ITALY'S ADVANCE

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15989, 25 August 1917, Page 9

ITALY'S ADVANCE

—« a:.m£s m progress. h SINKS RAIDER.

(4th YEAR—23th DAY.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

j THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATIONS. V (By Cable—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian nnd N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) LONDON, August 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "We. advanced our line south-west or Lens and repulsed attacks east of Langemarek by machine-gun lire. "The enemy raided our outposts 111 the neighbourhood of Lombaertzyde. ' FLANDERS GAINS MAINTAINED. LONDON, August 23. Headquarters reports that all yesterday's gains in Flanders were mai titained, and added to, despito artillery fire and counter-attacks. \esterday s success was greater than the advance of a few hundred yards suggests. We are fighting for the high ground and the domination of the whole tactical position in Northern Belgium. We have now iitton aiiotlior slico out or the ridge. Tho enemy is concentrating his utmost to retain this bombarding position, hence the bitter fighting. BRITISH HOSPITALS BOMBED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, August 23. Tlio Germans are clearly pursuing the same policy regarding hospitals behind the British front as. on the Frencii front. . , Thev recentlv attacked at night three British hospitals. The plan was evidently deliberate, as the Germans attacked tho hospitals in succession, although those had occupied the same positions for two years. The Bombs which fell on the first hospital wounded three women nurses, those on the second killed a doctor and wounded three persons, Whilst a bomb dropped on the third hospital killed nine German patients.

THE SITUATION REVIEWED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received August 24th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. Major-General F. B. Maurice, Director of Military Operations, Imperial General Staff, states:— "The recent British advances wero all carried out according to programme. Mud rendered the Langomarck advance unexpectedly difficult. Tho recent German reinforcements were twice as many as ours, but owing to their losses and exhaustion we aro now right into Lens on tho south-west and north-west of the town. "The Italians' great battle is proceeding satisfactorily, and thero is a possibility of very great and important consequences. "Russia is making a stand in tho south-west without at present signs of being forced back, and, tho prospect is altogether more hopeful. "The Germans claim that betwoen July 19th and August 18th they captured 41,000 prisoners, which, is not surprising, for the Russians wero withdrawing, and their army in a state of mutiny, only half fighting. As against those figures, the Allies in threo days havo taken prisoner 25,000, and in the past 20 days 32,500. "To maintain tho German people's confidence the German communiques contain moro and more fiction. Their railway traffic and rolling stock aro breaking down. Coal is getting short, and the public is beginning to feel tho pinch, and tho tone of their papers shows their many anxieties." OFFICIAL GERMAN REPORT. (Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received August 24th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. A wireless German official report states:— "Repeated English attacks between Langomarck and Hollcbeke were driven back after stubborn hand-to-hand fighting. Many tanks were destroyed. We maintained our positions on a 15 kilometres front (nearly 9-i- miles), except at two places eastward of St. Julien and the Ypres-Menin road. "Wo ronulsed attacks at Lens, where fighting continues. "French attacks at Verdun gained a foothold in our trenches." GREAT AIR BATTLE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Aeeociation.) (Router's Te'.ojijims.) (Received August 24th, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, August 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Thero was heavy local fighting all day for the Green Cassier, an important enemy stronghold southward of Lens, where we obtained a foothold this morning. Wo repulsed several counter-attacks with heavy enemy losses. Fierce fighting continues.

;r \Vo repulsed an attack northward of Ypres-lloulers railway, and advanced slightly north-eastward of Langemarek. "The week's air fighting has been incessant and more severe than during any previous week of tho war. A change of wind favoured our aeroplanes yesterday, and we brought down 12 and drove down. six. Two of ours are missing. One landed on the Ostond beach. Our aviators dropped five tons of explosives on objectives behind tho enemy's lines."''

FURTHER CANADIAN ADVANCE. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received August 2oth, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 24. Router's correspondent at Headquarters records another Canadian success. Early this morning Canadians crossed the Souchez and, deploying, pushed on along a 700 yards front. As tho result of a brilliant operation General Currie's left flank is secured from tho south of Lens. Prisoners admit that life in Lens is unendurable. Two special counterattacks by divisions of the Prussian Guards reserves, which, were recently brought up, suffered so sevorely that they are apparently incapable of further formidable effort. The enemy is unable to employ his artillery to the fullest advantage, owing to the closeness of tho salient and our command of tho ground. Lens has become nothing less than a deathtrap for tile enemy. ■/, THE VERDUN BAITLE. SUMMARY OF CAPTURES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 23 (3.10 p.m.). A French official report states that the total captures at Verdun include 7640 prisoners, including 186 officers, 60 of these being wounded, 24 guns and 200 macliino-guns. Nino guns were destroyed. BOMBARDMENT IN THE ATSNE.

(Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's To!egram6.) (Received August 24th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. A French communique states: — "There is great enemy artillory activity north of tho Aisne. "Heavy aerial bombardments continue behind tho enemy lines." Later. A French communique states: — "The day generally was quiet. Thero was mutual artillery activity on both ( siaos of the Mouse." TYPICAL GERMAN TREACHERY. (United. Service.) (Received August 24th, 11.20 p.m.) PARIS, August 23. The "Petit Parisien" states the Count Ernest Bernstorlf, a nephew •of the Ambassador, was taken prisoner at Mort Homme. He presented himself to soldiers of the Foreign Legion and claimed consideration on the ground that he was -a Catholic. Tho prisoner was ordered to walk to the front when he signalled to concealed Germans who opened fir© hut paid dearly for thoir treachery.