ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1917, Page 3

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

A GREAT ADVANCE. OVER ALL OBSTACLES. [pee press association.— corYßionT.] (R “' i * ed nh^M«! B sW^ The Australians at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon sent men to lielp the troops on tlioir right, who were f passing through a terrible ordea o - to the continual pressure of the enemy’s storm troops. Tims was the serious anxiety on the eve of the new battle, hut it failed to frustrate Wednesday’s attack. At dawn tho Australians were already massed beyond Glen-Corse Wood for the contemplated attack furt c north. soldiers were ready to go over the hags. It was almost dark when they went forward through a wet thick mist. Our artillery put up some monstrous lines of baTrage. The troops followed it at a slow pace, giving time to avoid the shell craters. Through the mist our men saw the Germans running and falling. Many didn’t even stay in the blockhouse. Dead Germans were also found in the shell craters. Aa the Australians advanced through Boetleer, Tonneboke was taken. The garrisons of some of the “pill-boxes were killed by concussion, others surrendered directly the British arrived. The Australian advance across the , race-course, and northward across tho spur to below Tonneboke Chateau, was steady and successful. There was a regular chain of blockhouses here, hut again the black magic .of tho pill-box failed. Most of tho defenders were glad to surrender. Tho enemy’s gunfire was heavy over part of the ground. A nest of machine-guns along the road gave trouble, hut our losses were not heavy. Tho British aircraft brought tho first news that the Anzacs had eaptur- s ed the racecourse. Later, it was re- .1 ported they* had reached ' the furthest ! goal, where the prisoners surrendered t freely. ' GREAT BRITISH BATTLE. HEAVIEST FIGHTING OF THE WA R r I FAVOURING RESULTS. \ [PEP. PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] „ (Received This Day at 11.25. a.m.) , LONDON, Sep. 27. 1 Phillip Gibbs says Wednesday will be counted as one of the biggest days jj in the fighting in this war. The deoision is of vita] importance both to the enemy and ourselves. Thus fur has gone in our favour. , fc . The battalions on tho Australians’ right had the hardest time. They were under incessant fire and attack from dawn on Tuesday, but tho other Brit-

ish troops on their right, who won also severely tried swept across to the ridge towards Ohehuvelt. It was fully expected that any attempt to advance beyond the ground gained in the battle of the 20th would meet with the fiercest opposition. The capure of Polygon Wood seriously lessened the value of Passehendref ridge, whilcfli forms the enemy’s great cieharrier. ■ The enemy show ed " jugns of desperate anxiety to check us on Polygon Wood line, and the ground southward to Choluvelt Spur. Thev made a great effort by massed artillery to smash tho organisation behind our lines, and hy a series of thrusts to break our front. They launched the first attack on I uesday morning against the British troops immediately on the right of tho Australians at Polygon Wood. Owing to the losses the British wen F obliged to fall back a little way in order, to re-organise for the counterassault.

Several British units (lit! heroic things. Meanwhile the Australians were fighting on the high ground of this side of the racecourse. The enemy failed to pierce the line, though a second thrust was attempted at midday. ANOTHER- ACCOUNT. BY PERCY - PHILLIPS. A VIVID DESCRIPTION. [ter press association,— copyright.] (Received This Day at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, September X. Mr. Percival Phillips states Wedne.% days’ attack commended in a' heavy mist and semi-darkness. It involved a number of new German divisions. The in-fighting was of a most determined character. Their efforts to hold Lie British in check caused severe, losses. By eleven, the British were engaged clearing dug-outs in the western outskirts of Zonnebeeke village and Australians fighting on the eastern. The Scottish, Welsh and Australian troops defeated repeated attacks to break into tho position. All tho enemy attacks were repulsed and his losses were extremely heavy. Later in the evening, tli e fighting died down, leaving use in possession of

the .ground captured, the severe c struggle lasting all day. 1 The English and Scottish battalions 1 ejected the enoihy from his positions and accomplished their allotted task, sec urine their flaiik they could scrape • together, in orderVto try and regain a - footing beyond Yprea. The troops from Home countries and Scotland at Tower Hamlets ridge, bore v the brunt of the storm which ended in the German defeat. The covered slopes are now covered with their dead. The fighting at Zonnebeke and Polygon Wood on Wednesday involved an advance of a thousand yards. We already hold Atpic redoubts, and the western half of'Polygon Wood, v hardest work fell on the English and Scottish troops, attacking ladow Polygon Wood who had to retake tin? steep slope at Tower Hamlets lost during the German counter-attacks. They advanced from the marshes and Tower hamlet ridge. It was ft scene of close quarters fighting. By seven o’clock all o\tr goals were reached and the Prussian reinforcements brought up at night were evicted, though ordered to stick there at all costs. We have on unobstructed view of Zandavoordo from Tower Hamlets ridge and elsewhere we overlooked Becelaere

and Qheluvelt, reducing, the opportunity for donna'll counter-attacks. Nevertheless, the Gormans to-day wasted men freely. When Zonnebekc ftns takea the Gormans could )>o seen coming; over the ridge from Possehendaelc, until our guns swept them away.