THE FIGHT FOR PASSCHENDAELE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 5

THE FIGHT FOR PASSCHENDAELE

.' STORY OF FIERCE HAND-TO-HAND BATTLE HOW THE AUSTRALIANS MET A COUNTER-ATTACK By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, October 17. Mr. Keith Murdoch, writing from tho Australian Headquarters, supplies further incidents of the recent fighting east of Ypres. He says: "A man volunteered to help a. wounded captain back to tho lines. He was killed. A second took his place, and was also killed. Thon a third man was killed; but the fourth brought tho officer safely in." Describing one German counter-attack, Mr. Murdoch says-.—"They camo on in waves, maintaining inexorable discipline. The Australians called upon the artillery, but the barrage descended behind the enemy, owing to a misapprehension that we were holding a more distant line. Thorefore there was nothing left for it but a desperate fight with rifles and machine-guns, which were partly ehoked with mud, . The Bosches far outuunibered us. Our Lewis guns mowed down the first wave of the onwny like ri p 6 O orn, but a second wave and a simultaneous flank attack enveloped our position and isolated a body of fifty' including the Lewis gunners. They uet erm jned to fight their way out. Such fighting has seldom been seen. One mtji shot\ thirteen Germans before being killed by a shot from behind. Only six survivors reached the lines. The Germans, now. broken into scattered parties,after heavy losses, retired. Other attacks following were broken. Believing it to be impossible to hold (he position, which was also useless without a further advance the Australian* then withdrew. They had stood their ground in flooded shell-holes, sometimes with water up to their shoulders."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

LULL ON THE BRITISH FRONT j London, October 17. Sir Douglas Haig slates that there isnothing of interest to report.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Jieuter. > ~ (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) • London, October IS. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Many bombs wore dropped yesterday on the enemy's billcta and trenches. We brought down three of the, German machines. One of ours is missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcutcr. (Ttec. October 19, 1.13 a.m.) London, October IS. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There is considerable activity by 'the hostile artillery north-west of Ypreg and on the coast sector. The activity of our nrtillery is continued."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter. COMPARISON OF LOSSES IN RECENT BATTLES . GERMAN EXCEED BRITISH BY 75 PER CENT. London, October 1". ■ Renter's Agency learns that careful estimates show that the Gorman losses in tho recent battles in Flanders exceed thoso of the British by 75 per cent — Router. ' BRITISH OFFICER CASUALTIES (Rec. October 18, 7.10 p.m.) London, October 17. ■ Tho War Office in reply to a Swedish newspaper's allegation that the British officer casualties averaged 511 per day during August, declares that they averaged only 183 por dav, and onlv 10G in September. Ihe highest daily average was 283 Cor July, 191 G. the above figures iuolude oren tho slightest caualties—Aus.N.Z. Cable'Afgn.-Itcutcr. I ON THE FRENCH FRONT " GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. (Roc. October 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 17. A French official communique slates: "Aeroplanes violently bombed Nancy, icn civilians being killed and forty wounded. On October 15 and 16 we brought down 25 of the enemy's aeroplanes. Our machines heavily bombed tho enemy's military establishments, railway stations, and factories at various places."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Reuter. (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) London, October 18. A French official communique states: "There have been lively artillery actions, particularly in the region of the Plateau Daieiles and on the right name of the Meuse."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter.