ANOTHER ATTACK IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 29, 29 October 1917, Page 5

ANOTHER ATTACK IN FLANDERS

■ COMBINED ADYANCE BY FRENCH AND BRITISH TROOPS ALL THE OBJECTIVES GAINED ■■ - London, October 28. Sir Dowlas Haig reports: ""The British and French troops launched an attack at 5.45 this morning, east, north-east, and north o£ Ypres, making satisfactory progress. It rained heavily during the later part of the night, and is still continuing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable issn.Jteuler. ! ' DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS SUCCESSFUL THRUSTS, AT VARIOUS POINTS. (Reo. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) N London, October 2i. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Operations with limited objectives were jointly undertaken. The fine day on Thursday, with a fine drying wind, promised improved fighting conditions, but a sudden change came during the night, and heavy and almost incessant rain has fallen sinoo an early hour this morning. Notwitustanding the great difficulties which are facing the Allied troops, they have made considerable progress and won valuable positions on the greater part of tho front attacked. Tho main operation was earned out by the English and-Canadian regiments on a front northward of YpresJtouleijs railway. Tho Canadian battalions advanced along tho main ridge of the Passchendale, and passing beyond their objectives established themselves on the rising ground southward of tho vil-' lage. Other Canadian battalions, with troops from tho English Naval Brigade and battalions of London, Territorials, made further progress in the face of strong opposition along the spurs between the main ridge of our positions eastward of Poekapelle, and captured a number of Btrong points and fortified farms. Heavy fighting ocourred east and north-east of Poelcapelle, in which tho West Lancashire and North Country troops made progress at certain points. Subsidiary simultaneous attacks were made by English troops in the neighbourhood ot the Menln Road, and by tho French northward of Bixsohoote. Fierce fighting ocourred all day astride tho Menin Eoad and eastward of Polderhoek, in which progress was made, and a considerable number were takon prisoner. Northward of Bixsohoote the French, attacking with great gallantry, crossed the Saint Jeansbeek Stream, which was flooded, captured their objeotives and beyond, with a number of prisoners. The Allies, in tho course of these operations, took 800 Pln a later report, Sir Douglas Haig says-.—"The Canadians successfully repulsed two heavy counter-attacks yesterday afternoon southward and westward of Passohendaele, 1 taking a number of prisoners. W<> consolidated our gams without interference, and made further progress westward of Passchendaele, capturing eighteen machine-guns."—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THREE VILLAGES CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH (Rec. October 28, 11.10 p.m.) London, October 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The operations of the French this morning northward of St. Jansbeek were continued with success. The French, advftJowß astride the Bixschoote-Dixmude Toad, despite the difficulties presented by floods and heavy ground, captured the villages of Asohoop, Kippo, and Morkem, with many farms and strong points, taking a number of prisoners. There is great reciprocal artillery fifing on the British battlefront, but no infantry action. The number of prisoners taken since yesterday morning exceeds eleven hundred, or whioh three hundred were taken by the French. Despite the ram our aeroplanes yesterday performed valuable work. Four German machines were brought down. Two of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE FRENCH ATTACK RIVERS CROSSED SHOULDER-DEEP. London, October 26. A French official communiqno states: "We attacked at 6 o'clock this morning between DrieTachten and Draiebantk, in Belgium. We crossed the Saint Jeanans and Vocerbeke Rivers, shoulder deep in water, and mado important progress, in soite of the difficulties of the ground. We captured the village of Dradraiik and the Papagold Woods and many farms which had been organised as strong point9."-Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. • (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. A Frenoh official report states:—"There were no enemy counter-attacks in Bel-gium."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. October 28, 11.10 p.m.) London, Optobsr 27. A French official communique states: "In Belgium our troops, continuing the aotion between Driegracnten and Draiebantk, captured new German trenches north of tho objeotives they roaohed yesterday, progress continues satisfactorily despite the difficulty of the ground."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, October !ffi !l German official report slates: "Tho violont artillery tiro from the Houthulst Wood as far as Hollobeko increased to drumfire (his morning. The British and Fronch mado nocturnal attacks which failed. The enemy has attacked at several points since da\vn."-Aue.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter, (Rec. Oolobor 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, Ootober 27 A German official report states:—"Strong Franco-British attacks from Bi\6choote to the Houlers-Tpres railway, and also astride the Menin-Ypros Road broke down with (sanguinary losses.' —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Reutor. (R«c. October 28, 11.10 p.m.) , London, October 28. A German official report states: "Tho Anglo-French effort in FlaJtoVrs yesterday failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lieuter. ACCOUNTS BY THE CORRESPONDENTS London. October 26. Tho United Press correspondent reports that tho Allies in the Flanders offensive had takon practically all thoir first objectives by noon, and aro still advancing along Iho spurs of the Passchondaele Ridgo, and around Gheluvelt. They have ponotrated deeper into the Houithuist Wood. Tho fighting; resolved itself into two distinct battles. Tho first, on tho Anglo-French front, from Draiebantk to below tho Ypres-Roulers railway, and tho second along a short front CMknn;: at GheluTelt.

The correspondent emphasises the fact that no attack was made between these two battlo fronts, because, in view of their recent lies, the Germans arc almost certain to claim that they checked the advance there, although none was attempted. Tho German artillery replied only moderately, and the British concentration of shell-firo during the night time was obviously having its effect. Prisoners are coming in. Opening of the Attack. The attack began in a drizzle, and tho ground was slippery on tho ridges, while the lowland bogs were impassable in places. The enemy is fighting stubbornly from fortified farms, reinforced buildings, concreted blockhouses,, shell craters, and pill-boxes. Our airmen participated in the attack, in spite- of the weather, and engaged the enemy's artillery, transports, and columns marching behind the lines. Other aviators fired their machine-guns at tho troops in (he front lino from a height of a few yards. Tho British troops, at G. 50 a.m., were seen entering the pill-boxes on tho Bellcvue Spur, one of the most important German positions, which is two thousand yards west of Passchendaele. Half an hour later they were seen fighting round tho Polderhoek Chateau (north of Gheluvelt), and the Tommies were hustling the prisoners from the stronghold, tho walls and upper floors of which were strengthened by sand bags yirds deep, which made collars and sub-cellars a Gibraltar of security.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter, A GERMAN GARRISON WIPED OUT. (Bee. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. Mr. Philip Gibbs states-.—"Tho majority of four hundred Germans who were • garrisoning Polderhoek Chateau wore either killed or taken prisoner. Those in tho dugouts of Ghelnyelt Wood held out after wo had passed, constituting a temporary menace. The fiercest battle raged near the centre of the attack. Wo are obtaining a sharply-contested grip of the Bellevue slopes. The Canadians played an honourable part in the battle."—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. THE FRENCH VICTORY ON THE AISNE •NEWLY-WON POSITIONS BEING CONSOLIDATED. London, October 26. A French official communique states:"Tho night was calm on the entiro front north of the iisne. The enemy only replied feebly with his artillery, and we are organising the captured positions on the soutli bank of the Oise-Aisno Canal. Tho retreating enemy blew up the bridges over tho canal."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. A FOLLOWING-UP COUP ACHIEVED. (Bee. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. A French official report states:— "Following up our successes on our right north of the Aisno wo drove the enemy hack from tho region north of ChapelleSt. BeHho to the resorvoir, capturing the village of Filain. Further east we went beyond the crest of the plateau north of the Chovrigny Spur. Tho situation elsewhere is unchanged. We have counted one hundred and sixty captured guns einco our attack on this front on October 2-3, including several sixinch howitzer* and many heavy guns. Two of, the enemy's attempted c_pup3-ile-main in the Champagne region failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutor. (Bee. Octobar 23, II.M p.m.) London, October 27. A Frenoh official report states: "Sonth of tho Aisne there is intermittent artillery firing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Eeuter. THE GERMAN REPORT. London, October 26. ■V: German communique states: "The Frenoh yesterday attacked in the region of the Ailotte Paver. After a short engagement in the Pinon Wood wo withdrew to the northern bank of tho Oise-Aisne Canal. We also, in accordance with our plans; withdrew behind the canal near Chavjgnon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rouler. _ „ , , „„„.,„ (Roc. October 28, 11.10 p.m.) \. London, October 28. A Gorman official report states: "Tho French vainly endeavoured to secure a foothold on the north bank of the Qiso and Aisne Canal."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . PART OF THE "MG"-TWO/ HUGE GUNS. Paris,' October 56. At Gobineaux, the French captured two enormous guns, each served by forty men. These guns firo torpedo shells, carrying two hundred pounds of explosive, which the Germans intended to use against tho Chemin des Dames. Each gun had a hundred torpedoes with it.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assri. GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN PRANCE (Rec. October 27, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 2fi. The sweeping French victory on the Aisne is causing intense joy in France. Von Hindenburg had chosen one of the strongest ridges ,in France for his challenge to this battle, which bas resulted in a demoralising defeat, with the loss of over 11,000 prisoners. It is no longer a case of falling back to take new positions and avoid losses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANS ADMIT THEIR REVERSE. (Rec. October 27. 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 26. Von Ludendorff now admits that he save way to French pressure. Tho Cologne newspapers, the "Volks Zeitung" and the "Frankfurt Zeitung" show how impossible it is to minimise the importance of tho French success."—Aus.-JN.Z. Cable Assn. , SHARP FIGHTING ON THE MEUSE GERMAN ATTACK ON CHAUME WOOD. London, October 26. 'A French official communique states: "The Germans again attacked porth of the Chaume Wood, on the right bank of the Mouse, After a lively fight, in which tho enemy suffered serious losses, ha only gained a footing in one of our advanced elements."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Roc. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. A French official report states:— "Cannonading has beon proceeding all day on the right bank of the Meusc."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. 1 THE GERMAN VERSION. , London, October 26. A German official report states: "We stormed positions in tho Chaume Wood on a front of 1300 yawls.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE AIR OFFENSIVES (Kec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, Octoner 27. Sir Douulas Haig reports :-"Dnring an air raid on the night of October 24-25 another ton of bombs was dropped on the Burbach works .Tfluw ot the aeroXnes that took part are missing. Our aeroplanes on Thursday night attacked the enamf s aerodromes. Forty-five heavy bombs were dropped, and we secured a direct hit in one instance on a group of hangars. One machine has not returned."-Au6.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE NAVAL AIR OFFENSIVE IN BELGIUM. (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) " London, October 2i. The Admiral It reports :-"Onr Naval aircraft bombed Varsselaise aerodrome and TLurout railway station yesterday. The weather rendered observation difficult. All our machines returnecV-Aue.-N.Z. Coble Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN ATTACK ON DUNKIRK. (Reo. October 28, 11.10 p.m.) London, October 27, A Frenoh official report states-. "German aeroplanes dropped twenty- bombs of large calibre over Dunkirk.' There were thirty civilian viotims. -Aus.-J..Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. :