COMPLETE SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 5

COMPLETE SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH ATTACK

FURTHER ADVANCES AT VARIOUS POINTS

FUTILE AND COSTLY GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS

The High Commissioner reportsLondon,. September 21. 12.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"More detailed accounts bf. yesterday's Dattle confirm the completeness of our success. During tho evening,. local attacks in the neighbourhood of Tower Hamlets, north-east' of Langemarck, cleared up a number of strong points and completed the capture, and our objectives there are now established. In many counter-attacks, delivered by considerable forces of. the enemy! during the afternoon and evening, . liis , casualties were unusually great. The clear light daring the latter part of the day enabled us to obtaiii warning of impending attacks, 'and in every case t"Re advancing German infantry were destroyed by conoentrated rifle, machine-giin, and artillory fire. The obstinancy with which-the enemy constantly repeated the attacks only added to his losses, Without recovering any valuable ground. 'Being exhausted by his previous efforts, the enemy did not counter-attack during the night, and we i;ero able to consolidate our positions undisturbed. Our losses were light. During the night small hostile attacks were driven off west of Havrincourt and west of Lens." : 1 London, September 22, 11.50 p.m. ; Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We retain the positions captured on September 20, despite repeated strongest assaults. The enemy aviators eventually refused combats.' This afternoon four tons of bombß were dropped on Boulors station, and an aerodrome, and billets in tiie'vicinity of Lille." -) I ' WHOLE OF NEW LINE REMAINS INTACT . DETERMINED COUNTER-ATTACKS DEFEATED WITH HEA'VY LOSSES. ■ By Telegraph-PreßS Association. Copyright ■' (Bee. September 23, £.5 p.m.) . • _ ' ■' ' London, September 22. ' Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Further evidence shows the continuous and obstinate nature of the counter-attacks yesterday,'in which the enemy suffered exceptionally heavy losses, while not- gaining any advantage. Minor fighting occurred to-day at different parts of the lront. We advanced our line at a number of points after we' had beaten the counter-attacks. This mornin" English County troops on- our right captured a collection of trenches and stron" concreted points southwards of Tower Hamlets. Tho enemy later launched a" powerful counter-attack against Tower Hamlets ridge, which we repulsed after heavy fighting. Liverpool and Lancashire regiments eastward of St. Julien gained possession of a fortified farm, and cleared up a number of dug-outs and stron" points fronting our now position. ; Our artillery broke a counter-attack eastward of. Langemarck. The prisoners taken in yesterday's 'fighting so far reported exceed 3000. During tho first two hours yesterday low clouds and drizzling rain made flying almost impossible, but our aeroplanes flew.low, bombed an aerodromo near Courtrai, and attacked bodies of infantry. The weather improved later, and contact was maintained with the advancing trobps. Aeroplanes and balloon? .carried out observations of locations of tro ops preparing a counter-attack and report-. Ed these to the artillery, which dealt with the situation. During the attack oui aeroplanes fired 28,000 machine-gun rounds from a height of a hundred to n thou sand feet at infantry, trenches, shell-holes, .and approaching reinforcements. The German aircraft in the middle of the day was active in attempting to interfere with our artillery, bombing and flying 10w... The; machines, wlien the weather improved in the evening, kept well to the eastward of their lines and were disinclined to fight. Ten enemy machines were destroyed and six driven down. 'Ten of ours are missing. Hostile counter-attacks by considerable forces continued last evening on the Ypres front, without result, except a ( heavy increase in the enemy's losses. , A powerful counter-attack in massed formation on a wide front eastward of St. Julien penetrated at, one point a short distance into our new positions, but the attackers were immediately driven out. We repulsed the enemy at all other points with great loss. Our whole line is intact At the end of two hours' fierce fighting an attack was delivered with great determination, the enemy losses being exceedingly severe. We completely repulsed a strong attack on both sides of the Ypves-Menin Eoad, and crushed 'a counter-at-tack eastward; of Langemarck."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. - . , ' ' , ADVANCED TROOPS FALL BACK SLIGHTLY . '' THURSDAY'S GAINS SECURELY IN BRITISH POSSESSION. (Eec. September 23, 11.20 p.m.) „ , -n . ~ ~-n . ~ London, September 22, midnight. Sir Douglas Haig reports; 'During the day there has been heavy fHitinsouthward of the Ypres-Menm road. The enemy fought with great determination but were not successful in regaining the Tower Hamlets Ridge. The Durh-im troops to-day completely repulsed :nwc strong counter-attacks northward ' of Tower Hamlets. 'PurfW south repeated hostile attacks compelled our advanced troops to fall back Slightly from part of the ground gained vesterd-iy mornin* 7 in this area;' The whole of the positions uaptured on Thursday are securely in°our possession. On the battlefront there has been no further counter-attacks. There has been great reciprocal artillery activity all along the front. Our fire prevented an attempted' raid in the .neighbourhood of the Arrns-Cambrai road. We successfully raided eastward ,of Monchj>le-Preux. Tliero was great aerial activity yesterday, our aeroplanes ranging iheir guns on hostile batteries, ; t'-oops, trenches and shell-holes. Low-flying machines harassed' tho enemy's infantry and transports. Masses of bombs were dropped on Rotilers, Menin, and elsewhere. Eighteen enemy 'planes were brought down. Twelve of ours are inking."—Aus.N.Z.°Cable Assn.-Eeuter. NEW POSITIONS FIRMLY CONSOLIDATED DESTRUCTION WROUGHT BY THE BARRAGE. London, September 21. The United Press reports that, notwithstanding, the cyclonic shelling of places north of the Ypres-Roulers railway,' lhe British positions to-day were "firmly consolidated. North-east Of St. Julien, Germans who w?re being massed for an assault dwindled under our fire, and the counter-attack did not develop. ' Further north, local affairs improved the British positions. Southward of the railway tho Germans are shelling intermittently, and sometimes heavily. A wounded lance-corporal summed up the prevailing impression when ho said:—'"Let Fritz counter-attack: we arc ready for lrim. By the time our new barrage rolls over him a couplo of times, with machine-gun variations, he will bo a mighty sick man." All the troops ijgreo that there was never such a barrage. It scattered the "pill-boxes," which were completely blown out of the ground, with the gun crews inside and dead. Concreted and organised shell-holes and ma-chine-gun emplacements were filled with corpses. Scores of wounded were seen ■■ by tho roadside, laughing, joking, and tea-drinlripg with wounded Germans — Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . " NEW GERMAN METHOD BROKEN DOWN FEARFUL HAMMERING OF THE BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. (Rec. September 23, 5.5 p.m.) , London, September 22. ■Mr. Philip Gibbs 6ays:—'Yesterday's attack proved that the new German - method of holding tho lines lightly in blockhouses, with reserves behind for' counter-attacks, has broken down. If the Germans revert to tho old system of strong front lines they will stilTer as they suffered on the Sninme. Tho reserve German divisions which were brought up luid a dreadful time. Tho counterattacks were particularly fierce against the Higrlandors on tho Zonuebekn Road On the Australians' left the.Highlanders were driven back for a while, but lhe Scottish rifle fire broke every attack of tho German storm troops, Six times the

latter came, on with much determination, and six times their waves were broken. Finally three German battalions drove against the Highlanders at Delva I-'arni and liose House. "The Highlanders rallied at eight o'clock, and swept the Germans out and away." Mr. Gibbs emphasises the fearful hammering inflicted 'by the British bombardment. At least 50 per cent, of the r German prisoners were wounded. Many of the Germans around Polygon Wood and Glencorse Copse were buried in shell-holes between the blockhouses. The blockhouses themselves were smashed up or so. battered that the garrisons were dazed and demoralised.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMAN POSITIONS TENSELY HELD ! CAPTURED OFFICERS DISMAYED. (Rec. September 23, 5.30 p.m.) t, i > j, , , , , London, September 21 Eeuter s correspondent at Headquarters says:—"The German positions were held so tensely that it is estimated that there were four Germans to every yard of front. Several of the best German divisions were so shattered as to necessitate their withdrawal. We won a victory which leaves the enemy in this wide tract of Flanders at a serious disadvantage. Captured officers, who hitherto have been haughty and supercilious, now literally bow to their captors, and confess defeat in what was regarded as (heir strongest point. .They now view the future with dismay."—Eeuter. , RESOURCEFULNESS OF THE TOMMIES PELT GERMAN TROOPS WITH WATER-BOTTLES. (Rec. September 23, 11.20 p.m.) ' t, , , _ i i j London, September 22. . Beaters correspondent at Headquarters Records an instance of tlio resourcefulness of the Tommies. A party of bombers reached the parapet of the Germans, who were crouching in the. trench. Owing to the close quarters grenades would have been equally dangerous to both sides. The Tommies pelted the Boches with water-filled bottles. Scenting a new source of {rightfulness the Germans Bpeedily "iameraded." Describing the Gennan counter-attacks, the correspondent states that fresh- troops from the reserves were utilised, and they attacked with great determination, and actually penetrated our lines on n front of 300 yards. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, and the ground was soon covered with their corpses. Five other similar attacks of a formidable nature were all repulsed with great losses. Our casualties were light.—lieuter. ! VALUABLE WORK OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS ELABORATE SCHEME OF GERMAN STRATEGISTS DEFEATED (Rec. September 23, 5.30 p.m.) „ „ „ „ London, September 22. Mr. H. Perry Eobmson, the "Times" correspondent at Headquarters, says that German officers abundantly confirm tho importance'of the success gained, and testify, to the overwhelming work of the artillery and the brilliance of the infantry advances as things incredible. They do not attempt to disguise tho seriousness of the defeat. Mr. Robinson adds:—"The New Zealandors' work was particularly valuable. Besides laying 30,000 yards of cables, they repaired all tho roads and trenches." Describing the German methods, Mr. Eobinson says:—"lnstead of a single strong line they now based their defence on great depth and crowd their troops on very narrow fronts, supported by strong reserves furthor back for.. immediate counter-attacks. The whole area was sprinkled with concrete redoubts and massed guns 4000 to 7500* yards behind tho front line. This elaborate scheme is the last blossom of German strategists/carefully worked out and framed withenormous industry. We have broken it."—"Tho Times." AUSTRALIANS HAVE HARD FIGHTING- " IN THE CENTRE OF THE ATTACK. (Rec. September 23, 5.30 p.m.) - ' London, September 22. Mr. Percival Phillips's account emphasises that the Australians were the centre of the. attack, and had much hard fighting between the Roulers railway and the Menin Road before they cleared Glencorse Wood and Nonneboschen. The, Australians planted the Commonwealtn flag on the Anzac Redoubt, and. drove nearly half-way through Polygon. Wood. Nearly all .their programme was fulfilled to time-ta.ble. Tney went over tho parapet at 5.40 a.m., amid heavy shellfire, because distress signals liad'callcd nil the German batteries into action. The barrage caught some stretcher-bearers and wounded men. Che.British victory is even greater than appeared yesterday. Six counter-attacks were>. repulsed with exceedingly heavy losses. There is a notable change in Prussian' prisoners'' attitude. The officers are polite and complimentary. One said: 'It is a great day for the English. You gained tho year's greatest victory—far' greater than Messines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.. • "

FRENCH PRESS . OVERJOYED x ALLIES' SUPERIORITY AGAIN AFFIRMED. Paris, September 21. T!he newspapers are overjoyed at the British successes. The "Petit Parisien" says 'the attack may be regarded as a first-class operation. Tho Allies have once again affirmed their superiority, in spite of the unfavourable weather. M. ; Marcel Hutin, in the "Journal," writes that the chief interest of the battle consists in the ocoupa.tion of almost the whole of the western plateau which dominates the region north of Lille and 14110 itself. M. Andre Tudesq, the French correspondent with the British Army, recalls the assault of July 31. j' That battle, lie says, was a terrible butchery, which lasted a week. Fifty 1 German divisions were mutilated, but tlie enemy's power'ful defensive system remained intact. 'The successes now claimed' are the result of new offensive methods and ; of gigantic labour, which has conserved tho roads by which many howitzers have been brought close up to the enemy's trenches!— , Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. '' (Rec. September 22, 8.45 p.m.) „. , • , , , „, T . London, September 21. , ■ A German official report states:—. Nino British divisions, including several Australian, supported by armoured cars and flame-throwers, made yesterday's attack in close formation. The enemy penetrated a kilometre deep our defenco zone, and advanced further at Passchendaele. He gained ground northward of the Ypres-Menin Road, and was thrown back with the heaviest losses elsewhere. His reinforcements were unable to make further progress. Tho villages in the fighting zone remain ours."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. r : ■ • (Rec. September 23, 11.20 p.m.) . „ n. . , ... London, September 22. A German official report states: 'After hours of tho strongest drum fire last night from Langemarqlc to as far as Hollebeke, the English attacked at many points and were repulsed- after hand-to-l mn d fighting, especially between the Boesinghe-Staden and Ypres-Roulers Roads, and further south'as far as Hollebeke. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

, , FRENCH DISPERSE AN ENEMY ATTACK , ■ ) ARTILLERY ACTIVITY, RAIDS, AND FATROL ENCOUNTERS. London, September 21. A French communique states:—"There is great artillery activity in the Champagne. Wo dispersed an attack at Monthaut, causing ■ serious enemy Tosses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■ (Rec. September 23, 11.20 p.m.) * ' London, September 22. A French communique states: "There has been lively artillery work at various sectors, with raids and patrol encounters."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. NAVAL WORKS AT OSTEND BOMBARDED The High Commissioner reports-.— . ' , . . London, September 22, 1.10 p.m. • The Admiralty reports that our ships bombarded the naval works at Ostend this morning with satisfactory results. Three of the seaplanes assisting the enemy ■were "brought down." ENEMY AERODROMES AND A STATION BOMBED. (Rec. September 23, 5.5 p.m.) „ , „„ .... London, September 22. , The Admiralty reports:— Naval aircrtft on the night and morning of' September 20-21 'dropped a large quantity of bombs with good results on Aertrycke, Sparappiflhoek, and Thorout aerodromes, and Thoroiit railway station, and also near the Atelier de la Marine, Ostende. A Plying Corps patrol assisteffTo drive off numerous enemy aircraft which attacked our machines. All our aircraft re-turned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.