HAIG STRIKES AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 5

HAIG STRIKES AGAIN

BRILLIANT ATTACK ALONG THE PASSCHENDAELE RIDGES ■ SPLENDID COOPERATION BY ■TO-FRENCH ANZACS IN THE FRAY THRILLING STORIES BY THE - ' CORRESPONDENTS Haig lias struck again, and .with brilliant success, at tho enemy's front oast of Ypres. Tho French eo-operateil with magnificent dash on. tho left, and the .Allies,.in the face of tremendous difficulties—soggy ground, a gale- of wind, and- dispiriting- rain, and a desperate resistance from the enemy—achieved their objectives ovor a considerable stretch of new ground.- The advance 'at, certain points was over a mile, and the enemy lost heavily, while tho Allies' losses were comparatively light. The French success whs gained with practically no loss of life. An important find by the Australians—the Anzacs were in the thick of the fray— was a German Army Order which disclosed the foot that the German General Staff are at their wife' end to devise an effective check to the British advance. It is admitted that all the known methods are of no avail. Henco tie "shell-hole" defence policy has been abandoned. In Itussia Ihe situation has been materially cleared by the announcement of tho new Coalition Cabinet. Dr. Michaelis, by. the artful and very ancient-device of softsoaping his political critics, in the Keiehstag has managed to get his Supplementary Estimates throuerh. A great Austrian Council of War is reported to be in -progress on the Isonzo front., " I * ANOTHER BLOW AT THE GERMANS HAIG STRIKES ON THE YPRES SECTOR SATISFACTORY PROGRESS REPORTED The High Commissioner reports: . London, October 10, 1.10 a.m. A' British official report stales: "In spite of heavy and continuous rain, orer diffioult groiiDcl, our troops, in conjunction with the French on our left, successfully attacked , from ,i point south-east of Broodseindo, to a point northeast of Bixschoote. On the extreme right the Australians advanced over the crest of the ridge east and north-east of Broodseinde, securing- all their objectives. On the right centre the third line of the Territorial Division aavanced one milo along the ridge in the direction of Passchendaele, capturing all their objectives. On the centre many fortifiefl farms at l'oetcanelle were, taken. On the extreme left the British and Trench reached the outskirts of the Forest of Houttmlst, two milee north-west." : By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. October 11, 0.30 a.m.) . ' ■ London, October 10. Sir , Douglas Hais reports:—"The third line of, tho Territorial Division, and the right centre, comprising tho Manchester, East Lancashire, and Lancashire Fusilier Reginiente, advanced a mile northward along the ridge towards Paßeeheudaele, capturing all the objectives under most trying and difficult circumstances, displaying great determination and gallantry. A considerable advance was made in. the centre between the main ridge and Poelcapelle. It includes the capture of ninny fortified farms and concreted redoubts. We captured in the left centre. Poelcapelle. Tho English and Welsh Guards, on the extreme left of the British. attack, liad'taken all their objectives, and gained the outskirts of the! Forest of Houthulst, two miles north-north-west of Poelcapelle.' The French on our left flank crossed the Broenbeek Stream, which was in flood, and also gained the outskirts of the Forest of Houthulst, capturing all their objectives, including several hamlets and many fortified localities. Upwards of one thousand prisoners have already been counted."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Benrer. ' ■ • ' ' THE FRENCH , ATTACK London, October fi. AFrench' official communique states:—"ln Belgium, in conjunction with the British, wo attacked at 3.30 this morning the Gorman positions south of the ferret of Houthoulst, between Draeibantk and Wydondreft. Fighting continues, and is developing in our favour. On the Aisne front there is marked artillery activity, notaWy in Ithe region of tho Patheon, Redoubt. On the right bank of theiMeiise an artillery struggle is in progress on the sector north of the Chauiri'o Wood."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Beuter. ■ ■ ■ ' I LATEST FROM THE FRENCH FRONT (Kec. October 11, 0.30 a.m.) London, October 10. A French official coinimniiniie sayes "Tho attack which wo launched thia morning has developed brilliantly. Tho troops, after crossing the marshy brook of Broonbcek, carried with admirable dash on a front of 2500 yards the enemy's defences, in spite of the difficulties of tho ground and tho bad weather. We captured' the villages of St. .Tean, Mangelaere, and Veldhoek, and numerous famis that had been organised as blockhouses. Our advance, which averaged a depth of two kilometres (nearly a mile and a quarter), brought us to the southern fringo of the Forest of Honthulst. The Air Service, in spite of the gale, «>• operated actively in the attack, firing macliine-guns at a low altitude on the enemy's infantry and maintaining touch with the other arms. Tho number of prisoners so far counted totals 300, of which twelve are officers. Artillery actions continue on the Aieno front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT ■ . • . London, October !). A Gorman official report states:—"The.English attacked this morning astride the Staden Boesinghe railway and north of tho Yprcs-Mcnin Road. Fighting h in "progress."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (■Rcc. October 10, 3.15 p.m.) London, October 0. ' A German official report' states: "A fresh battle has .developed, and continues between Praiebank and Gholuvolt. The enemy's gain of (errilory, in spilo of repeated assaults, was limited to a stretch between Draiebnnk ;-nd Pocl-capelle."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eenler. BEYOND POELCAPELLE. .By Tolegraph-Pross Association. Copyright New York, October 9. The' British have advanced beyond l.'oelcapellf.—Aus.-If.Z. Cable Assn. ADVANCE OF OVER A MILE IN PLACES. London, October 9. A United Press dispatch states that I.he Allies advanced more than a mile in places. The front centres in front of Pnsschendaele. The troops reached their objectives in good order, and a large number of prisoners ig coming in. The ihemy, in the Dimsy Wood, north-east of Broodseinde, resisted stubbornly, but ihe Australians have surrounded it, so making certain of many prisoners, nn'es* the Germans prefer annihilation. The Allied casualties were light.—Aus.- . N.Z. Cable Assn. , ,_ BRILLIANT ATTACK THRILLINGLY DEPICTED ■ i STORIES BY THE CORRESPONDENTS. (Rcc. October 10, 8 p.m.) London. October 9. Tho United Press i-orreopondeiit, writing at noou, says:—"The English. i'"rcnch, and Overseas troops attacked <> n a wide front nloiig the Passcbendnole •id"os, and in spill* of desper.ile counlcr-attiirks, ,[n which a hurricane of fighting l»vplop«l, tl" , fifth buttle of the stnnmor pnmpnign in this area went well from lie start. Prisoners, frequently without, escort, wore apparently eager to reach he haven of the cages, coming along u> large numbers. In spite of the gale, the iirmeii observed the fighting like eaglos in n. storm. Last night's rain made the Flemish plains, and even tho ridires, like n bnt;, but tho officers and men would iot hear of a postponement. Moreover, (lie British weather man had promised i clear day with hish winds, from midnight onwards. TTe hit it exactly. Tlip roops got'away well from tho shell-holt , positions in which thw had assembled ntler nnver of the pitch Mack >n?ht. The British fought stiffly in (he region if Heutel for a chateau frmn which liPavy mncliinf>-pnn fire issued. One com>nny rushed nnd took the chateau shortly after dnylishl, but wer.e ordered back! nid dns in twenty yards westward i» order (o conform to the general tactics if the battle. Later reports show that the situation about the chateau hns not 'Icared. Daisy Wood, bristling with nil manner of Rerman defences wae beavly garrisoned. The Australians quicky overcame tho difficultips. surrounded .lie wood, and left, a detachment to clean it »ii, while (he rest went on. i'l'p BriHsli at the time of writing are dealing with a heavy counter-iittack istride the TC-nnlcrs railway. The German waves arn breaking nixlor our strong iliell fire. Visibility is good, and our guns are able (o prore bull's-eyes. The 7rencli are going fitronp. keeping shoulder to shoulder with Hie British left, rhe French report that they have taken several hundred prisoners. The Gorman ,

artillery reply is ragged. They iivo obviously busier pulling back ilieir guns than firing them, although they are fair ly busy at that in certain spots. The Germans <vre fighting hard for the possession of the brewery in Pnelcnnelle.Tho rest of tho (own is in British hands." A Wonderful Achievement. Mr. Philip Gibbs says:—"The Freuc h gained twelve- hundred yards in two strides, taking hundreds'of prisoners, two field-guns, am! inauy machine-guns. They also killed many Germans. We are within a hundred yards of tho Forest of Hoiilhulst. Tho Allies have advanced fifteen hundred yards in depth along the lino from Poolcapcllo across tho Ypres-Gheluvelt. Road. It is our most wonderful achievement sinco tho Highlanders and the Naval Division captured Beaumont Hamel in mud and fog, but this latest sncri'ss is even more wonderful, because it is on a greater scale, and In fouler weather. "The enemy again suffered great losses to two new divisions, namely, the 227 th, .straight from Reims, which had only been getting into lino during the night, and the 195 th, from (he Russian front. Both received a fearful baptism of fire. Three other divisions, hard hit and now bleeding from many wounds, have given .us many prisoner." Attack on the Forest. Tho "Daily Chronicle's" Paris corrospondent says: "General Antlioine'army, co-operating w'ith tho British, pushed on, and occupied half the ground between the lines secured on July 31 an<l (lie Forest of Hnutliulst. To-day's plan was to swing tho French right, thus semi-circling the Forest of Houthulst, which had become a formidable- enemy fortress during tin last three years, although our guns had greatly Teduced the value of this low-lying woodland, and tie Germans ha:l already withdrawn tho heavier guns they had hitherto secreted in the furMt. However, even the bare stumps of former forest trees make dangerous nests for machine-guns. The forest covers an area of three miles by two. In overcoming tli.3 obstacles General Anthoine-'s mastery of the newest ginnery science was a great asset. The French assault troops went over ihe top at '5.30 a.m., while the country was still buried in fog and gloom. Preceded by an effective barrage, the troops quickly cleared out the centres of the German resistance on the east bank of the St. .Teansbeek-Broonbefik. Within two hours three hundred prisoners and a number of guns were captured on a mile of front. The French luckily caught the enemy's division whilo it was relieving another. The former had just come from the Russian front, and being new to tho 6ector the Germans were in no condition io meet the da6hing French onslaught. By 10 o'clock the French were, before tho ruins of the village of Mangelaero. The whole of this success was won with practically no loss ot French lives.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. HAIG'S APPRECIATION OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS (flee. October 10, 9.15 p.m.) ' ' London, October 9." Sir Douglas Haig, replying: to Sir Thomas Mackenzie's congratulations, says: "Your message of congratulation was much appreciated by all ranks. The gallant New Zealand troops took a. most distinguished part in- the various operation*. ' —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SHELL-HOLE DEFENCE POLICY ABANDONED ENEMY FINDS ALL KNOWN METHODS IN VAIN. (Rec. October 10, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 9. Mr. Murdoch, writing from the Anzac Divisional Headquarters, on last Thursday's battle, says:—"lt is a notice able fact that the men here speak very differently of Fritz since this battle. They saw the Germans rush singly from their redoubts, and die fighting. There were thousands of cases of easy surrender, but thousands offered most bitter opposition. Among the nine guns captured by the Australians were two anti-tank gnns. The New Zealanders struck some heavy, maTshy ground, whore thej; sank-to the hips, but they achieved the capture of the largest total of prisoners in the whole battle. "The Australians yesterday captured ' a most important German Order, reversing the 6hell-hole"defence policy. This was the result of a meeting of tho enemy Amy commanders, at which it wae admitted that all tho known methods were of no avail against the British. Tho prisoners in the Australian sector of the battle were eo numerous that guards could not be spared to take them to the rear. The Australians pointed the way, and the Germans started running, never stopping until they were safe in the cages. A battalion commander and his staff were captured undor strange circumstances. A brigadier saw iipon a captured map two hours after the commencement of the battle a mark indicating an enemy battalion headquarters, just, outside our farthest objective. Hn sent out two sergeants and three, men when the bajrnge lifted;, and they returned with a German colonel, five officers, and seventy Huns!"— United Service. GERMAN NAVAL SHELLS ON THE EATTLEFHONT. London, October 9. Artillery officers state thai; the Germans are using naval -armour-piercing shells in Flanders, apparently because either they are short of ordinary shells, or have an over-large stock of naval ammunition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. AN INCIDENT OF THE AIR OFFENSIVE Amsterdam, October n. An Allied air raid on October I destroyed the Wondellmeen Railway Station, in which there were 270 German soldiers. Seventy of them were buricd-in tho debris.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RUSSIA'S NEW COALITION CABINET PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED KERENSKY PREMIER AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF / Petrograd, Odober 9. The new Coalition Cabinet: has been formed. Tt comprises six Socialists, of. whom M. Kerensky is Premier and Comniander-in-Chief; eleven democratic and bourgeois representatives, including Tereschenko as Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Verkhousky as Minister of War, and Admiral Vcrderensky, Minister'of Marine. Other Miflisters are:— If. Nikitine (Interior and Posts and Telegraphs), M. Aeksentieff (Agriculture), M. Glovouzdev (Labour), and M. Bernatzky (Finance).—Renter. !■, i . • RUSSIAN NAVAL ACTIVITY / ' COAL BARGES- SUNK IN THE BOSPHORUS. London, October !i. A Russian official report states:—"ln the region of tho-Bospliorus our torpedo boatp destroyed 6even coal-laden barges. A Russian submarine captured and brought intoSobastopol a Turkish steamer laden villi corn."—Aus.-N.Z. Cuble Assn.-Reuter. ■ ' / i FIRE IN A THEATRE HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS BURNT TO DEATH. (Rec. October 10, 7.30 p.m.) Petrograd, October !). A wireless message slates thai, a fire- destroyed the Panaietf Theatre, where Boldiers were billeted. There wero hundreds of victims.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asen!