THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1917, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT.

f'riß PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPTIfcGIIT.]

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT.

ADVANCE STOPPED BY RAIN

LONDON, October 13.

Marshal Haig reports: Notwithstanding the night’s heavy rain, the troops in the morning’s attack progressed along the entire front from the Ypres-Roulers Railway to our junction with the French on tho southern edge of Houthshulst Forest. Throughout this front, we captured many defended localities,, fortified farms, woods and concreted strong points, with a number of prisoners. Fighting was specially severe on the slope of the main ridge itself, southward of Passcheiidaole. Heavy rain recommenced in the morning, and continued with increasing violence all day, impeding our progress, consequently T decided to make no further effort to reach the final objective. Approximately 500 prisoners taken . IN THE THICIToF IT. (United Service Telegrams). LONDON, October 13. Tho Australians and Now Zealanders have an honoured place in the latest attack.

REUTER’S ACCOUNT.

A GREAT DRIVE. TAUSTRALIA'S V-Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ’ it REUTER.] LONDO, October 12. Reuter’s headquarter’s correspondent says:—Wo have driven the Germans practically the whole . depth of their defensive front over a width of several thousand yards. The result is that the Germans must now oppose us more than on any previous occasion since the first battle of Tores, with flesh and blood, instead of dug-outs, deep trenches, and concrete redoubts. Our barrage, more torrlf.o than heretofore,, crawled ahead of our lads, searching every yard traversed. The enemy 1 artillery’s response was somewhat ragged, ami there are many reports of Germans being shot hy big gun ammunition. Certainly Army orders invariably admonish them to husband this as much as possible. Recently the enemy have been firing some of their own .shells captured from the Russians. The fact thiatf (they are bringing these so far, in view of the great transport difficulties, in signifi--gant.

HAIG’S APPRECIATION

“SIMPLY , SPLENDID.” s

LONDON, October 12. Rain reduced the battlefield ground to a perfect loblolly (sic); but the British and Anzacs navigated mud seas and mud mountains like iniraclemen. He talked to Marshal Haig yesterday and he was full of admiration for the men. He said the entire history of Flanders shows that mud was always the soldiers’ worst enemy. This is true to a greater extent now than ever, because natural drainage is stopped.. Nevertheless the Britishers from all parts of the Empire; also the French were undaunttHl 1)..0re mud and Germans. The Field-Marshal concluded: “They are simply splendid.”

THE PASSCHENDAHLE BAFFLE

A VIVID DESCRIPTION

LONDON, October 13.

Mr Phillips writing on the fifth says the battle on the slopes of Passchendaele ridge, resulted in fighting as determined as any in the war. Ibe enemy made a super-human, effort to prevent our taking more ground, and met the attack on a, six-mile front with an abundance »>t nicked infantry, supported by the heaviest bombardment the British troops have yet confronted in Flanders, though some of our men seem to have reached tile edge of Passehenduele village, the for ward slopes of which still bristle with unwileneed strong posts.

The houses in Pas chendaele shelter many other machine guns. The ata tack commenced at 5.25. and the German batteries immediately redoubled their lire and laid a curtain across our front, while other groups of German guns sought to break tho infantry that were storming the outer redoubts. Sharp fighting occurred in Augustus Wood which was defended by young, well-trained, Jaeger troops, who stuck to their posts. We had also a hard fighting trying to get forward along the flooded banks of the Lekkerboterbest which flows alongside the road from Poeslcapelle to Westroosbeke. It stretched along open country commended by a few redoubts and ma-chine-gun barrage from Passchendaele We wont easily through the village and retook the brewery ruins and pushed along the road towards Westroosbeke- As I write the battle continues on the entire front. We are everywhere attacking with unabated resolution.

The Carmans are fighting better than usual. All the wounded state that there was a great amount of bavonet work.

THE DUEL CONTINUES. LONDON, October 12

A French communique says:—Last night was marked by great mutual artillery activity and a series of German attempts at various parts of tho front, including weet of Cery, west ot Maison do Champagne, and the regions of Souain and Auberive. all right of the Meuse.

SLIGHT GERM <VN SUCCESS. LONDON, Oct. 12

A French communique says:—Norih of the Aisne the Germans during the night launched several attacks on our positions in the Hurtobise-Oheverau.x sector. Det.pita the violence of Iris efforts the enemy only temporarily sained a footing in our advanced lino.

% to*.- , german RAIDS REPULSED. LONDON, October 13. A French communique says: Artillery is active in the sector of Laffaux Mill and in the region of Craonne. Tho enemy raids on Souain and AuborI i vo, mentioned this mornin,g were carried out with strong effectives, preceded by a thirty-six hours’ bombardment. Attacks were delivered by Stossruppen. Pioneer detachments, 140 strong. A lively engagements resulted ending deoidodly in our favour. Enemy losses wore particularly heavy. ATTACK ON THE BELGIAN. COAST. (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Octoer 14. Advices state that warships are shell ing the German positions on the Belgian coast. WET WEATHER. 740 PRISONERS. • (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) > LONDON, October 14. General Haig reports the weather was wet and stormy. There wnfc the usual reciprocal artillerying There were 741, including 41 officers taken, prisoner yesterday. -Despite the weather the aeroplanes w%nt out. Few enemy machines were encountered, and there was little air fighting. Nine enemy machines were downed and ten of ours are missing evidently lost in the storms. STOPPED BY RAIN . WELLINGTON. This Day. The High Commissioner reports from N * London 13th. at 2 a.m. A British official report states that notwithstanding heavy rain, wo made l progress On flhe .entire front from ; Ypres-Roulers Railway to the southern r edge of Houthulst Forest but heavy | rain prevented our reaching our final t objectives. . GETTING IT HOT. , * , LONDON, Oct. 13 r A wireless German, official message p, says:—The English yesterday peno- ,' trated between the station and the l J village of P'oeleappelle. We threw : hack the enemy on both sides of Pendsf bockk. The enemy directed a strong _ pressure at Passchendael, which we reL _ tain, the enemy only gaining a narrow j strip, which is fortified.

Artillery fire increased to drum-fire between the Lys-Commines-Ypres canal.