A BATTLE OF VARYING FORTUNES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3153, 3 August 1917, Page 5

A BATTLE OF VARYING FORTUNES

ENEMY DESPERATELY COUNTERATTACKING RUSSIAN OUTLOOK ■ GRAVER KAISER'S WAR . ANNIVERSARY . HAMNGUE ■;' ; MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON , UNDER CRITICISM ■ ' '. The great battle in glanders is being waged with varying , fortunes. The weather has been against the Allies, who have had'a day of rain-to contend with. The enemy, further, is offering a desperate, resistance, and : heavy counter-attacks at! certain points have scored for. him a temporary | success. . The British have had to f all back from St. Julien, and retire, ■ "also, to the western end of the village of Westhoek. Per contra, the . lino has been forward at other points, and the Preach also have improved their position. The news from the, Russian front (o-day is - less encouraging," while the internal situation is much gr&ver, one / ' message indicating/that M. Kerensky's difficulties are increasing. There, .are no developments on the other fronts. The : Kaiser, seizing -the occasion of the third anniversary of the war aB an opportunity for ' haraiguing the German Navjv Army, and general public, has challenged • the Allies to fight on, if they ate determined to do so, and take .the conj sequences.'"' Mr. Arthur Henderson has got into hot water for going to ' Paris in the company ot Mr. Ramsay Hacdonal'd, a pronounced pacifist, to meet the Russian and French Socialists. A He defends his action, in the House, ai)d l Jlr. I/loyd'George backs him up. 'It is Turnoiired in the •. lobbies, however,-that he'.will resign, , . < ' ' ■';, . .. '• : . •• " MOST MOMENTOUS BATTLE OF THE.i WAR v PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES' ADVANCE IN FLANDERS BAD WEATHER AND DETERMINED RESISTANCE BY THE ENEMY *' ' ' . (Bj Talegrafch—Prws Aswoiation— Copyright). ; • London, August 1. Sir, Douglas Haig has improved his new line, by night operations, Kmthwnrd of the Ypres-Comines Canal, arid has repulsed counter-attacks against his new positions at La Basse Ville, to the' northward of the Ypres-Comines Canal, and . mat- the Yprea-lloulers railway. There has been heavy'rain since yesterday after-. ■ iuxm, which does not fajrour jthe operations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. , . LATEST BRITISH COMMUNIQUE ' A DAY OF VARYING FOBTUNES. (Rcc. August 2, 9 p.m.) '! ' , London, August 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Rain has fallon all day.' Our line was advanced slightly in,the neighbourhood of tho Zillebeke-Zandvoorde road.i The French have gained further ground on tho east bank of tho Yser Canal. Strong forces of tho enemy heavily counter-attacked on. our now positions eastward and north-eastward :of Ypres, between Westhoek and St. Julien. After resisting repeated attempts we were compelled, after stubborn fighting, to withdraw from St. Julien. Tho. 1 fighting'for Westhoek waß particularly fierce. We now hold the western out-- ] 'skirts. Tho enemy during the afternoon reattacked in the. neighbourhood of -the | railway, and entered our advanced positions on a narrow front. Fighting is: proceeding. The British took prisoner yesterday over five thousand, including ninety-five officers, and captured a few cuns, and a number of machineguns and trench, mortars. Despite the unfavourable weather .yesterday our aero- . planes maintained' contact with the advancing infantry all day, land successfully bombed and machine-gunned the enemy's aerodromes, transport, and infantry. Pew of the enemy's machines attempted to fly. We brought down six of ■them/ Three of ours are missing. ,• We have taken prisoner during the month of July, including yesterday's captures up to six o'olock in the evening, (4038 of the J enemy—of which number eighty-five were officers; also eight field guns, fifty-three . machine-guns, and thirty-two trench mortars."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. : ■ ' ' . ' !. ' | SLIGHT PAUSE IN THE OPERATIONS ' " v v London, August 1. 1 • The United Press Agency's correspondent states v that there has been a slight pause in the. operations', owing to tho rain, which has transformed Planners into a riinddy marsh.\: Even beforo tliq rain fell tho shell holes wero filled with sewage. These aro now full to the brimj and/making the advance a matter of swimming ift well-as. walking. Therearo no reports concerning tho number of guns captured. The artillery smashed'up the Germans when massing for a 1 , counter-attack eastward of Frezenberg. Further south the-British took • the Forest Farm. Hot fighting developed at the windwili at Warneton.' The British took, lost, but finally recaptured it. The French troops maintain their positions, nearly three miles oastward of Monday's front lines. The number of ' ! .prisoners taken totals probably 5000.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , j FRENCH POSITIONS CONSOLIDATED ' ' "AFTER A MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS." ; ' < . ■ . . . . London, August. 3. a French"communique states: "After a magnificent success in Belgium we consolidated, during torrential rain, the positions wo won. • ! . , "The artillery atrugglo continues on the whole of the Aisne front. Strong counter-attacks enabled us to progress eaßt of Cerny at several ■ points. After a bombardment for several days in the region between Avocourt and Hill 301, the Germans this morning attacked the positions we captured on .July 17. By evening they were only able to reach certain advanced elements in our first line, •where they were held up by our fire-curtain."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-ltouter. . (Rec. August 2, 0 p.m.) London, August 1. 'A French official communiquo states: "In Belgium persistent rai nhas fallen. Our troops continue to organise the positions they have won. North of the Aisno reciprocal atrillery firing in the Craonne-Hurtebiso sector is proceeding. A German attack west cf Cerny was repulsed. An artillery duel is proceeding on the . right bank of the Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. HAIG'S CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FRENCH COMMANDER ' * (Rec. August 2, 9.50 p.m.), London, July 1. Sir Douglas Haig has telegraphed to General Petain liis tributo to the ability and ardour of the Prench Army, commanded by General Anthoine, whoso success assured the Allies' flank and largely contributed to-to-day's success. General Petain replied: "The success of the combined attacks which you directed are shedding fresh glory on, the British flag, and will strengthen the ! mutual confidence which exists in the Anglo-French armies."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. » THE OPERATIONS REVIEWED CONSENSUS OF OPINION ON TWO POINTS. (Rec. August 3, 0.20 a.m.) ' i ■■ London, August 2. \ The consensus of the reports on Tuesdays, battle testify ! . to two main points, firstly, the methodical, control of the operations, whereby each unit's task from first to last was measured with studious precision whilo the forward ; movement of the artillery behind the advance was carried out on a wide front 'with extraordinary. promptitude; secondly, tho exceptional strength of the Vnemy's resistance as illustrated in the obstinate struggle-at mnn.v points, and ~ !he subsequent prompt and frequent powerful comitcMUtacks, showing tlmt they ' wore ready for us on this occasion as tlioy havo not boon since tho new ■British army Tcaehcd its full fighting strength. This fact onormously increases tho importaiiroiof an unbroken chain of successful thrusfs from Stcenstruut to lit. limse c Ville.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable ~ .

THRILLING STORIES • BY CORRESPONDENTS i TERRIBLE LOSSES IN THE ENEMY'S RANKS. 1 . London, August 1., The "Morning Post's" «orrcapondent in Flanders states that prisoners tell terrible stones of losses under our concentrated artillery fire. ?' 6 ~. F many of the reliefs, and tho Germans at the last moment threw in the rfrji Guards Division and 52ud Reservo Division, the latter relieving the .JStii two hours beforo the present offensive, while tho 3rd Guards Division, which we so effectively depicted at Mont Aubaii and the Somme, .was still busy relieving the 23rd Bavarian Division. Prisoners from both elements began to arrive at our collecting cages 'this morning. The 6th German Army facing 'us not only included divisions punished by the bombardment but new ones unfamiliar to the line, which were suddenly plunged into tho wreckage of trenches, and were obviously at a disadvantage when caught by the flood of men ana ta nl> ' s let loose by the greatest barrage of all. .Yet they were not broken. J.he lignting spirit of the men in places' was good. They nowhere appeared to turn tail and run, but there was less determined lighting, a.t isolated strong posts than . marked the early phases of tho Sonime. There was greater inclination, particularly at the northern tip of the salient aud the ground thereabout, to surrender'.immediately' they were cut off. j ' Exposed Positions. Tho first two liues of defences, which we evacuated by breakfast time, in nowise afforded as good shelter as tho trenches and ' dug-outs on the Somme and Arras battlefields. Being built on a forward slope, below the lip ol the / saucer, they were without deep underground refuges, but the solid concrete "pill-boxes" were more easily overturned, and 'then wholly smashed, by the bombardment. Tlio enemy's infantry lay mostly in shell-holes behind the unin; habitable v-.'stiges of their front line. Then- came the so-called "Sturtzpunkt, which was in better condition—not 6trong, but still capable of good defence. The ,Germans made little or ho cifort to repair the damage done by the guns, but 'rested as best they could in craters, being dependent on the infrequent lulls in the bombardment to bring up supplies to the hungry men. Tho hour , of attack was a surprise, for; though 'the enemy expected us,' as once before, he was mistaken in the time, and the night gave no hint of our , completed concentration or of the shadowy legions already in position for tho assault. '.The barrage which 'broke the news was greater 'than any of its prede- , cessors. Every 6ort Of gun, from the 18-poiihder to the heaviest howitzer, contributed to tlie curta\n, setting the shells with 'the samo wonderful accuracy, and giving the infantry a travelling Bhield that advanced with almost human intelligence. The infantry moved -sfilh the same precision. ' \ ■ Unquestioned Air Supremacy. j Other correspondents 6tate that our atf supremacy was again tinnnestionablel An. astonishing feat of engineering is credited to the French, who built twenty-eight bridges within the day, under heavy fire, and crossed with , few casualties, and despite the peculiarly difficult ground exceeded their prescribed goal. Two British units took .prisoners in excess of their total casualties, lhe British faced thirteen divisions, of which four were Bavarian—namely, 'tho 4th, 6th Heserve, 10th, and 16th. None of these held tho first or second-line trenches against us for any appreciable time. The 3rd Battalion of Guards and Fusiliers, known as the "Berlin Cockchafers," which the Kaiser styled his crack battalion, was never more roughly handled or decisively beaten than at the hands of the Welsh, whose magnificent onslaught was reminiscent of their grand atack at Mamet Wood (on the Somme front) in 1916. The Guards tra- ■ versed - every obstacle with extraordinary dash. The Highlanders passed over entanglements, trenches, redoubts, ,and fortified positions as if on parade. The Australians and New Zealanders. Our rapid advance, alternately resting and pushing at regular wns as brilliant as anything' seen on the 'Western front, while the British describe their French comrades as irresistible, and the Australians and, New Zealanders as bearing a noble part in the -first day's successful struggle.' At tho'outset of tho offensivo the-Germans cunningly withdrew their foremost heavy guns to tho rear, tho next line firing field guns from the abandoned battery positions, and then hauling them back, to give the impression that the batteries wore still there. The day was notable for tho successful storming of two entire defensive systems, and tbe capture of ten fortresses, and-villages, . placing tho British in possession 'of numerous points which were the scenes of some of tho most shattering combats of 1911 and tho early days of 1915.—Au5.N.Z. Cablo Assn. - . ' • • j I- ' , \ , FRENCH COMMENT ON THE OFFENSIVE' "THE MOST MOMENTOUS BATTLE OF THE WAR." ; Paris, August 1. M. Tudesq, writing to tlio "Journal;" says: "The artillery .fire spread to Lens, and tub terrific cannonade wiped out tho last -mining villago. Wo aro fighting to-day the most momentous battle of tho wftiv Wo are no longer concerned with the mero conquest of a'town or tho gaining of a height, but in a sovereign encounter between ■ two peoples, each of aylioui lias reached its DiaxiiuuM efforts in eciencd and hato. It is tho most colossal collision over recorded, and can • only end finally by crushing the entire German military force. .... ~ -■ The "Potit Parisien's" correspondent says: "We must not forget that the. ■ battle, which'has opened so formidably,is going to last for somo weeks, as astrategic battle in which the French and British are employing material on a scale hitherto unknown. The French commander is tho General who played an important role in tho last'battle at Champagne and last year below Verdnn. At nightfall tho French sent large force 3 across:'the lser Canal, wnen, tho bombardment of the third German line began. • The French advanced and occupied tho first line without resistance, and then, protected by the barrage, advanced eo rapidly that tho British' for a timo were- left behind. But not for long, for soon tho wholo German positions on a .six-mile front wore in the hands of the Allies. The second line was carried ns easily as the first. South of'tho Koulcrs road the British met strong resistance. rhe ro the Germans were able to preserve some points d'appui, but tho British' fought valorously, and the Germans soon fell back. Still at tho olid of tho day tho onomy held portion of tho second positions on tho right wing." - • ~ M Marcel Hutin writes: "Just as in the battle of tho bommC, the Ancre, Wytechaete, and Messines, tho depth of tho advance is being systematically limited on'a predetermined frout.. Tho I'Yanco-British advance secures all obserration points and intermediary positions around \pres, to which tlio capturps of Wytscliaeto and Messines ivere a preliminary step."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - V GERMAN REPORT ON THE BATTLE , ! LOSSES OFFICIALLY ADMITTED. \ . (Rec. 'August 2, 6.40 p!m.) " London; August 2. A German .official report states: "With masses sucli as never beforo have been used during tbe period of 'the war, -tho British, witli tho French'in their wake, attacked our front yestorday. Their aim was a lofty one, intended to deliver an annihilating blow to the U-boat pest, which from tho coast of Flanders; is undermining . England's mastery of tho sea. Densely packed attacking waves of closely-placed divisions followed each other, while numerous -tanks and cavalry units participated. Tho enemy penetrated by tremendous pressure our defonsivo zone,in some Bectors, and-over-ran lines temporarily, gaining considerable territory. Our reserves comitcr-attackcd, and bitter hand-to-lmnd engagements lasted.all day. Wo drovo out or forced back the enemy into the foremost crater . field. Wo were compelled to abandon Bixscliootc, tlio enemy penetrating deeper into this sector. The enemy's attacks in tho evening on our now battle | line "We repulsed four French' attneks on tlie Chemin-des-pamcs, and drovo back the French astride tho Malancourt-Esnes road on a two-kilometro front (1 1-5 miles) to a depth, of seven hundred yards, taking 500 prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eouter. . ENEMY RUSHING UP RESERVES. : '/' ' ■ ■ (Rec. August 2, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, August 1. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: "Tho enemy, alarmed at the. menace, is. rushing up reserves in omnibuses and along light railways over the sholl-swept roads."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' \ GERMAN WAR CHIEFS HURRY WESTWARD. ' ' Rome, August 1. Borlin' reports that as a result of t'ho Western offensive the Kaiser, von Hindenbur",-and General vOn Ludendorff have returned from Galicia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '. ' \ < ■ ■ . ' . ■ GERMAN .HEADQUARTERS MOVED BACK. , (Rec. August 2, 6.40 p.in.) , / , . Amsterdarp, August 1. Tho 'Germans are moving their, Headquarters eastwards, probably almost ns far as Brussels.—Aus.-N.Z.'Cablo Assn. , THE ENEMY'S PRESSURE IN THE EAST . RUSSIANS FORCED FURTHER BACK SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE ZBRUCZ RIVER (Rec. August 2, G.lO'p.m.) 1 i London, August 1. A Russian official report states: "We attacked and carried a position in tho recion of Grjimalov. In ■ the direction of Trembovla wo frustrated an attcmDt bv the enemy to cross the Zbrura< River. jSlortliwaixl of Husiaiyn tho enemy forced us back across -tho Zbrucz. Elsoivhere our losses were great. <[u.„ L m niso forced our retirement between the Dniester and the Pi-nth, eastward of Gerement."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. ; 1 AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. August 2, 9 p.m.) ' London, August 1. An Austrian official report states: "Wo are advancing towards. Kimpolung. Wo forced the Russians to retreat after a fierce light south-west and north-west . of Czernnwitz.''—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Keuter. : ' } INTERNAL OUTLOOK WORSE KERENSKY'S APPEALS SAID TO BE DISREGARDED. . Potrograd, August 1. Tho outlook is worse. M. Kerensky's .appeals for help live disregarded, and Hin' rlifl'erent parties aro unable to reach an agreement. The Moscow Conference has not yet been arranged. Tlio disaffection and flight of tbo troops continues, j-Aus.-N.i!;. Cable Assn. HINDENBURG'S BOAST TO THE . KAISER Amsterdam, August 1. Von Hilldenbure, at tho outset of tho German offensive on the Eastern front, promised tho Kaiser 'that he would put Russia out of action in two months — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ' ■ THE ALLEGED SECRET TREATY WITH FRANCE DENIED BY THE FRENCH PREMIER. Paris, August 1. M lvibot (tho Fi'cnc.b Premier), speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, denied br." Miohaelis's allegation regarding ;i necret treaty botween Franco and ltussia. Ho admitted that .tho T«u: had assureA M, Doominergup (tho then Pro-

ra.ier) that, in the event iof war, Russia .would support tho claim of Franco io Alsace-Lorraine. "But," It. Bibot added, "we never thought of annexing any territories oxcopt those 'which belonged to France, or nf doing; what Bismarck did." Dr. Michaelis,'ho said,- was endeavouring to lifts* the tcrriblo load of responsibility which was weighing on the Kaiser's shoulders.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DENIAL BY THE RUSSIAN FORE lON OFFICE. ' ■ ! Petrograd, August 1. The Foreign Office denies tho statement made By Dr. Michaelis to the journalists in Berlin that Russia had specially protested to France against tlio French war aims. It says that nn Allied conference will shortly exhaustively examine Russia's general declaration of war aims, made on May 18.—Reuter. I : GERMAN ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE RUSSIA'S LOYALTY. * New YorkJ Augiist 1. The New York "Times" correspondent at The Hague states that from German newspaper files it appears that the Russians "will not be bribed into cofitinuing lighting by American gold or Franco-British intrigue." The papers promise the Russians magnanimous treatment by the Holienzollerns and It ops-burgs.—Ans.-N.Z- Cable Assn. . ATTEMPT TO WRECK AMERICAN SENATOR'S TRAIN. Tokio, August 1. Travellers from Russia report a futile attempt to wreck Senator Root's train on the Siberian liue. Bridges were burned and blazing cars pushed alongside the train.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.