WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 10 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

, THE FLANDERS BATTLE. MORE GROUND GAINED. BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY. LONDON. August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been heavy rain. The French gained ground northwest of Bixschoote. Thcre was great activity by the enenemy’s artillery eastward of Yprcs. Despite the weather, our aeroplanes bombed an ammunition depot, rail tracks, sidings and trains forty miles behind the German lines, doing much damage. THE GERMAN VERSION. CORRESPONDENT’S GRAPHIC PEN PICTURE.

“A TREMENDOUS AND BRUTAL BLOW.’ ; LONDON, August S. The German press describes the Flanders battle as a tremendous and most brutal British blow, wherein science assisted with many devices and weapons. George Querl, the correspondent of the "Berliner Tageblatt” while declaring that the Germans can breathe again warns the nation that it was merely the first stage of the battle. Though the first savage blow was parried, and Germany is able to rejoice, it is also her duty to keep the British artillery firing. The last push imposed uncanny tension on the German infantry. The enemy used land dreadnoughts and winged infantry and advanced another stage, wearing down the German trench fighters. The infantry followed and broke over the German ranks like a malicious storm, making pathways, even broad gaps, whereupon the battle reached the utost of sheer human achievement. The German will to battle awoke in embittered beings, at whose door death was seen knocking day by day and night by night. In the man-to-man fighting of millions, the guns lost their loud voices and the battle became a matter of strength, and nerve. The infantry, realising that they were defending their country ’& most powerful weapon—the U boats —resolved to block the way at the sacrifice of life. By evening the enemy had won some success, captured trenches, guns and prisoners, and mastered Bixschoote, but had not achieved his aim, and lay bleeding against the wall over which he hoped to climb.

FRENCH FURTHER ADVANCE Received 9.45 LONDON, August 9. Sir Douglas Hgig reports that the French advanced northward of Bixschoote. Our fire drove off the enemy northward of Roeux. RENEWED WESTERN ACTIVITY, AERIAL AND ARTIL'LERY FIGHTING GERMANS ARE DESPERATELY ANXIOUS

Received 8.40

LONDON, August 9

The United Press correspondent at headquarters reports that a sunshiny day stimulated aerial aand artillery activity. Both sides are now swarming under thunderous, cloudy skies. The Germans are desperately endeavouring to ascertain changes made in the British front since the unspeakable weather began. During numerous local fights the enemy heavily shelled our lines northwestward of Loos and in the region of Ypres, the Comines Canal, and in the Lombaetzyde sector.

The Canadians raided northwest fo Lens, and the British gassed the Germans along the sand dunes.

HUNS , PUNISHING CIVILIANS SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS Received 9.45 LONDON, August 9. The civilian population is compelled to evacuate Armentieres, as the enemy has for some days thrown therein a multitude of small shells, which contained a colourless liqulc that evaporates slowly, producing a heavy gas which filters through pasj sages and descends to cellars. The effects produced are similar to those of the lachrymatory shells. Women are the chief sufferers. The use of tobacco is found to be an antidote. Marcel Hutin states that British storming troops made successful raids in the Nieuport-Lombartzyde region, securing useful information and some prisoners.