EIGHTH BATTLE OF AUTUMN CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 5

EIGHTH BATTLE OF AUTUMN CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS

FRESH BLOW AT PASSCHENDAELE

BRILLIANT FIGHTING BY THE CANADIANS

London, November 6. Sir Douglas Unit? reports:—"We attacked at 6 o'clock this morning against positions in mo neighbourhood of Passchendaele. The attack is reported to be satisfactorily progressing. The Lincolnshires yesterday evening made raids in tho neighbourhood of Hulluch."-Aue.-A.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.

The High Commissioner reports:London, November G, 12.5 a.m. A British official report states , .—"This morning the Canadians were completely successful against the enemy defences in and around Passchendaele and the spur to tUe north of the village. There was hard fightinjr at a number of points, but wo made steady progress, and captured early the villages of Fasschendaele, Mosselmarkt, and Goudberg.

CANADIANS ATTACK PASSUHENDAELE.

By Telegraph-Frees Association-Copyright.

London, November 0. Tho Canadians attacked Paßschnndaclo, and were seen entering Jlossclmark (linlf a mile to IliO north). Others got beyond Gouberg. There was heavy fWiling at the Poldershoek Chateau. luo (jernnins heavily shelled the attacking troops for an hour and a half. Then tho bombardment cased.—Aus.-N.51. Cable Assn.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.

CRec. November 7, 11 p.m.) London, Novembor 0. A wireless German official report states:—"English at'tacks led to fighting al| day around Passchendaole. Tho enemy's assault on Ghcluvelt broke down with heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-R.euter.

CORRESPONDENTS' DISPATCHES

SHORT BUT TERRIFIC PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT.

.neuter e corrosponaens at jieauqnarters writes:— rno eightn batrlfc or J/lainlers in the autumn campaign began at 0 o'clock in the morning. The greatest intensity of the fighting was in llio neighbourhood of Passohondacle and about the Ypres-llenin Road. The weather was dry till well after tho sun had risen; then an intermittent drizzle caused the visibility to be poor. Tho preliminary bombardment was shorter than usual, but of terrific intensity. Our guns searched tho zono west of Jloorslede, whero there were large enemy concentrations. A map captured by the Anzacs showed an ambitious scheme for the recapture of Crest Farm and of territory considerably beyond it. The information enabled us to beat off the attack. Wo mo working our way well along the dominant Goedberg Ridge, betwen Pa6schendaele and AYcstroosebeck."—Renter. Gallant Fight to Hold Canadian Flank. The United Press Agency reports:—The Canadians simultaneously attacked Passchendaele along: tho ridge, and stormed up the remaining slopes of tho Zctcheele Spur, north-west of Passchendaele. Tho British are engaged in heavy fighting at Polderhoek Chateau, four miles to the south. The Canadians foilowed the barrage for two minutes, and the going was fairly good, as the troops had reached tho sandy soil at the summit. Now that the situation is relieved, it is permisisiblo to disclose, the fact that the Canadian flank, after the previous attack, would liavo been entirely in thn air, but that ten men at one point, and twenty at another, held on for forty-eight hours until they were reinforced. It was ono of the finest performances in tho campaign. Theso groups secured tho loft flank, and made possible the successful continuance of the Pnsschendaele operations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EOULERS UNDER CONSTANT FIRE.

(Roc. November 7, 7.45 p.m.) London, November 6. .The United Press correspondent Bays:—"To-day's fighting va6tly improved the whole situation around Ypres. If. is now Roulers which is under constant British fire."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asfri.

THE CROWN OF THE AUTUMN AIMS

GREAT YPRES BARRIER,

(Rec. November 7, 11.40 p.m.)

London, November 7. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"With thankfulness I can record to-day what I believe will prove to bo the capture of Passchendaelo, and. the crest, crown, and ridge which made the great barrior around the Ypres salient, hemming us in the flats and swamps. The Canadians, after heroically attacking in the morning, fought their way through, thn ruins of Passchendaele into the ground beyond. If these gains be held it will set tho seal to the most terrific achievement of tho war ever attempted to be carried through by British arms. Only we who have been out hero can know tha valour and the nacrifices which carried the waves of our men up the slopes in the battles of tho campaign which commenced with Messines and culminated in Passchendaele. Only we understand the meaning of to-day'e battle, and thrill because it means victory. "Over this ground tho young manhood of Gorniany lias spent itself. It was not worthless ground this iu which they suffered agonies, fought desperately, and came on ngain in massed counter-attacks that were swept to pieces by our lire. 'Passchendaele must be held at all costs j if lost, it must be regained at all costs.' This was their cry. But it seems likely that tho enemy has definitely lost Pnsschendaele. The Canadians had more luck than tho English, Australians, and New Zealanders, who fought up tho elope in thoir heroic endeavour. Nobody be. grudges tho Canadians the honour they havo gained, not easily, but at tho usual price of victory—some nion'e death, and many men's pain. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE AMERICANS' BAPTISM

DESPERATE FIGHT AGAINST ODDS

New York, November 6. The United Press Agency's correspondent at American Headquarters states that there was a, most impressive scene at the burial of the first killed Americans. The American soldiers fought the Germans with clubbed guns, bayonets, knives, and entrenching spades, ana even with their hands, but they were overwhelmingly outnumbered. The wholo force is now most aniious ana impatient to attack. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.