THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYfitGUT.] THE WESTERN FRONT. FIGHT FOR DAISY WOOD. USING THE STEEL. LONDON, October 10. Tho United Press correspondent saya rockets from the Germans in Daisy Wood show that they aro still holding out, hut they fast are dwindling. Fighting continues at Polderhock chateau. Hand-to-hand fighting occur red at Celtic Wood, of which the Australians are now in possession. - Bayonets were freely used in a terrific man to man clash. The troops never fought harder than these. The Gormans were unatje to make a renewal of their counter-attacks, all they could do was feeble local reactions.

British advanced posts' on the centre and right retired slightly at‘night in order to better consolidate npw gains. Dawn brought tremendous aerial activity, scores of planes fighting midst a storm of shrapnel, machine gunning the German infantry and harrassing tho enemy balloons batteries. Rain later blocked out the view.

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT,

PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS.

AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

LONDON, October 11

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Aviators did much work on the battle front on Tuesday, despite a strong* gale and thick olouds. Tho artillery was thus ■ enabled to deal with tho enemy’s new gun positions and other suitable targets and kept touch with its own infantry all day lojjg, ' Enemy troops were harrassod at every opportunity by machine-gun fire and many bombs were dropped on Roulers, Courtai, Menin, and Ledeghem stations causing a number of explosions. We brought down six German aeroplanes. Two of our; are missing. In the course of the day attacks on our new positions in the neighborhood of , Ypres-Staden railway led to local fighting, but did not effect any material change in the situation.

The enemy made no further counterattacks. Our troops actively organised the captured positions despite the great difficulties of the ground. Tuesday’s prisoners hitherto reported number 2038, of whom twenty-nine were officers. They also include .400 taken by the French. We captured & few field guns, a number of machineguns and trench mortars.

FRENOH REPORT. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, October 11. A French eommuniqno states: There was no infantry action in Belgium. Our troops are consolidating the position won. Both artilleries are active north of the Aisne. After an intense bombardment the enemy gained a footing at some points in our advanced elements, but our artillery prevented him making further progress.

HEAVY ARTILLERYTNG. f AUSTRALIAN «fr N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] Received, this day at 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. General Haig reports khiere was heavy rain yesterday night, ana rider able enemy artillerying westw&m if Passehfendaele.