HAIG'S GREAT BLOW

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 7

HAIG'S GREAT BLOW

THRILLING DISPATCHES FROM CORRESPONDENTS SEVEN POWERFUL COUNTERATTACKS HURLED BACK THE POPE AND THE ' ' 'PEACE ISSUES : v ENEMY'S; MINIMUM TERMS : ,. EXPECTED ; •'. 4. \- ~ " . . The later, details of Haig's new blow in the West show that the British victory has been well maintained, and that the German losses are even greater than were thought at first, while the British casualties were exceptionally light. Sir Douglas Haig's own dispatch, is an inspiring departure from his familiar terse summary of operations, and betrays the . enthusiasm of the Staff over the results of the battle. Several regiments, notably the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, are singled out for special praise for their heroic gallantry under difficult and trying conditions. The Anzacs, -too, are. the subject of high praise in several of the dispatches, notably for their gallantry and resource in averting danger to the right wing when their comrades on their flank were hard 'pressed. The situation on the French front is nominal, while there! are no material developments in Russia. Guynemor, the famous French air . demon, has met his fate in a last gallant fight against odds over tho Dunkirk region, after bringing down his fifty-third enemy. Tho peace issues, particularly tho German point of view, are still in the forefront. ..One Tepor.t. states that the Kaiser, will authorise the Chancellor, Dr. Michaelis, to" expound Germany's minimum terms in tho Reichstag; apropos, the. Austrian newspapers remark that the speech will mark the final phase of the war. : THRILLING STORY FROM SIR DOUGLAS HAIG '. -DETAILS OF SOLDIERS' BATTLE HEROIC STAND BY ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND i HIGHLANDERS 0 By Telegraph-Press Association. Copy.riEbt - London, September 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Later accounts show that tho fighting yesterday afternoon and evening was exceedingly severe. The enemy spared no enorts to regain the important ground we had captured. The enemy made four separate counter-attacks, in great strength, on our ]lew front from.'lower Hamlets to the St Julien-Gravenstafel road. Tho struggle- was most severe m tho area south ot the Polygon Wood, where the English, Scottish, Welsh, and Australian troops defeated repeated attempts to break into the positions. All (ho enemy:e.attacks were repulsed, and his losses were extremely heavy. later m tho nening the fiKhtiii" died down, leaving .us.in possession of the ground captured after the severe struggle which had lasted all day. English and' Scottish battalions ejected the enemy from his positions, and accomplished their allotted task of securing the flank of our principal attack. We rcijovml two companies of Argyll ana Sutherland Highlanders, who had held out with great gallantry/all night in a. forward position in which they had been isolated. The enemy later developed another counter-attack in great strength on this sector, where fioreo figl;ting continues The Australians, further north, cleared the remainder of Polygon V\ oo<l, and captured a trench system cast. of .it, which formed their, objectives for tho Ihv On the Australian left, the English, Scottish, and Welsh battalions penetrated the enemy's'defences for nearly a mile in depth, stormed Zonneboke, awl ! gained their objectives. A counter-attack cast of the Polygon Wood was repulsed. The North Midland and London Territorials, attacking on the left of both ot the sides of the Wieltje-Gravenstafel and St. Julien-GraveiistaiT roads, captured their obiectives and beat off a counter-attack. Our lino hero was advanced to a depth of half a mile across country defended l, y many fortified farms and concreted redoubts, The enemy in the afternoon made a second counter-attack with larger forces and pressed us back a short distance on a narrow front. Our counterattack recaptured the bulk of the lost ground. Over a thousand Germans were taken prisoner, and there are very largo numbers of German dead. The enemy s losses' were again heavy."—Aus.-N.Z.- Cable Assn.-Reuter. HAIG'S LATEST REPORT SEVEN POWERFUL COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. (Rec. September 28, 10.5 p.m.) ■ London, September 2S. • Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After nil our objectives were, gained., yesterday. Seven powerful counter-attacks during tho afternoon and evening were repulsed, with heavy enemy losses. We took prisoner yesterday 16U of tho enemy, including 48 : officers x Our casualties were light. To-day we improved our position southward of the Polygon' Wood. Our airmen; encountered strong opposition, and there wero heavy losses on both 6ides.- Fifteen of tho enemy's machines were brought down. Thirteen'of. ours are missing.-"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. '.TOLD' BY THE CORRESPONDENTS DESPERATE FIGHTING AT ZONNEBEKE. .' ' London, September 27. The United Press correspondent, describing the battle of Tpres, emphasises the ferocious nature of .the German counter-attacks, which ended fruitlessly. Heavy shelling forced.tho British (o retire slightly immediately north of Zoiinebeke, in consequence of which the Zoimobeke railway station was recaptured; but the major portion of Zonnebeke remained British.,' Tho Germans also won minor local positions ol Winzic Vsrrm and Vale House, tho British being recalled from a portion of these. The British bloodily repulsed the enemy everywhere south of the Menin road, except iii the regions of Jut Farm and Cameron House. The enemy holly assaulted the Anzacs' position 'south of the. railway, but, after the heaviest losses, abandoned their attempts, without having gained an inch. The correspondent pays a tribute to the splendid spirit of the Argylls and the Sutherlands, who refused to surrender, although practically without fond and drink for twenty hours. The ground was littered with German corpses, when they, .were relievedA Opening Stages of the Battle, .^ Mr. Percival Phillip:* ttates that Wednesday's attack commenced in a heavy mist, in semi-darkness. It involved a number of new German divisions in fighting of a most determined character. Their efforts (o hold the British in .'check caused severe losses. By eleven o'clonjc tho British were engaged in clearing the dug-outs in the western outskirts of Zonnebeke village, and the Australians were fig'ftting on Ihe eastern slope beyond the Polygon Wood. This success was followed by a day of almost 'continuous attacks 'by the German slonn troops on both sides of the Menin road. They drove repeatedly against the Tower Hamlets Eidse and the Australian line in Polygon Wood. We shall remember Tuesdav as a day of bitter and savage effort by ihe Hun. In the struggle he employed every man and giwi he could scrapo logother, in order to trv to retrain a. footing on the scarred hills beyond Ypre=. The troops from tho Homo Counties a'i-1 Scotland, on the Tower Hamlets Ridge, bore the brunt of Hip-storm, which ei"'"d iii German defeat. The coveted slopes a r p now envored. with th»ip dead. The fiThtii'T in Zonnebeke n>.id the Wno'V on Wwl'i"=dny in-nlv.pil an ndvanc". nf a thousand Tanls. Wp h»M the Anzac and /nnnobekp redoubts, and the western half of Polygon Wotl. 'Hip hardest work fell o" the r'-nglHi and Scotch troops attacking below llio Polygon Wood. They had to retak" lb» slee" slope of Tower during 'ho German ennntpr-fhrusrs.which advane'd from the marshes, and the wns Ihn speire of fiirliMnc at. close riuarters. Bv , 7 o'clock all our I'Ofils were reached, and Prussian rninfoivenicnis im at night were evicted, though they had been ordered t'< stick at all rosK We hav» now an unobstructed view of Zandvoord" from (he Tower HamWs rJidsrp; and elsowhpre wo overlook Becelaore and Gheluvplt. This reduces the npnortunit'r-s for German conn'ter-nHn-fks.. Nevertheless. tb» G»rmans to-day wasted men fre°'v. When Zonnebeke was taker.the Germans could be seen coming over (he ridge from Passchendaele until our guns swept them away. One of the Biggest Days of the War. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: Wednesday will bo counted as one of the biggest days of fighting in this war. The decision is of vital' importance to the enemy and to ourselves. Thus far it is in our favour. Tho battalions'on the Australians' right had the hardest time, having been under incessant fire and ellr.ck since dawn on Tuesday. But other British troops on their right, who were also severely tried, have swept across the Tower Hamlets Jiidse towards Gheliivelt. Tt was fullv pxpected that any attempt to advance beyond the ground gainexl by the battle of the twentieth would meet with the fiercest opnosition. The capture of Polygon Wood ha<s seriously lessened the value of the Passchendaele Ridge, which forms the enemy's great defensive barrier. The- enemy showed signs c-f, desnerate anxiety to check us on the Polygon Wood line and the ground south of it to-theGheluvelt Spur.and made a great effort by means of massed artillery to smash the organisation behind our lines; and by a series of thrusts to break our front. Thoy launched their first attack on Tuesday morning on the Brilish troops nt Cameron House, immediately on tho right of the Australians in Polvgon Wood. Owing to their losses. Hip British were obliged to. fall back a liltle wa.v, in order to reorganise for a counter-assault. Several. British units did heroic ft,nsS ' With the Australians. 7. < " f

Meanwhile'the Australia Were fighting on the high ground on this side of the racecourse. The enemy failed to pierce the lino, though a second- thrust trie tiismetek at mMdar. Tie .Australians, at two on Tuesday afternoon, sent

men to help the troops on their right, who -were passing through a terrible ordeal owing io the continual pressure of the enemy's "6torm troops." This was a serious anxiety on the cvo of'a new battle, but it failed to frustrate Wednesday's attic]:. At dawn the Australians had already massed beyond Glencorse Wood for the contemplated attack. Further north other soldiers were ready to "go over." -It was almost dark when they went forward through the wet, thick mist. Our artillery put up the same monstrous line of barrage fire as before, and the troops followed it at a slow pace, which gave them time to avoid the shell craters. Through the mist our men sa.w the Germans running and falling. Many of them did not even tiny in the blockhouses—dead Germans were also found in the shell-craters as the troops advanced. In this way Becelaere and Zonnebeke were taken. The garrisons of Bome of the "pill-boxes" wera killed by concussion; others surrendered directly the British troops arrived. The Australian advance across tho racecourse and northward across the 6pur to below the Zonnebeke Chateau was steady and successful. There was a regular chain of blockhouses here, but again tho black magic of the "pill-box" failed, and most of the defenders were glad to surrender. The enemy's gunfire was heavy oyer Dart of Ihe ground, and a nest of machi no guns along the, mad gate trouble; but the losses were not heavy. British aircraft brought the first news that the Anzacs had captured the racecourse; and later it was reported that, they had reached their furthest goal, where prisoners were surrendering freely.—Aua.-N,Z. Cable Assn. TREACHEROUS "PILL-BOXERS" PAY DEARLY FOR WHITE FLAG TRICK (Bee. September 28, 8.35 p.m.) ~ Londonj, 'September 27. Mr. Gilmour (of the Australasian Press Association) writes: 'An officer relates that on one 'pill-box' the "Germans hoisted a white flag, while they continued firing from their machine-guns. Our boys went mad and shot them down like rabbits. Prisoners who .were captured indicated that a number of officers were hiding in a dug-out four hundred yards ahead. This meant going into our own barrage, but our men went through and surprised tho battalion commander, five officers and a number of privates. Scores of machine-guns were captured and turned against the Bodies." . . . Another officer states: "Just before jumping off we found, between the first and second Australian lines, a wandering German patrol. This was promptly .captuired.before it could give the alarm, vrhich would haTO drawn. Ihe enemys fire upon thousands of our men who we re lying thickly down the ridge.'—Aus.N.Z., Cable Assn. , HOW THE AUSTRALIANS SAVED THE FLANK (Eec. September 28, 10.40 p.m.) , ",,■„.• London,- September 28. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: "A menace to pur right wing on 'Wednesday was averted by the courage of the English-and Scottish units, and the quick, skilful, and generous help of the Australians. The latter, realising the dangerous situation in"which their tight flank was expOßed, sent a. body of troops to strike southward. They thrust back the German outposts, and established, after fierce fighting, defensive posts capable of holding off any likely attack. They had shared all the peril that their comrades on the right were passing through, and the same tornado of shelling, and fully appreciated their tenactiy and valour. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. \ . , THE AUSTRALIANS AT POLYGON WOOD ~ CAPTURED DEFENCES TURNED AGAINST THE ENEMY. (Eec. September 29, 0.30 a.m.) ~',,. ,„ , 28. Mr Percival Phillips writes: "Dur latest victory has been well maintained. Tie German Josses are even greater than we thought yesterday, while outs are exceptionally light in many places, and nowhere serious. The Australians encountered their principal opposition around a bntte on the north-eastern corner of Polygon Wood but the obstacle was finally rushed Nino counter-attacks In varou stage of preparation broke against-the Australian front before Thursday morninV and onlv two'succeeded in approachimr rifle range. When tire local enemy reserves were exhausted the fresh 230 th Division was thrown into the battle and three waves under a heavy barrage came on steadily until Australians "Ot the captured machine-guns into action. Then the waves halted ana film ly fled leaving many dead on the field. There was no further attack acainst the Australians during the night, and they were able to consolidate their nlw positton along the forward slope, below the Polygon Wood, and turn the German defences against the onemy. Th« Australians on Thursday morning, near the south-east corner of Polygon WooJ, pushed on along to Eeutelbock, Sing with little oposition. The fighting wound- Zonnebeke was very severe tat the enemv has not shaken our hold on the village or forced .a withdrawal from'any vital point. The prisoners are greatly depressed over the failure of their new 'pill-box' system of defence."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i ( " GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Eec. Seotember 28, \ 9 p.m.) " London, September 2i. A German official report states: "The Battle of. Flanders has raged uninterruptedly all day and all night. At least twelve of the enemy's divisions, often accompanied by tanks, advanced between Mangelaares and Hollebeke. -We. repeated assaults astride- the Langemarck road. The enemy penetrated our lines over half a mile between St. Julien and the Monin-Ypres road. There was stubborn fighting at Zonnebeke and Gheluvolt. The latter-remained in our hands. Eepeated°assaults more to the southward broke down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Eeuter. . -- MISLEADING THE GERMAN PUBLIC BEITISH WAR OFFICE EXPOSES ENEMY'S LYING REPORTS. - ' (See September 28, 9.30 p.m.) The War Office points out that the German communique states that the British gained less territory on September 26 than on September 20. "This," says the \V-ir Office ""'is perfectly true, but the objectives set for the 26th were smaller. All our objectives wore gained." The War Office adds: "General von Ludendorfr, in purposely misleading phrases, describes the fighting near Zonnebeke and Gheluvelt, but omits to state that the Germans lost Zonnebeke, and emphasises the retention of Gheluvelt, which was outside the British objectives."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Eeuter. WRECKING THE ENEMY'S COMMUNICATIONS London, September 27. Tho ymiralty reports that naval aircraft 'dropped many tons of bombs on Tuesday light on the railway junctions a t Thourout Lichterve de and Cortemarcv an scored several direct hits on the railway lines. All the machines Xrned-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeu.ter. , GERMAN ATTACKS ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, September 27. A French official communique states: "After a violent bombardment of our positions from Les Bauxleron to west of Cerny, the enemy last night attacked sou h of Vbbredecemf. Our fire repulsed him with heavy losses. A second attack between .the Casemates aud the California Plateau was also repulsed. - Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. THE OUTLOOK IN RUSSIA 1 , THE RIGA BATTLE FRONT ' ( London, Soptember 27. . A Russian official report slates: "Tho enemy penetrated our trenches : southwest of Gory, but a. counter-attack restored the' position. The German aerial forces and submarines are endeavouring to prevent our vessels from approaching the Coin-land coast. Our torpedo craft, submarines, and aerial forces, near the Courland coast and the■ Irbo Channel, are-preventing the enemy from entering our waters."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Eeu.etr.' - GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN PREPARATION. (Eec. September 29, 0.30 a.m.) Petrograd, September 28. A German offensive is being prepared in the Dvinsk region.-Eeutcr. KERENSKY RESIGNS FROM BUREAU OFFICE (Eec. September 29. 0.30 a.m.) Petrograd, September 28. M Kerensky has resigned from the Bureau of Soldiers' and Council. The other Bureau members had previously resigned owing to a Maximalist vote of no confidence.—Eeuter. THE LATEST HIGH COMMAND APPOINTMENT. (Eec. September 28, 9 p.m.) Petrograd, September 27. General Tcheremissnf lias been appointed to the command of the northern and south-ivestcrn fronts—Eeuter. - LETTISH WORKMEN AND THE GERMAN REGIME. - s (Eec. September 28, 9.30 p.m.) Petrograd, September 27. -Lettish workmen have refused to work for the German General Staff, and six of the leaders have accordingly been shot.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .