BELGIN ADYANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1918, Page 2

BELGIN ADYANCE

BELGIAN REPORT

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, September 30

The Belgian communique states the Belgians unrelentingly continued to attack, despite the enemy resistance, and gained a footing on Flanders ridge. Ihe enemy second line was carried along Dixomide, Zarcn, Stadenberg, Passchendaele, Moorsled, and past west of Rooscbeko. The enemy brought up reserves and violently counter attacked north of Houthulst. The attack was completely broken, enabling the Belgians to occupy the forest and heights. Belgian advanced guards have reached within 3 kilos of Roulers-Menin road at one point. Prisoners counted since yesterday exceed 5,500 and guiig 100, including several of the heaviest calibre and a vast quantity of other material.

CAPTURE OF DIXMUDE

LONDON, September 30

A Belgian communique stale: During Sunday the Belgian Army, and the British Army under General Plainer have continued their success, beating the enemy, after a severe light, <m the uld Great Flanders 'Ridge. We also bold the Messinos Wytchaete positions. The Belgian army have captured Dixmude, Zarren, Teres, Stadenburg, West Roosebeke and Moorsledc. The Belgians also repulsed strong counter attacks between Station and Tercsh. At the end of Sunday the Belgians were attacking the Roulers-Menin road at St Pierre and also at Colliomlenpet, four kilometres west of Roulers. General Plumer’s army, after capturing the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, encounter a very strong resistance. The enemy vainly attempted to- defend the approaches to the Lys river. They suffered very heavy losses, especially at Ploerschaede Wood. • At the end of Sunday, General Humors Army lias passed the eastern outskirts of Ploegstoert Wood, and had captured St Pemprielen, Terhahd, and Dadizulle. During Saturday and Sunday, the Belgian Army and General Plumer s Army had taken over 9000 prisoners and over 200 guns, including some 210 and 250 millimetre pieces. They also had considerable quantities of material. General Plumer’s army’s share was 65 officers and 3600 men, also 90 field guns. The, British air service contributed very powerfully to the success of the operations, bombing incessantly the enemy’s columns, trains and lines of communications:

THE BELGIAN ADVANCE. LONDON, Sept. 30. The Auglo-Belgian advance on the Flanders front is twenty-five miles in. width. It lias now reached a general depth of five miles, though it is eight miles deep at the sharpest point. In two days tht Allies there have gained twice the ground taken in the Messines and Passcheiidaelc offensives from June to November. This suggests there is something of insufficiency of fighting power in the German army. The advance is a serious thrust at the whole system,, of communications affecting the Belgian coast. The railway between Roulers and Alenin is the main connection between Lille and tho Ostcnd front. This line is now useless as a railway. Several main roads also meet at Roulers. and swampy ground makes the building of fresh military roads impossible.

KING ALBERT COMMANDS. THE HAGUE, September 30. King Albert commands tlie AngloBelgians. He also controls tlie Second British Army, being in charge of 23 miles of the front.

BELGIANS IN DIXMUDE. LONDON, September 30. Reuter’s correspondent at the British Headquarters reporting ton Monday morning says: The Belgians and our Second Army are splendidly progressing in Flanders, where the situation lias become fraught with dramatic possibilities.

The Germans have received some reinforcements in the shape of two tired divisions withdrawn from the Somme fighting last Wednesday. Consequently the enemy resistance has stiffened somewhat, but nowhere sufficiently formidable to arrest the general advance. The Belgians have got into Dixmude. They did so by smart flanking movement. They went swiftly through the town, despite street- fighting. A largo party of the enemy held out-obstinate-ly in the Hotel de villo, but eventually they were all killed or captured.

DETAILS OF FIGHTING. LONDON, September 30. The United press correspondent states: Dixmude as taken by a flanking movement. Four fresh divisions reiforced the Germans opposite tho Belgians, including the Hundredth Regiment, which sacked Dinant. The Belgians have captured a total of 300 guns. -. r m^ Tlie British have taken ninety seven J guns. The British guns were brought' up so fast on the Flanders front that they faced the German b.attories on a ridge of only GOO yards away. The batteries fired at each other with open sights. The Germans finally were wiped out. One British Division advanced 1.200 yards in one day. The British are now well eastward of Moorslcde.

FURTHER GAINS. LONDON, October 1. Tue Belgians have captured Wercheni and Staden and the British have captured Glieluvelt and Warneton.