RECENT FIGHTING EAST OF YPRES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 5

RECENT FIGHTING EAST OF YPRES

SOME FURTHER STIRRING INCIDENTS RECORDED AUSTRALIANS FIGHT IN SHELL-HOLES SHOULDER DECT IN WATER. Australian and Near Zealand Cable AssertionLONDON, October 17. Mr Keith Murdoch, writing from tho Australian headquarters, supplw* further incidents of t-ho recent lighting oast of Ypros. Ho-says: A man ’sountepred to help a wounded captain back to the lines. Ho was jullod. A second, took his place, and was also killed, Then a third mac was killed; out ine fourth brought the officer safely in/' . . Describing one German counter-attack, Mr Murdoch says: came on in waves, maintaining inexorable disciplino. Ih-o Australians caned upon tho artillery, but the barrage descended behind tho enemy, owing to a misapprehension that we were holding a more distant line. Iherefor© theio was nothing loft for it but a desperate fight with rifles and machine-guns, which wore partly choked with *mucC The Bosches far outnumbered us. Our Lewis guns mowed down the first wave of the enemy hko Wpe corn, but a second wave and a simultaneous flank attack enveloped our positions itnd isolated a body of fifty, including the Lewis gunners. They determined to ngnt their way out. S'ucli fighting has seldom been* seen. One man shot thirteen (Sermons before being killed by a shot from behind- Only six survivors reached tho lines. “The Germans, now broken into scattered parties, after heavy losses, retired. Other attacks following were broken. it to be impossible to hold the position, which was also useless without a further advance, the Australians then withdrew. They had stood their ground in flooded eheliholes, sometimes with water up to their shoulders/ GERMAN LOSSES EXCEED BRITISH BY 75 PER CENT Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON", October 17Router’s Agency learns that careful estimates show that the German losses in the recent battles in Flanders exceed those of tho British by 73 percent. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS IN GERMAN TERRITORY Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Router. (Received October 19, 12.25 a.m.) ( LONDON, October 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: British aeroplanes carried out a very successful raid in German territory. They attacked a factory westward of Baarhruckon, forty miles beyond the German frontier, and dropped many bombs with good effect. Fires broke out in tho factory. All our machines returned'. Many bombs were dropped yesterday on billets and trenches. We brought down three German machines; one of ours is missing. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY NORTHWARD OF YPRES Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 19, 145 a.m.) LONDON, October 18. Sir Douglas Haig, in his latest report, states: —There is considerable activity in hostile artillery operations north-west of Yprea and on the coast sector. The activity of our artillery is continued. BOMBARDMENT ON THE AISNE AND MEUSE Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 19, 12.25 a-m.) , . LONDON, October 18. A French communique states: Lively artillery actions are proceeding, particularly in tho region of tho Aisae Plateau and on the right bank of the Meuse