ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1917, Page 3

ON THE WESTERN FRONT

ADVANCE MADE

ON EIGHT MILE FRONT.

3000 PRISONERS.

AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

& REUTER.]

j (Received This Day at 9.30. a'.m.) LONDON, Oct: 5. General Haig reports wo attacked over nil eight miles front southward of Tower Hamlet to Ypres, northward of Lange march and were completely successful. All objectives wore gained and positions of great importance won. Over three thousand prisoners arc I already counted. I We • are now in possession of tho j main ridgo to a point a thousand yards southward of Broodsiende. The weather after promising to be favourable, became less settled and there was a strong westerly wind of tho force of a gale, and rainstorms throughout the battle, which added to she difficulties of the advance and the airmen’s work. Nevertheless the air ernft did valuable work and afforded useful information of the positions of our troops and the assembly of enemy for counterattacks.

GETTING IN EARLY. ALL COUNTER ATTACKS REPULSED i AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received This Dav at 10.1.6. a.vn ) LONDON. October 6. General Haig states prisoners statements and indentifications of German units and numbers of German dead show that our attack anticipated by a. few minutes an attack by five German divisions against our front, from Polygon Wood to Zonnebeke. Our barrage descended' on tup enemy assemblings of troops and their attacks did not materialise. Our infantry overwhelmed those es•uping the artillery fire. Owing to the enemy’s losses on this

tea few coiinter-a ttacksk{ have yet

eveloped. Two were attempted early in tho stf•rnoon east of Graventsnfel, and were

broken by our fire. Another north-east of Langemarck led to severe fighting, but failed to 'rive us from the positions gained. I.atcr in the afternoon three counter attacks south-east of Plygon Wood were unsuccessful.

The enemy’s losses through the rhole lighting were exceptionally loavv largely owing to tho unusual lumber of German troops on the battleield a tthe outset of our attack.

Our casualties were light. We captured a few guns and much material. Low clouds and a high west wind on Wednesday made aerial work almost impossible.

Four machines attempted to bomb io enemy aerodromes. One bombed

its objective and two bombed other targets. Few hostile aircraft were seen.

FRENCH REPORT. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION (Received This Dav at 12.26. p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 40th. A French communique says there was a grenade and artillery action on --e Plateau, South of Allies. An enemy coup do main was repulsed west of Pompelle. A violent artillery struggle on the right bank of the Meuse. An attack on our trenches north of Hill 352 was repulsed. Our artillery caught the enemy assemblages in this region. FRENCH REPORT. [“BHUTEK’s” TELEGRAM.] LONDON, October 4. A French communique states: B.uh artilleries wero active on the right bank of tho Mouse. As a reprisal fertile bombardment of Bar In Due our aircraft bombed Frankfurt, A GERMAN REPORT. TADMIRALTY —TER WIRELESS PRESS.] LONDON, October 4. German official: There was a powerful artillery duel all night- long from Houltthoult Wood to the Lys. (which increased in the morning to drumfire. Strong English attacks at the Ypres bend developed. A French attempt to recapture positions of Hill 3-14 broke, down.

THE GERMAN VERSION. fADMIRALTY —PER WIRELESS PRESS.] LONDON, October *L German official—To-day’s great English attaok penetrated only a kilometre deep, between Poelcapelle nnd Gheluvelt. Bitter fighting continues eastward of Zonnebeke and westward of Cuvelare. A GERMAN TANK. [“REUTER’b” TELEGRAM.] LONDON, October 4. I Reuter's correspondent at Frene.l headquarters states that the German: are experimenting with a tank witl 0 tilted peak to assist it in crossing I tower for observation purposes I Armour protects the caterpillar whic I carries a three inch gun and tw I machine-guns.