WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 6 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

A BRITISH VICTORY. EVERYWHERE SUCCESSFUL. THE ENEMY FORESTALLED. LONDON, October 4‘. The British at 6 this morning, in a misty drizzle, assaulted the German positions on a wide front, centring about the Broodseinde and Drawensifel ridges. The Tommies at noon appeared to be carrying everything before them along the entire line of advance —over a mile deep in places. One group of prisoners exceeded 500. The battle impresses the correspondent as being one of the biggest of ,the war. During the night the Germans shelled Glencorse Wood Inverness Copse. The British in a charge behind a tor-nado-like barrage, reached their first objective with comparative ease. The British at Zonncbeke encountered three enemy divisions, who also had been ordered to attack at B in the morning on a two-mile front in order to recapture the ground lost on the 26th. The British barrage churned the poor devils into a bloody, loblolly. One company is reported to have lost practically the whole of its bayonet strength. Elsewhere the Germans came in with hands up a minute after tho British barrage began. The British quickly silenced cleverly hidden mach-ine-guns and broke a counter-attack from Broodseinde. Quickly overcoming difficulties, they crossed the Stroomboke stream, and. briskly advanced beyond.

COLONEL REPINGTON’S OPINION. LONDON, Oeotber 4. Colonel Repington writes: The British victories in the latest phases of the third battle of Ypres are exceedingly meritorious because they ;have been obtained under unsually arduous conditions. For weeks past the British alone have been attacking. The chief fighting on a total frontage of 1600 miles is confined to a frontage of twelve miles, and the 'enemy has been able to bring up men, guns and aircraft from all fronts to concentrate against us, wholly to his advantage. Despite these conditions, our armies liave defeated the Germans every day of the battle. The German people and the remainder of the world know that the success of the British arms has smitten the enemy hip and thigh. In comparison with German the actual facts reveal ludicrous discrepancies. The only course of action likely to imperil success is the withdrawal of bombing squadrons for the purpose of replying to London’s scare before the present operations in Flanders are concluded. SEVERAL VILLAGES CAPTURED LONDON, October 4. The United Press correspondent says: The British have advanced a mile deep m places, and several villages have been taken. The Germans are surrendering in batches, and the prisoners already exceed a thousand. ENEMY LOSES KEY OF DEFENCE LONDON, October 5. Mr Philip Gibbs writes; Fortune was 'on our side. The German High Command, having seen the failure of the “pill-box” system of defence planned a big__ attack this morning, calculated to stun us and take the wind out of our next attack, but the German attack Avas an hour late. We had to advance through the German barrage, which was laid down preparatory to their attack. Our attackers reached the first and second lines, and annihilated the . troops wihch were waiting to attack. They inflicted a crushing defeat on the Germans’ picked troops. It may well be the turning point of the war.

Mr Gibbs describes this morning’s attack as the Battle of Broodsiende. The assault started from ground captured on the 26th September, northward and southward of Polygon Wood We advanced upon Passchendaele ridge and apparently reached Gravenstafel and Abraham heights, which crown the western spur of the ridge, and Broodseinde which is the hio-h point and keystone of the enemy’s defence line beyond Zonnebeke. We are fighting southward of this with good success between Comer.on House and Becelaere across the Reutelbek and it s swampy ground, down beyond Polderhoek to the south end of the Menin Road. Our wounded speak of a smashing blow dealt to the Germans, and complete victory. FRENCH AIR REPRISALS. LONDON, October 4. French communique.—Our artillery and that of the enemy were active at night on the Meuse. As reprisal for the bombardment of Bar le Ducc our aircraft bombed Frankfurt and Rastatt.

THE GERMAN STORY. ADMIT REVERSE!. LONDON, October' 5. A wireless German official message states: To-day’s great English attack penetrated only a kilometre deep between Poelcapclle and Gheluvelt. Bitter fighting continues eastward of Zonnebeke and westward of Becelare. Wireless German official —A powerful artillery’ duel all night from Houthoult Wood to Lys increased in the morning to drumfire. Strong attacks on the Ypres bend developed. 1 FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, October 5. A French communique v states; There has been hand grenade and artillery action on the plateaux south of the Ailles. An enemy coup-dc-main was repulsed west of Pompelle. There is a violent artillery struggle on the right bank of the Meuse. An attack on our trenches north cf Hill 342 was repulsed. Our artillery caught the enemy assemblages in this region.

AUSTRALIANS' GREAT WORK

LONDON, October 5

Australians participated in the attack. Correspondents pay a tribute to the steadiness and determination of their advance. They gained all the desired ground, equalling their achievements on the 20th and 26th September. THE OFFICIAL STORY. TERRIFIC GERMAN LOSSES. HUNS ATTACK JUST TOO LATE. ANZAC TROOPS ENGAGED. ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED AND RETAINED. Received 10.35. LONDON, October 5. Sir Douglas Haig, in his official report, states: English, Australian, and New Zealand divisions delivered tie assault. Among the English troops were battalions from twenty-eight counties, also a few batta i.

Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Rapid •progress was made at all points from the start. Only a short advance was intended south of Menin Road, where the objectives were reached at an early hour. The English battalions north of the road carried after sharp fighting, the hamlets of Polderhoek and Polderhoek chateau, and expelled the enemy from numerous farms and small woods south and east of Polygon Wood. The Australians captured Molenwabelsthock and cleared houses at Zonnebeke and on Broodsiende Road. The New Zealanders took Gravenstafel. The English on their left continued the line of our advance, and reached the outskirts of Poelcapelle. The first objectives wore gained on the whole front of attack shortly after the assault opened. Our advances against the final objectives were carried out in accordance with our plan and were equally successful. The English took the villages of Rentel and Noordemhoek, and secured the high ground overlooking Becelaere. The Australians captured Broodsiende, and established themselves well over the crest of the ridge, five miles east of Ypres, giving observation on the east to the English on the left..

Our attack carried the bulk of Poeland secured the line of their objectives east of Poelcapelle church. The whole objectives were captured before mid-day. Prisoners’ statements and identifications of German units and numbers of German dead show our attack anticipated by a few minutes the attack by five German divisions against our front from Polygon Wood to Zonnebeke. The barrage descended on the enemy’s assembling troops, and their attacks did not materialise. Our infantry overwhelmed those escaping the artillery fire. Owing to the enemy’s losses in this area few counterattacks have yet developed. Two attempts early in the afternoon,.east of Gravenstafel were broken by our fire. Another, north-east of Langemarck. led to severe fighting, but failed to drive u s from the positions gained. Later in the afternoon three counterattacks south-east of Polygon Wood were unsuccessful. The enemy’s losses throughout the whole lighting were exceedingly heavy, largely owing t'c the unusual number of German troops on the battle-front at the outset of our attack. Our casualties were light. We captured a few guns and much material. Low clouds and a highwest wind on Wednesday made aerial work almost impossible. Four machines attempted to bomb enemy aor dromes. One bombed its objective and two bombed other targets.. Fov hostile aircraft were seen.

TERRIBLE GERMAN SLAUGHTER. AN AWFUL, ; SBEQTACLE. Received. 11.30. LONDON, October 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: Although the Germans’ barrage fell upon our men before they leapt to the assault, it happened terribly for the enemy that our men were not stopped, but went through the zone of German shells without disorder, and swept over the German assault troops, annihilating them and crushing their plans of attack. Those German troops did not attack, their defence even was broken. As our lines of fire crept forward they reached and broke the second, and the third waves of men, who were intended for attack, and caught those who were in support and in reserve positions. We can only guess what the slaughter has been It was slaughter in which five German divisions were involved, as the battle Ayas being prepared for on a big scale. As soon as the last was fought and won the Tommies, Chinese and coloured men were engaged in the feverish work of piling up mountains of ammunition to feed the guns. Thousands of shells, now from English factories, were un-, loaded in the waste ground of old battlefield near Yprcs, ready for the greedy guns. The pioneers continued repairing roads and laying tracks for railways with astounding unconcern. The German barrage was the beginning of his new wnich failed because of Die great courage of jjr and because the German infantry attacked an hour too late If the attack had occurred two hours earlier it might have led to our undoing and might have prevented anything like a real victory. Fortune was on our side, and which turned round to crush the enemy’s main force. The German attack was composed of the Fourth Guards Division, and two others ready to assault the centre of our battle-front at Polygon Wood and down from Broodseinde cross roads, but we fought the German assault divisions at Broodseinde cross roads, prisonering many oefore they had time to advance. Viewed from the westward the whole scene from Passchendaele ridge and Hill 40, westward to Zonnebeke and in line from the crest to Polygon Wood tvas veiled in smoke and mists, through which the ridg'e : loomed darkly, but one clearly saw white and yellow cloudbursts of our shell-fire and flame of shell bursts. Great as were the bombardments at Somme, Vimy, Arras, and Messines in frightfulness they were not comparable to this, th° most terrible witnessed in the whoh course of the war. The entire Passchendaele crest was like a series of volcanoes belching forth pillars of earth and fire.

WITH NEW ZEALANDERS. ANXIOUS TO GET INTO IT. Received 11.5 . LONDON, October 5. Mr. Gilmour writes that he saw the New Zealanders going up to the front greatly relieved they had not been overlooked, Their greatest anxiety had been lest the show would be over before they were given a chance. They were in great form and had been resting since the Messines. They were never keener to meet the enemy.. The New Zealanders closely co-operated with the ’Australians in the same difficulties of terrain as previous assaults. The Anzaes were chosen for the push slightly north of the front they occupied at the commencement of the offensive. They had to advance across slightly rising ground to secure the ridge north of Polygon Wood, which was the highest point necessary to obtain complete command of the whole Passchaindeale ridge, otherwise the British line would be subjected to a constant menace. General Haig, by this third rapid assault on the same wide front has wrenched from the enemy the whole of the high ground It has been proved that all has been done that the enemy can do to stem our advance behind this terrible artillery barrage The Germans only hope lies in counter-attacks; therein they will inevitably suffer heavily under our bomb-' j ardment, the moment troops begin 1 massing for the preparatory advance. The Anzaes will be delighted at thinking themselves in a position to look down on the ground where a storm of shells is bursting over every vestige of German defence. ANZACS FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS. THE MOST IMPORTANT VICTORY OF THE WAR. Received 111.10. LONDON, October 5. A United Press message says that to-day the line'is substantially intact. Bodies of Rupprecht’s storm troops are lying in ghastly postures before the British positions. Prisoners will probably be more numerous than was at first reported. The weather is ini proving at night, and there is a brilliant sunrise this morning.. , Hinder burg’s defences have been definitely proved vulnerable. The British ba”-

rage levelled a wide defensive zone } forcing the Germans to give up the complete trench system, Avhich had become a death trap. Hindenburg’s “pill-boxes” and concreted shell cratters over a wide zone did not meet the German expectations raised in the early summer battles. Yesterday’s seven counter-attacks all faded before reaching their objectives except at minor points, leaving the victory as a whole untarnished. There was little activity at night, and every indication points to the complete disorganisation of the enemy. The Anzao di\ r ision fought like tigers and deserve special praise. The battle is probably the most important A'ictory of the war. Sir Douglas Haig reports the enemy heavily shelled our new positions eastward of Ypres, which our troops are engaged in organising. We droA r e off raiders northAvard of Gouzeaucourt with loss, and repulsed three raids in the neighbourhood of Lens. VALUABLE POSITIONS CAPTURED OVER 3000 PRISONERS TAKEN Received 9.5. I LONDON, October 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports; Our attack OA’.er an eight miles ’ front southward of the ToAver Hamlets to the YpresStaden railway, northward of Langemarck was completely successful. All our objectives were gained and positions of great importance Avon. “Over 3000 prisoners have already been counted. We arc now in posession of the main ridge to a point one thousand yards north of Broodesinde. The weather, after promising to be favourable, became less settled. A. strong westerly wind, wdth the force of a gale, and rainstorms, faged throughout the battle and added to the difficulties of our advance and our airmen’s work. Nevertheless the airmen did Amluable work, and afforded useful information as to the positions of our troops and the assembly of the enemy for counter-attacks. —/-- BRITISH OPERATIONS FOR NINE MONTHS. SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. Received 8.40. LNDON, October 5. A high military states that from the end of July to end of September the troops participating in the recent offensive were 70 per cent. English, 16 per cent. Colonial, 6 per cent.. Scottish, and S per cent. Irish The casualties percentages were English 76, Colonial 8, iScottish 10, Irish G. We captured during the past nine months on the West Front 51,4435 Germans and 342 field and heaA-y guns. We lost during the same period 15,065, prisoners and no guns, while in all theatres of the Avar in nine months we captured 72,513 prisoners and 470 guns and lost 15,800 prisoners and no guns. During the air raids on London in Sepfemlber 51 Av’ere killed and 247 wounded. The Germans dropped 44 tons of bombs on London. During the same period avg dropped 215 tons of bombs behind the German lines. The enemy had copied our methods. We taught them how r to drop bombs from aeroplanes and they have not yet succeeded as much as avc have done. Now that the hot Avcather has, passed wo should begin to hear something, from Mesopotamia. The capture of Ramadie Avas most important. Of the enemy had got it it wmuld have left our flank against Bagdad open. In East Africa Germany was uoav corallod within an area of 200 miles by 50.