IS IT THE LAST BATTLE ?

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 October 1917, Page 3

IS IT THE LAST BATTLE ?

Terrific Struggle in Flanders.

ENEMY DOWN AND UNDER,

(Received Oct. 4, 8.40 a.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 3. Mr Phillip Gibbs states : "The artillery battle in Flanders is endless, intense, and widespread upon both sides. The enemy has all guns at work. Is this the last phase of the war ? Does the enemy know he must win or lose ?

Our men have that hope in their hearts and fight more grimly with higher spirit because of it. Our success in the last two battles eastward of Ypres deepened this hope. I have heard Tommies telling Australians that they only need to make a grimace at a Hun to make him ' hands up.'

Our battalions are having dinners in Flemish farmhouses to celebrate the victory which has put the enemy down and under, and very near hopelessness."

German Spies in Russia. Wholesale Arrests. Petrograd, Oct 3. Wholesale arrests of German agents continue. Many were disguised as commercial travellers. Numerous explosions and other outrages in munition works have been traced to them. The Provisional Government has ordered hundreds of additional arrests.

GREAT AIR OFFENSIVE. Vengeance on Baby-Killers. London, Oct. 3The 'Daily Chronicle' learns authoritatively that Mr Lloyd George will shortly make an announcement regarding an air offensive. The Cabinet has practically decided to establish an air ministry. The 'Chronicle' adds: "We will shortly be in a position to conduct extensive air reprisals on German towns, but at present the military requirements demand almost all the available aeroplanes on the west front. The public must not become panic-stricken, but must exercise patience. We will shortly see British supremacy of the air, with substantial results."

Stricken Belgium. GERMANY'S STARVED SLAVES. Received Oct. 4, at 8,35 p m. NEW YORK, October 3. The Belgian Government lias given the New York Times an official report on the sufferings of the Belgians deported to Germany. "Itis no exaggeration to say that they are being starved, yet, despite their utter weakness they are driven like slaves to the heaviest work. The guards use clubs on the exhausted. One who complained was beaten to death with a rifle butt. The treatment rendered many hopeless imbeciles. Hungry men were taunted and maddened by the sight of food which they were n:>t allowed to eat."