, but they were unable to break

to hold their lines inviolate, came the painful news that their most

a simple soldier. He entered the army as a volunteer after having been rejected five times by the medical inspectors. One of his most striking achievements was the shooting down of

ive was started along the major portion of the lines reached by the British on September 20, 1917, extending from east of St. Julien to southwest of Gheluvelt. The most important points involved in the new offensive were east of t

rcing their way over sodden and flooded ground among steel and concrete redoubts heavily manned with machine guns.

man front in the Zonnebeke region. The village was s

erce fighting throughout the day when the British drove the enemy fro

Tower Hamlets an important height that had been much fought over was won by British forces, who also occupied strong field work

e importance of the elevated positions, had given orders to their troops to hold fast at whatever loss of life. The British consequent

t were unable to shake the victors' bulldog grip. Here and there the Germans were successful in capturing a redoubt, but were only able to hold it for a sh

nders and the Ostend-Lille railway, their principal means of communication and of supplies in this part of Belgium. Par

and Roulers junctions and on the German base at Ostend. The last British advance of a mile had brought this important objective almost within

any permanent successes. The net result of the fighting in the Ypres area was the capture by the British of 5,296 prisoners, including

ttack broke down. On the right bank of the Meuse they were partly successful in an assault on French outposts. Here they penetrated the French center, where they held on for a time, but the Frenc

re they employed "flame throwers" freely, but were unable to o

ivisions. During the same period of time from May to September, 1916 and 1917, respectively the Germans engaged along the Verdun front, twenty-five new divisions in 1916; along the Aisne thirty-five new divisions