TROOPS CARRY ALL BEFORETHEM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9791, 15 October 1917, Page 5

TROOPS CARRY ALL BEFORETHEM

By Teiej^raph—Press Association—Cox>yrig;ht. Australian and Now Zealand Oable Association and Reuter. LONDON. October 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We airtacked at 5.25 this morning on a sis miles front north-eastward of Ypros, paid are progressing satisfactorily. (Received) October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Notwithstanding last night’s heavy rain, the troops engaged ui this mornings attack progressed the enure iront frorm the ipres-xtouJera railway to our junction wiin the h’rencn on the southern edge of Ho'uthou Ist fi’orest. Throughout this front we captured many defended localities, fortified farms and woods and concreted strong points, \vrnn a number of prisoners. . . - ~ i‘r.e fighting was especially severe on the slope of the main ridge itseu southward of Passohendaele. , . . . Heavy rain recommenced in the morning and continued with increasing violence all day, impeding our progress. Consequently it was decided to make no further effort to rcaeu our final obj-setives. Approximately Svw hundred prisoners hav<» boon taken. (Received 1 OctobUr 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. It is reported by Sir Douglas Haig, to-day Heavy ram iefl ail night and is Btill continuing. No hostile counterattacks have been made. RETUR-N TO RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY OPERATIONS. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received Octoibei 14, 11 p.m.) LONDON, October 14. In his latest report Sir Douglas Haig states;— The weather is wot and stormy. I hero is tho usual reciprocal artillery firing. A total of 741, including 41 officers, were taken prisoner yesterday. Despite the weather our aeroplanes went out. Few enemy machines were encountered, and there was little air fighting. Nine enemy machines were brought down. Ten of ours are missing, evidently lost in the storms., AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED AN HONOURED PLACE ASSIGNED THEM IN THE ATTACK. United Service Telegram. {Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Mr Keith Murdoch, the Australian war correspondent, states that the Australians and New Zealanders have an honoured place in tho latest attack. FIGHTING FOR SLOPES OF PASSOHENDAELE RIDGF DESPERATE RESISTANCE MADE BY THE ENEMY. SUPERHUMAN EFFORTS TO RESIST BRITISH ADVANCE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 14, 3.5 p.m.) 1 LONDON, October 13. Mr Percival Phillips writes: — The filth battle for the slopes of Passohendaelo Ridge resulted in fighting as determined! as any in the war. The enemy made a superhuman effort, to prevent out taking more ground and met our attack on a six milo front with an abundance of picked infantry, who wore supported by tho heaviest bombardment that British troops have yet confronted in Flanders. Though some of our men seem to have reached the edge of Passcheuedaele village, me forward' slopes still bristle with unsiionced strong posts. Tho houses of Passohendaele shelter many other machine-guns. The attack commenced at 5.23 o’clock in tho morning. The German batteries immediately redoubled their fire and laid a curtain of shells across our front, while other groups of Germans guns sought to break up the infantry that were storming tho outer redoubts. There was sharp fighting in Augustus Wood, which was defended by young and well-trained Jaeger troops, who stuck to their posts. W© also had a hard time trying to get forward 1 along the flooded banks of the Lekkerbotorboke, which flows alongside the road from Poelcapelle to Wcstroosbeke. It stretched across open country commanded by a few redoubts and tho machine-gun barrage from Passohendaele. Wo went easily through the _ village and retook the brewery ruins, then pushed along the road towards Westroosbcke. 'As I write the battle continues on the entire front. We are everywhere attacking with unabated resolution- The Gormans are fighting better than usual. All the wounded men state that there has been a great amount of bayonet work. BRITISH TAKE ALL FIRST OBJECTIVES MARSHAL HAIG GIVES WARM PRAISE TO HIS MEN. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, October 12. The United Press Agency correspondent at the front reports:— The British have taken all their first objectives and are still sweeping on, carrying all before them. Considerable batches of prisoners are coming in. The battle-front extends for six miles south from the Houthoulst Wood, and everything is going well. At noon tho troops were within a very short distance of Passohendaelo. It is too early to estimate tho number of prisoners- Fighting continues vigorously. . , , . ■ Tho aeroplanes are swooping up and down. Swarms of machines, at a low altitude, freely fired their machine-guns at the enemy infantry. The French took no part in tho attack. _ Tho ram ceased at dawn. Heavylow clouds remained, but tho visibility is fair. The-enemy artillery was active at night in the central and southern portions of the battlefront, especially at tho Broodseindq Ridge and Anzac R-idgo and on the Roulcrs railway, putting over considerable numbers of gas shells between four o’clock and half-past. When tho British barrage began, the enemy machine-guns answered with a terrific rattle, but the artillery replied tardily and erratically. The rain has reduced the battle-ground to a perfect morass, but the British and Anzac troops navigated tho seas and mountains of mud like men performing a miracle. > ' The correspondent says ho talked to Sir Douglas Haig yesterday. Ho was full of admiratios for tho men. “The entire history of Flanders,” said Sir Douglas Haig, “shows that mud is always tho soldiers’ worst enemy. This is true to a greater extent now than ever before, because tho natural drainage has been stopped 1 . Nevertheless the British troops from all parts of tho Empire, and also the French, are undaunted before the mud and the Gormans.” The Field-Marshal concluded: “They are all simply splendid.” DEFENSIVE POSITIONS LOST ON WIDE FRONT UNPROTECTED FLESH AND BLOOD MUST FACE FUTURE ONSLAUGHTS. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, October 12. liter’s correspondent a t Headquarters states:— “We have driven the Germans out of practically tho whole depth of thoii offensive 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 Ypres with flesh and blood, instead of dug-outs, deep trenches, and concrete redoubts. “Our barrage, more terrific than heretofore, crawled ahead of our lads, searching every yard it traversed. The enemy artillery response was somewnat ragged. . . “From many reports the Germans are short of gun ammunition. Certainly tho Army Orders invariably admonish commanders to husband this as much as possible. Recently the enemy has been firing at us some of our own shells captured from the Russians. The fact that they are bringing these so far in view of the great transport difficulties is significant.”

DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH WAR MACHINE “WHAT GERMANS ENDURED IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION.’’ Reuter's Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, October 12. Horr Wegener, a correspondent of the I ‘Cologne Gazette,” in a description of the tremendous development of the British war machine, says tha-t Belgium is an enormous war camp. Networks of railways spring up and. bridge after bridge has been built over the Yser Canal. Iho country is covered with munition dumps, aerodromes, and encampments. Tne masses of airmen are unexampled. The new titles of intermittent druiunro are designed to destrov the nerves. What the German soldiers endured is beyond description. WARSHIPS OPERATING OFF BELGIAN COAST Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 14, 11 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 14. Advices have been, received that warships aro shelling German positions on the Belgian coast. NAVAL AIRCRAFT BOMB ENEMY AERODROMES Australian anti New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. iAXNDON, October 12. Tho Admiralty reports;—Despite the weather, naval aircraft dropped many bombs on the Sparappelhoek aerodrome yesterday. All rtournca safely. ' GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS PENETRATION OF LINES BY BRITISH ADMITTED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, October 12. A wireless German official report states: —Between the river Lys and the Ypres-Menin road, firing increased suddenly to drumfire this morning, ana new enemy attacks then commenced on wide sootors. (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 12. A wireless Geerman official message states —The battle is still in full swing on the Langemarck-Zonne.beke front. Fighting continues iti some places where tho English penetrated our lines northward of Poelcap'ollo and south-westward of Passchendaele. , „ , _ , , LONDON. October 13. It is stated in a later wireless German official report:—The English yesterday penetrated between* the station and village of poelcapello. We threw back the enemy on both sides of the Pudsbeck. Tho enemy directed strong pressure at Passchendaele, which we retain, the enemy gaining only a narrow strip of tho forefield. Tho artillery increased its drumfire between tho Lys and the Oomines-Yprcs Canal. FIGHTING ON THE FRENCH FRONT FAILURE OF ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO PIERCE LINE Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON,- October 12. A French communique states;—Tho night was marked' by great mutual artillery activity, and a series of German attempts at various parts of the front, including sectors west of Corny, west of the Moison do Champagne, and tho regions of Souam and Auberive. All these attempts failed. The artillery duel continues in the region of Bczonvaux, on tho right bank of ttho Mouse. MANY ATTACKS MADE WITHOUT LASTING RESULT. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 12. It is stated in a French communique:—North of the Aisno the Germans during the night launched several attacks on our positions in the HurtebiseChevraux sector. Despite the violence of his effort, the enemy only temporarily gained a footing in our adv anced line. LIVELY ENGAGEMENTS END IN FAVOUR OF FRENCH. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. A later French communique states:—The artillery is active in. the sector of the Laffaus Mill and in the region of Craonno. Enemy raids at Souain and Auberive, mentioned yesterday morning, were carried out with strong effectives and were preceded by thirty-six hours bombardmennt. Tho attacks were delivered bv stosstruppon and pioneer detachments 140 strong. Lively engagements resulted, ending decidedly in our. favour. The enemy losses were paifioularly heavy.

PRICE OF GOAL INCREASED By Telegraph—Pres* Association —Copyright Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Router. (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. It is announced by the Press Bureau that the Board of Trade has increased the price of coal at the pit’s mouth by 2s 6d per ton to meet the cost of tbe war wage recently granted to the miners. COMMANDEERED BOATS ■GERMAN STEAMERS TO WORK FOR ALLIES. By Taleeraph—Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) RIO DE JANEIRO. October 12. The utilisation of German steamers recently announced was settled by joint agreement between tho Allies. Brazil will employ forty-two steamers, aggregating a quarter of a million tons —eighteen between tho United States and Europe and the remainder between Brazil and Europe or otherwise. All will fly the Brazilian flag. FIRES IN SWEDEN FOREIGN SPIES VERY ACTIVE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright .Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CHRISTIANIA, October 12. It is officially stated that the police regard foreign spies as responsible for an outbreak of fires which is aimed at tho destruction of goods depots, factories, and timber mills producing goods for export. A new law provides for the expulsion of twenty thousand foreigners who have arrived since tho war began. FOOD CONTROL IN BRITAN By Telegraph—frees Association —Copyriehi Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. (Received October 15, 11 p.m.) LONDON, October 14. The Press Bureau announces that the Food Controller, Lord Rhondda, will take over all currants and sultanas now afloat for Great Britain at a price hereafter to be determined.

MONASTIC AREA ARTILLERY VERY ACTIVE. Hy Teiefirrapb—Press Asaoclation~Copyri*lU Australian and N.Z Cable Association. LONDON, October 12. A German official report states that tho artillery is intensely active in the Monastir area and in the bend of the Cerna river (in Southern Serbia). EIGHT ON HIGH SEAS SAILING SHIP AND SUBMARINE. .-.y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright -.astralian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 12. The French sailing ship Blanche (3104 tons) fought a submarine for two hours and a half, but was finally torpedoed. Tho explosion killed the captain and many of the crew. A patrol boat picked up fifteen survivors. MENAGE TO SHIPPING ENEMY MINE OFF COAST OF VICTORIA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MELBOURNE, October 13. Tho Jlon. J. Cook officially announced that minesweepers from Sydney exploded a submarine mine, of enemy origin, off Gabo Island on Wednesday. Gabo Island is off the coast of the eastern extremity of Victoria, and is closely passed by vessels travelling between Sydney and Melbourne. THE ALLIED FLEETS EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION OF AMERICANS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, October 12. Admiral Mayo, Oommander-in-Cliief of the United States Atlantic Fleet, has returned from an inspection of the American Fleet in European waters. He says there is splendid fraternisation and the most effective co-opera-tion between the Allied fleets.