ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1917, Page 2

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

GERMAN TACTICS. BAI>LY BEATEN. i [rEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPTBIGHT.] ! ""’•k.. -mmr LONDON, September 22. j Mr. Philip Gibbs says: Yester- k ; day’s attack proved that the new er--1 man method of holding the lines “ i lightly in the blockhouses with reserves ! behind for' counter-attacks had broken | down: If the Germans revert to their old system of strong front lines they „ will suffer as they suffered on the | Somme. The reserve German divisions which were brought up had a dreadful timo. Their counter-attacks were particularly fierce against the Highlanders on the Zonnebeke road and on the Australians on the left of the who were driven back for awhile but the l Scottish rifle fire broke every attack 1 of the German storm troops. Six times the latter came on with much determination ; six times their waves were broken. Finally three German battallions drove fiercely against the Highlanders at Delva Farm and Rose Souse. The Highlanders rallied at eight o’clock and swept the Germans out and away. ' i Mr. Gibbs emphasises the fearful [ I Itammering inflicted tby the British ‘ bombardmont. At least So per . of the German prisoners were wounded and many of the Germans around . Polygon Wood and Glencorse Cbpse . were buried in shell holes between the i blockhouses. The blockhouses them- . selves were smashed up or so battered that tho Germans were dazed and demoralised.

AUSTRALIANS FINE WORK

LONDON, September 22. Mr. Percival Phillip’s account emphasises that the Australians were tho centre of attack. There was much hard fighting between the Roulers Railway and, the Monin rjnd before tho British cleared Glencorse Wood and Nonno Boschen. The Australians planted the Commonwalth flag on the Anzao Redoubt and drove nearly half way through the Polygon Wood. Yet nearly all their programme was fulfilled to time-table . They went over . the parapet at 5.40 a.m. amid heavy shell fire because distress signals called all German batteries into action. The barrage caught some stretcher bearers and wounded men. - The British, victory was even greater than appeared j yesterday. Six counter-attacks were j repulsed with exceedingly heavy 1 oases, ' . j There is a notable change in the Prussian prisoners’ attitude. The officers are polite and complimentary. One said: “It was a groat ; day for the English. You gained this year’s ! greatest victory—far greater than Messines.”

HAIG’S PROGRESS REPORT. - 300 PRISONERS. *o*' LONDON, September 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Further evidence shows the continuous and obstinate nature of thecounter-attacks ’P yesterday in which the enemy suffered excepionnlly heavy losses, while not gaining any advantage. Minor fighting occurred to-day on different parts of the front and we advanced our line at a fnimber oft points, healing back counter-attacks. This .morning the English county troops on the right captured a collection of trenchea und strong concreted points southward of the Tower Hamlets.

the „uemy later launched a powerful counter-attack against the Tower Hamlets ridge, which we repulsed after, heavy fighting. The Liverpool and Lancashire regiments eastward of St. Julien, gained possession of a fortified farm and cleared up a number of dug-outs and strong points fronting our new position . Our artillery broke a coun-ter-attack eastward of Langamarck. Prisoners in yesterdays’ fighting hitherto reported exceed 3000. During

the first two houlrs yesterday low clouds and drizzling rain made flying almost impossible, but our aeroplanes flew low and bombed an aerodrome near Oourtrai and attacked bodies of infantry. On the weather improving later contact was maintained with the advancing troops. Our aeroplanes and Balloons carried out observations ' of location of troops preparing to coun-ter-attack and reported these to the artillery which dealt with the situation. JJunng the attack the aeroplanes food 28,000 machine-gun rounds from height between 100 and 1000 feet at infantry in trenches and shell holes and approaching reinforcements. Tile German aircraft in the middle of the day were active, attempting to interfere with our artillery with bombitye and low-flying machines. When t«n« weather improved m wo evening they kept well to the eastward of their lines and were disinclined to fight. Ten' enemy machines were destroyed and .six driven down, l’en of oura are missing. •COUNTER ATTACKS REPULSED. LONDON, September 2s. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile counter-attacks by considerable forces continued last evening on the Ypres front but without result, except a heavy increase in the enemy’s losses. A powerful counter-attack in massed formation on a wide front eastward of St. Julien' penetrated one point for a short distance, into our new positions, but the enemy was immediately driven out. We repulsed the enemy at ail points with great loss and our lino was intact at the end of two hours’ fighting. The attack was delivered with great- determination and the enemy losses were exceedingly severe. Wo completely repulsed a strong attack on both sides of the Ypres-Menin Rood and crushed a counter-attack . eastward of Langemarci. SUCCESS CONFIRMED. LONDON, Sept. 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Afore detailed accounts of yesterday's b&tte yaonfijrm the completeness of the success. Local attacks in the evening in the neighbourhoods of tho

Tower Htanlets and north-east of Langemarck cleared up a number of strong points and completed the capture of our objectives in those localities. We are now established. The enemy’s casualties - were un- * usually great. There a ero coimter-at--1 tacks in the afternoon and evening, hut the clear light enabled us to ob- _ ' warning of the impending attacks. Our concentrated lire in every case destroyed .the ’advancing infantry and the obstinancy of the enemy’s attacks W only* added to his losses, without recovering any valuable ground. M again consolidated the positions during the night and were not further disturbed” Our Josses nro light. )) o scattei'ed small attacks westward of Havricourt and westward of Lens. POSITIONS FIRMLY HELD. LONDON September 21. The ' United Press correspondent states: Noth withstanding the cyclonic shelling of northward of the Ypros-Roulers Railway the Brittisli position to-day ;are firmly consolidated. The Germans north-east of St. Julien who were massing for an 'assault dwindled under bour* fire and their counter-attack was not developed. More to the north-ward local affairs have improved the British positions. Southward of the railway the GJermans ire shelling intermittently sometimes heavily. A wounded Lance-corporal summed up the .prevailing impression when he said: “Let (Fritz cofintcr-attack. We are ready for him. By the time our new barrage rolls over him a couple.of times witli machine-gun variations he will he a. mighty sick / man.” All the troops agree that there never was such a barrage. It shattered the “pill boxes’” sonue 'being • completely blown out of the ground The gun ,orew inside are dead and the concreted and organised shell holes and machine gun emplacements are filled with corpses. By the road- > side we saw scores of wounded men joking and drinking tea with wounded Germans. A GERMAN STRONGHOLD. I BROKEN UP AND CAPTURED. < GREAT BRITISH SUCCESS. : [■'REUTER’s” TEIiEORAII.] (Received This Dav at 11.25. a.in.) LONDON, Sept. 22. Reuters correspondent at Headquarter.s says the German position is held t so tensely that it is estimated there j are four Germans to every yard of 1 front. 1 Several of the best German divisions t i were so scattered, as to necessitate 1 their withdrawal. We won a victory t which leaves the enemy in this wide tract of Flanders, at a serious disad- £ vantage. 1 Captured officers, who hitherto were haughty and supercilious now literally bow to their captors, and confess their defeat, in what was regarded as their strongest point. They now view the future with dismay. t

IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS

NFAV ZEALANDERS WORK

[LONDON TIMES SERVICE —COPYRIGHT]

(Received This Dav at. 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Sept, 22.

Air. Robinson the “Times” correspondent says tho German officers abundantly confirm the importance of the success and testify to tho overwhelming artillery, and brilliance of the infantry-advance, as things incredible. They do not attempt to disguise the seriousness of the defeat. Mr. Robinson adds that tho New Zealanders work was particularly valuable. Bosides laying thirty thousand yards of cables they repaired all the roads and trenches.

Describing the Gorman methods, Air. Robinson says instead of a single strong line, they have now a barred defence of great depth, and are crowding troops into very narrow fronts, supported by strong reserves further back, ready for immediate cqunter-nttacks.. The whole area is sprinkled with • concrete redoubts and massed guns, 4,000 to 7 500 yards behind tho front line. This elaborate scheme is the last blossom of German strategists, carefully worked out and framed with enormous industry, nnd we have broken it.

LIVELY ARTILLERY. [AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] LONDON, Sept. 22. A French communique reports lively artillerying on various sectors, with raids and patrol encounters. FRENCH PLEASED. ~PARIS, Sept. 21. The newspapers are overjoyed at the British successes. “Le Petit Parisien” says that the attack may be regarded fts first-class. It is certain that the Allies have once again affirmed their superiority, despite unfavourable weather. Air. Alarcel Hutin remarks: “The chief interest of the battle consists in the occupation of almost the whole of the western plateau which dominatse tho region north of Lille and Lille itself.” AI. Tudesq recalls the assault of July 31st. That the battle was a stationary and terrible butchery. It ( lasted a week, and fifty German" divisions were mutilated, hut the enemy’s powerful defensive system remained intact. Tho successes now claimed art the result of new offensive methods and gigantic labour in conserving th< roads by which many of the howitzer! brought up close to the enemy’ i trenches.

GERMAN ATTACKS SMASHED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] ■Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. p.ARIS, September 23. The Petit Parisenno says the Ger- j man columns in Lango.man.-k region, • were brought up five Hmes to assault the lost ground. Each time a hellish fire smashed the attack and decimated the battalions. On© prisoner declared that ol ms company of 200, only four were not killed on th* spot, ‘

GERMAN REPORT

fADMIRAI.TY —PER WIRELESS PRESS.J

(Received . This Dav at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22.

German official. —Alter an hour of the strongest bomb lire last night from I.angeimtrck, as far as llollebeke, the English attacked at many points, but Wore repulsed after hand to hand fighting especially between Boesinglie, Staden, Ypres and Roulers roads, nnd further south, as far ns Hollebcekc. Our divisions broke through the Russian position? [north-westward oif .Inrnbstadt and forced them hack against the river. They yielded tlw, bridgehead 40 kilometres wide and tcu' kilometres deep on the western bnnk of, the Dvina, and' fled to the eastern • bank. i

Jacobstadb is in our hands. We captured over fifty guns. CONTINUED FIGHTING. fPER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received This Dav at 11;25. a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. During the. day there, was heavy fighting, southward of Ypros-Monjn road. The enemy fought with great determination, but were unsuccessful in the regain of Tower Hamlet Ridge. Durham troops to-day completely repulsed three strong counter-attacks northward of Tower Hamlets. j Further south repeated hostile attacks compelled our advanced troops to fall back slightly from part of tho ground gained yesterday morning. In this area, the whole of the positions captured on Thursday are securely in our ppssession of the battle front. Them were no further counter-at-tacks. There \jas great reciprocal nrtillerving all along the front. Our fir© prevented an attempted raid in the neighbourhood of ArrasCoinbrai road. i,o successfully raided • eastward of v Monchy le Preux. There was great, aerial activity yesterday, our aeroplanes ranging guns on hostile batteries, troops, trenches and shell holes. Low flying machines liarrased the enemy’s infantry transports. Masses of bombs were dropped on Roulers, Menin, and elsewhere. Eighteen enemy planes were downed and twelve of ours are missing. ! RESOURCEFUL TOMMIES. ! i (R, reived This Dav at 11.25. a.m.; I LONDON, Sept. 22. j Reuters correspondent at ondquartors gives an instance of the resourcefulness of the Tommies. A party of bombers reached the parapet, the Germans crouching in the trench. Owing to the close quarters grenades would have been equally dangerous to both sides. Tho Tommies pelted the Bos--jhos with their water-filled bottles. Scenting a new source of frightfulness the Gormans speedily “Kameraded.” j

GERMAN METHODS

(Received This T)nv at 11.25. a.m.) | LONDON, Sept. 22. i

Describing the German counter-at-tacks, ho says fresh troops from the ‘ reserves wero utilised nnd attacked 1 with great determination. They act- 1 unlly penetrated the front ior 300 yards. Fierce hand-to-hand . fighting ensued nnd the ground was soon filled j with their corpses. j Five other similar attacks of a for-, midable nature were all repulsed, with great losses. * j j Our casualties were'light. j BATTLE IN FULL SWING. | LONDON September 20. i German official : A battle is in full, swing on tho English front from Laugemarok to ITollebeke. There has ( been bitter fluctuating fighting all day on the fortmost part of our defensive j zone. j j GERMAN ADMISSION,s. : * i r 11 LONDON, Sept. 21. i German official: Nine (British di-j visions, including several Australian, j Supported by armoured cars and flame-, throwers mace yesterday an attack in close formation. The enemy cd a kilometre deep into our defensive zone and advanced further than Passehendaele. Ho gained ground north- ■ ward of the Ypres-Menin road, but was , thrown back with very lie-avy losses , elsewhere. His ~ reinforcements were unable to make further progress in the villages in tho fighting zone which remain ours. CHINESE TROOPS FOR FRANCE. PEKIN September 22. The Chinese Government has agreed to send a trial division of 25,000. troops to France, if equipment and ships are available. ! GERMAN LOSSES. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. PARIS, Sept. 23. Marcel Hutin says Thursday’s battle cost the Crown Prince 22,000 dead and wounded and tho previous bombardment 10,000. AUSTRALIANS WORK. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] Received, this day at 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. Air. Gilmour special correspondent at the front for the Australian nnd ; New Zealand' Press Association, pays a tribute to Australian fighting. Tne | army was never in such a splendid battle condition. Their impetuous [ dash, combined with perfect training wore features of their victorious nds vance, with extraordinary intelligent restraints, officers cohesion and Btrict , discipline of the men. ’ He adds —“lt cannot yet bo said that our artillery is -overwhelmingly predominant. Much is left to the infantry to accomplish. A FRENCH REPORT. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION (Received this dav at 1.30 p.m.) I LONDON, Sept. 23. t A French communique says: After n , violent bombardment tho Germans re- ] attacked in the region of Maison de Champagne, hut wore broken before i 3 they reached our line. Eleven German aeroplanes were destroyed.