SMASHING BLOW IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 7

SMASHING BLOW IN FLANDERS

VITAL' POSITIONS GAINED ENEMY DIVISIONS ANNIHILATED The High Commissioner reports:— London, October i; 11 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"East of Ypres, at G o'clock this morning, we again attacked on a wide front. Satisfactory progress is reported, find ii number of Germans have already been taken prisoner." London, October 5, n.5 a.m. British official:—"Wo attacked this morning on a front of eight miles southwards of Tower Hamlets to the Ypres-St aden railway, ami were completely successful, all the objectives being gained. Positions of great importance were won, and we Tiavo taken more than 3000 German prisoners. We captured the main ridge to a thousand yards northwards of Broodseinde. There was a gale and alfo rainstorms during the battle. The assault was delivered by English, Australian, and New Zealand divisions. South of the Menin Hoad our objectives were reached early. North of the road we captured Poldorhook, and numerous farms and small woods south and east of Polygon Wood. The ■ Australians captured Jlolenaarelsfhoek, and cleared the houses from Zonnebeko to the Brooilseindc Road. The Mew Zealandurs took Gravenstafel. The English divisions reached i'oelcapolle. The English captured lieutel and Noordouidhoek, and secured the high ground overlooking Becelaere. The Australians; captured liroodseinde, and established themselves well over tho crest of the ridge, five miles east of Ypres, and giving observation eastwards. The English carried the greater part, of Tuelcapelle village, and secured tho line of their objectives eastward. Our attack was anticipated by a few minutes by an attack in force by fivo German divisions, our .barrage catching them. The German infantry who escaped the artillery were overwhelmed by our infantry. Six enemy counter-attacks failed, his losses being exceedingly heavy, while ours were light. We captured a few guns and much material."

By Telegraph-Press Aesoclation- Copyrient New York, October 4. The "British are winning all along tho line.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ADVANCE PENETRATED TO DEPTH OF A MILE "GERMANS SURRENDERING IN BATCHES." London, October -4. The United Press corrospondoit reports that the British n-.lvnn:e is a mile deep in places, and several villages have been taken. The Germane nre surrendering in batches, and the prisoners taken already exceed a tlnusan>l.-Ars.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

"ONE OF THE BIGGEST BATTLES OF THE WAR" BRITISH BARRAGE CAUSES FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. (Rec. October 5, 9.5 p.m.) London, October 4. The United Press correspondent says the British at six o'clock this morning assaulted the German positions in a misty drizzle on a wide front, centring about the Broodseinde and Drawenstfel Ridges. The Tommies at noon iippeared to be carrying everything before them along the entire line. The advance is over a mile deep in places. One group of prisoners exceeded MO. The battle impresses the correspondent as one of the fjiggest of the war. During the night the Germans shelled Glencorso Wood and Inverness Copse. The British charge was behind a tornado-like barrage, and reached the first objectives with comparative ease. The British at Zonnebeke encountered three enemy divisions, who were also ordered to attack at three o'clock this morning on n Iwo-niile front, in order to recapture the ground lost on September 26. The .British barrage churned the poor devils into bloody loblolly. One company is reported fo have lost practically its whole bayonet strength. Elsewhere the Germnns came in with their hands up a. minute a fter the British barrage began. Ihe British quickly eilenced the cloverly-hidSfcn machine-guns, and broke a counterattack from Broodsßinde. Quickly overcoming all difficulties, they crossed the Stroomtieke Stream and briskly advanced b'e.Yond.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ATTACK PRECEDED BY RAIN ENEMY SHELLING THE "BACK AREAS." London, Odober i. Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—"The artillery battle round Ypres continues to be fierce.and far-flung on both, sides. The enemy is trying to make things as bad as possible for a distance of twelve miles behind the line in our 'back areas which is the technical term for village e broken to_bjts during these three years for camps,- ammunition dumps, duckboard tracks, ilgnt railways, and cross-roads. It is always astounding to eee how littl o difference this hostile shelling'makes! in the way our me noarry on the war. Kain fell yesterday, and the giouud in 'Craterknd' is already sticky again, witTi many pools and ponds; and the ramclouds are gathering."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

"A SMASHING BLOW AND COMPLETE VICTORY" THE GERMAN ATTACK AN HOUR LATE. (Rec. October 6, 1.5 a.m.) London, October i. Mr. Philip Gibbs describes the morning's attack as the Battle of Broodseinde. The assault started from ground captured on September 26 northward and southward of Polygon Wood. "WKe advanced upon the Passehendnele Ridge, and apparently reached the Grnvenstafel and Abraham .Heights, which crown "the western spur of the ridge, and Broodsemde which is a high point, and the keystone of the enemy's defence lino beyond Zonnebeke. We are figlil,ing southward of this with good success between Cameron House end Becelaere, across tne Reutelbeek-sind ite swampy ground flown beyond Bolderhock. 10. (ho soutli end of the Menin Eoad. Our wounded speak.of a smashing blow dealt to the Germans, and a complete victory ~ , , , • "The fortune of war was on our side. The German high command, having eeen the failure of the 'pill-box' system of defence, had planned a big attack tins morning. They calculated to stun us and take the wind out or our nextattacK, but the German attack was an hour late. We. 'had to advance through the German barrage, which was laid down preparatory to I heir attack. Our attackers reached the enemy's first and second ines, annihilated Ihe troops which were waiting" to attack.' and indicted a crush in? defeat on his best troops. Tins may well be the turning point of the war.'-Aus.-N.Z-. Cable Assn.

VICTORIES OBTAINED UNDER ARDUOUS CONDITIONS "ENEMY SMITTEN HIP AND THIGH.", (Fee. October 5. 7.20 p.ti.) London, October i. Colonel Kopington, the "Times" military correspondent, nays the British victories (ire the latest phases of the third battle of Tpr.es, and nro exceedingly meritorious, because they were obtained under unusually arduous conditions. For weeks past the British alone have be cn attacking. The chief fighting ou a total frontage of 1600 miles is confined to a frontage of twelve miles. Hie enemy is able to bring up men, guns, and aircraft from nil fronts and concentrate teem aca.inst us. This ia wholly to his advantage. Despite these conditions, howover, our armies have defeated the Germans on evor.v day of the baffle. Ine Gorman people and the remainder of the world know (hat tho eucccssfnlnew of tho British arm* has smitten the enemy l,j p ,mtl thigh. Comparison of the borman reports with the actual facts reveals ludicrous discrepancies. Tho only course of action likely to imperil our success would be the withdrnwal of r.ur bombing squadrons for the purpose of replying to London's score before the present operations in Flandere are- concluded.—"The Times."