THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.—COPTI%OIIT.] I THE WESTERN FRONT. GATHERING IN PRISONERS. NEW ZEALANDERS BAG. (United Service Telegrams.) LONDON, Oct. 9. Mr. Murdoch, writing from the Auzac Headquarters, referring to last Thursday’s battle, says that it is noticeable that tho men speak very differently of Fritz since the battle. They saw the Germans rush singly ' from their redoubts and die fighting. There were thousands of cases of easy surrenders hut there were thousands of oases of vory bitter opposition.

Among the . nine guns captured by tho Australians were too anti-tank guns. The Now Zealanders struck some heavy marshy ground where they sank to tho crutch, but they achieved the largest total of prisoners in the whole battle .

The Australians yesterday captured a most important German order, reversing their shell-hole defence policy, as the result of a meeting of enemy army commanders at which it was admitted that all known methods were of no avail against tho British.

Prisoners in tho Australian sector of the battle were so numerous that guards could not he spared to take them to the rear. Tho Australians pointed out the way and the Germans started running. They did not stop until they were safe in the cages.

A battalion commander and his staff were captured under strange circumstances. . A brigadier saw upoTT a captured map two hours after the commencement- of the battle a mark indicating that an enemy battalion’s headquarters were just outside the farthest objective. He sent out .two sergeants and three men when tho barrage lifted and they returned with a colonel, five officers and seventy Huns.

A GREAT PERFORMANCE, nearly a mile gained. LONDON, October 9. Air. Phillip Gibbs says that the French gained 1,200 yards- in two strides taking 200 ‘ prisoners, 2 ' field guns and many machine-guns. They also killed many of the enemy. We are within 100 yards of Houthhulat AYood. The Allies have advanced 1500 yards in depth along a line from Poelcapelle across the Ypres-Ghelu-velt road. It is the most wonderful achievement- since the Highlanders and the Naval Division captured Beaumont Hamel in the mud and fog, hut this latest event is the more wonderful, because it is on a greater scale and was carried out in foul weather. HAIG’S REPLY. LONDON ,October 9. Sir Douglas Haig replying to Sir Thomas Alaekhnzie’s congratulations says: “Your message of congratulations much appreciated, All ranks ■>' gallant New Zealanders took a: idistinguished part in tho Various operations.” PROGRESS OF ATTACKS. GALLANT WORK DONE. GAMING FURTHER GROUND. LONDON, oct. 9.

Tho United Press correspondent, writing at noon, says that the English, French and overseas troops attacked on n 'wide front on the Passvchendaeie Ridges. Despite desperate counterattacks in which hurricane fighting developed,'' the fifth battle of the summer campaign in this area went well from the start. The prisoners,, who were frequently without escort, wore apparently eager to reach tho haven and arc coming in in largo numbers. Despite the gale our airmen observed the fighting like taunted eagles in a, storm.

Last night’s raid lias made the Flemish plains, and even the ridges, like a bog. but the officers and mein would " not hear of a postponement. Moreover, tho [British weather man had promised “Clear with high winds from midnight onwards.” He hit it exactly. Tho troop s got away well from the shell-hole povsitions in which they had assembled under cover of the pitch black night. The British fought stiffly in the region of Routel for the chateau, whence heavy machine gun fire issued. Ono company rushecTon and took the chateau shortly after daylight, but wore ordered hack and to dig in twenty yards westward. in qfd«r to conform to general tactics.

ter reports show that the situation about the chateau is not clear. The Daisy Wood was bristling with all manner of German defences and was heavily garrisoned, but tho Australians quickly overcame the difficulties. They surrounded the wood and left a detachment to clean it up, while the rest went on.

The British at the time of writing are dealing with heavy counter-attacks astride the Roulers railway. The German waves axe breaking under a Btrong shell-fire. Visibility is good and our guns axe able to score bulleyes. The French are going strong keeping shoulder to shoulder with the British left. Tho French report several hundred prisoners.

The German artillery replied raggedly and the enemy was obviously more busy pulling back the guns than in firing although ho was fairly busy at that in certain points.

The Germans ore fighting hard for tho possession of the. brewery in Poelcapelle. The rest of the town is in British hands.

GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. NEW DIVISIONS shattered. ('Received this day at 12.30 a.mA LONDON, October 10.' Mr. Phillip Gibbs writes that the enemy has again suffered severe losses. Two divisions, namely the 227th, straight from Rheims, only getting into the line during the night, and the 195th. from the Russian front. Both reeoived a fearful baptism of fire. Three other divisions were hard hit and are now bleeding from many wounds given by us. There aro many prisoners ,

FRENCH ASSISTANCE. GOOD WORK DONE. LONDON, Oct. 9. Tho “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says that General Anthoinc’s army co-operating with the British, pushed on and occupied half the o ground between the lines secured on July 31st. and Houthulst Forest. Today’s plan was to swing the French right thus rtsmi-circling Houthulst Forest, which had become a formidable enemy fortress during tho last three years but our guns had greatly reduced the value of this low-lying woodland and the Germans had already withdrawn their heavier guns; hitherto secreted in the forest. However even the baro stumps of the former forest trees made a dangerous nest for machine-guns. The forest covers an area of three miles by two.

In overcoming tho obstacle, General

Anthoine’s mastery of\ gunnery sci ence was a great asset. The French assault troops went over the top at 5.30. a.m.. The country was stilt buried in fog and gloom. Preceded by an effective barrage the troops quickly cleared out the centres of German resistance on the east hank of the Jeansboek Brook and within two hours three hundred prisoners and a number of guns had been captured on a mile front.

The French luckily caught the enemy divisions while relieving one another. The former troops were just from tho Russian front- and being new to the sector the Germans were in no condition to meet the dashing French onslaught.

By ten o’clock the French were foe:oro the ruins of the villiage of Mange-

laero. The whole success was won. practically with no loss oi French lives.

FRENCH CO-OPERATION. splendid assistance. (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. A French communique says an attack was launched' this morning, and developed brilliantly. Our troops, after crossing the marshy brook at Broenbeck, carried with admirable dash on- a front of 2500 . metres, the enemy defences, despite the difficulties of, the ground and had weather. We captured tho village of St. Jeon Mangelacre and Vildohek, and numerous farms that had been organised as blockhouses. The advance, which averaged a depth of two kilometres, brought us to the southern fringe of Houthulst Wood. ThV nir service, despite the gale, do-operiated actively in the attack, machine-gunning at a low altitude, the enemy infantry, and 1 maintaining touch with other arms.. (The number of prisoners hitherto counted is 300 whereof twelve are officers. Artillery actions continue on the Aisne front.

HAIG’S ADVANCE,

A'LL objectives carried

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OPERA-

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

& KBUTEB-]

(Received this day at 12.80 a.m.)

LONDON', October TO.

General Haig reports that continued heavy nain yesterday afternoon and evening, made the ground sodden and very difficult for the passage of troops Notwithstanding the stormy weather and water-logged ground, wo have launched an attack in conjunction with the French with very successful results.

Tho attack extended south-east of Broodseinde to ■St. Jeansheek, a mile north-east of Bixschoote.,

The Australians on the extreme right and north-east of Broodseinde and secured all the objectives. The Third Line of tho Manchester, East- Lancashire, and Lancashire Fusilier regiments, advanced a mile northward along the ridge towards Paschendaelo capturing all their objectives under the most- trying and. difficult circumstances showing, great determination and gallantry. A considerable advance was made in the centre between the main ridge and Poelcapelle and includes the capture of many fortified farms and concreted redoubts that wie captured in tho left centre of POelcapolle. English, Welsh and Guards on the extreme left of the British attack, bfeve taken all their objectives, and gained the outskirt of the forest Honthulst, two miles north north west of Foelcappelle. The French on our left flank crossed Broenbeek Stream, which was in flood and also gained the outskirts of the forest of Honthulst, capturing all objeeives, including several hamlets and manv fortified localities.

Upwards of a thousand prisoners have been captured.

A THRILLING ACCOUNT. OF THE LATEST VICTORY. OPERATIONS IN THE MUD. ONWARD, ALL THE TIME. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 10. Mr Percival Phillips says the Fourth Gorman Army was defeated again. The battle was another unqualified success. Prisoners aro surrendering in large numbers. We again caught German divisions in the process of relieving, and punished them severely. Rain and mud made the enemy believe that another enterprise waa impossible. It was a complete surprise. Our troops fought in and were sometimes Turned by sheila, " but their unquenchable spirit of victory carried them through. Some marched for nearly twelve hours just before going into the battle, yet they fought like lions. The attack was leas a -treat than a groat readjustment of the battle front.

There were two- simultaneous advances. The larger operation was the swinging forward of our left towards Passchendaele village, thereby owing the salient whereof Brookkseinde was a pronounced point.

This involved the capture of tlio remainder of Poclcapolle village and an .nvance among the wilderness of ruined farms on the western spurs of Passeinendaele ridge, in the direction of Louthulst forest. On the right of the battle front wo straightened the erratic lino around Reutebleek and Poldenhock crater. < 'Pij e fighting between Poclcapolle and ' Houthulst was handicapped by the marshes caused by shell-fire shooting away the banks of the Bivenbecko. Tho country here was a sheet of stagnant yellow water, and long irregular slopes of slippery ooze beyond, cut by the shattered embankment of the Thourout railway and Langeinarck road, all liberally planted with enemy redoubts, Thourout railway embankmont giving cover to machine g"n> and a number of “pill-boxes'” replaced the railway station. Here we caught two German divisions relieving each other. One had been hurried from Argonne in motorbusses and were thrust into the forest during tho night. Tho troops thej re ’ ' lieved had been lying in the rain,and mud sinco the last . attack. A great number of tho men were ill. These battalions were so anxious to get away, that they failed to give the neoessarv information to the Argonne divisions. The latter knew nothing about the dispositions of the British opposite. The men surviving the barrage surrendered immediately. The first and second objectives were gained on timo. By eight o’clock the troops of the British Mes and another Island of tfio Empire were breakfasting among the vanquished redoubts. Here they rested for a time before going to the final goal. The Germans evacuated some “pillboxes” as our men came up. Tho (Germans admittod they wore badly pounded with Stokes mortars) The French, on tho British left, suffered even more from the mud, bm they were splendidly protected by thenown artillery. After stiff fighting they occupied Poelcapelle. The Germans occupied the eastern half of the nuns, and also remnants of the brewery on 'Weateohekei road just clear of the village. The Germans had strengthened the cellars in the village sh.ee Thursday, when wo halted at the crossroads. This convinced the German regimental commander that he had still a fighting chance .of turning us out, but before dawn the Germans had been chased out of the cellars and the outskirts of the village. They ran along the broken street, and reassembled at the brewery. Here machine guns filled the apertures of the sand-bagged brewery walls, and stubborn fighting followed throughout the morning, but the Engi ijgh troops early in the afternoon gained a foothold‘in the brewery, wide’ wa,s finally captured and the garrison killed or pri'sonered.

GERMAN REPORT

| i LONDON, Oct. 9. " Gorman official—A fresh battle has developed and continues between Draaibank and Gheluvelt. The Allies’ gain of territory, despite repeated assaults, was limited to a stretch between Draaibank and Poelcappelle.

CELTIC WOOD WON

BY THE AUSTRALIANS.

fADMIRALTY —PER WIBELF.BS PRESS.J

(Received This 1W,,» , r ' > LONDON, Oct. 10.

The United Press correspondent says tho Australians, after terrific bayonet fighting, gained possession of Celtic Wood south-eastward of Broodsemde.

I german forces weakening

THE FRENCH VTEW

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION’]

(Received This Dnv at 10.15. a.aO WASHINGTON, Oct 10

Tho French Commission authoritatively reviewing the recent course of the war, declares that Germany has reached her supreme military effort. For tho first time since the beginning of the war, it is clear there m a decrease of the total strength of the German forces' recorded. Germany has been forced' - to call up part of the 1919 class, and to break newly formed fighting regiments to reinforce the fighting units. Despite the Russian upheaval, tho continuing intensity of the Anglo-French upheaval, has prevented Germany from getting the benefit of the valuable reserves. ' Germany retains great powers of resistance which will take ml the strength of the Allied forces to break, but her resources are diminishing at ovory moment, when the military situation requires an increase. The Anglo-French armies have reached their full strength and are capable with United States help of maintaining this enormous strength until the end of the war. This will ho proved in the decisive character of the 1918 operations.

HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS. , fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION A REUTER.] (R « ci vodTh«D^n ; 25. rt P.^ General Haig reports wo repulsed several counter-attacks last night, in the neighbourhood of Ypres—Staden railway. The enemy forced hack our advanced troops for a short distance on a front of two x thousand yards, south wards of the railway. We repulsed counter-attacks with loss north-east-ward of Broodseinde, and raided southward of Scaxpc. Thero is heavy rainfalling.