WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 8 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH PUSH. GROUND COVERED WITH DEAD. LONDON, Oct. 6. Mr. Percival Phillips writes: Although the slopes of Passchendaelc Ridge are covered with German dead, the enemy still strike. They apparently consider no sacrifice too great if they can recover the ground and restore confidence in the troops Our success was so complete, almost uneventful. Despite the difficulties of communications they never lost touch with any outposts Our guns have already taken their assigned positions apd are searching the enemy’s country. It is a wonderful example of the perfect organisation of our great force. A thousand German dead were counted in one position on the Australian front. Seven hundred more Averc strewn in craters further south of the position. Rows of bodies show the Germans were running wildly towards their own rear when struck down. Our men found many craters uninhabitable because they were \choked with dead and wounded. THE NEW ZEALAND GUNS LONDON, Oct. 6. Mr. Murdock says the New Zealanders fought magnificently. The manner in which they brought their guns up is described as worthy of a military tournament. / AUSTRALIANS' RAPID WORK. LONDON, October 6. Mr. Beach Thomas writes: The Australians advanced over the ridge so rapidly that they found the Germans lurking behind our first and second objectives. They captured seven officers hidden in a hole, including three battalion commanders. Our airmen mastered the enemy all day. After our objectives had been won, German storm troops furiously attacked the wings. Each onslaught was heavier and more grievous. Eleven times they were repulsed, till eventually a fresh force, attacking regardless of cost, recovered possession of a little ridge, but it was subsequently retaken. Two tanks captured two forts, which had been holding up the advance.

NEW ZEALANDERS’ FINE FIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 6. Mr. Philip Gibbs states: It was a great day for the 'Australians and New Zfealandcrs—their greatest and most glorious day. They wont grimly and cheerfully to their goal over every obstacle. The New Zealanders and Australians fighting up Abraham Heights, prisonered over 2000. They describe the number of German dead as unprecedented Other Australians, fighting for the Broodseindc crossroads, counted 960 dead Germans. I saw Australians going up, lithe, loose-limbed, hatchetfaced. Then the New Zealanders came along, a type midway between the English and Australians. They were less lean and wiry and had more colour. They were of fuller build, as fine a set of boys as one could see in the whole world. They went up to the front gladly, and talked some of them on the battlefield. They were cheerv and full of confidence. They wanted to go as far as the Australians, and *o as well as they. Among the Australians, also, a friendly rivalry, existed between the new- and old hands, the new men wanting to show the old men what mettle they were made of, and the fresh battalions were keen to earn similar honours to those already won by the others. It was certain that the I Australians would roach Broodseindc crossroads if human courage could get there. Without check, regardless of the enemy’s fire, some went even too fast behind ‘their own barrage| In similar manner the New Zealanders reached A very hard time was spent last night in mud and cold under intermittent heavy fire from the enemy, but they stuck it out. The New Zealanders never did better than yesterday, With another division they took 2000 prisoners. Going beyond their objectives and meeting a double force of the enemy preparing to coun-ter-attack, they played havoc with them. They have already dug good defences, earning the highest praise for their rapid movement. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, Oct 6. Wireless German official.—The hottest points in yesterday’s fighting were at Poclcapelle and isolated farms at Passchenda cross-roads, east ward of Becelaere village, and at Cheluvelt. The enemy temporarily advanced over the line_ but were unable to hold the ground owing to our counter-attacks. The English gains were restricted to a strip of from one kilometre to one and a-half kilometres in depth between Poelcapelle and Becelaere. We retained and Gheluvelt. We repulsed almost everywhere twelve French attacks in three days at Hill 344,

GREAT REVIEW BY GENERAL SMUTS. LONDON, Oct 6. General Smuts, speaking at a luncheon tendered to him by the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, reviewed the war situation. He said the Germans were already beaten and their rulers knew it. The Germans had challenged the Avorld on military ground and had calculated on certain success. They made the greatest mistake in history. This war was far more than a military war. Its decision would depend upon political, economic and .other non-military factors. Our military predominance on the Ydestern front, was no longer in question. Referring to General Smuts said he was not sure that from the point of vieAv of far-sighted policy, Germany’s attack on Russia was not the most fatal of the German blunders. She was striking a nation who, like herself, was an autocracy, but who had received a new consciousness from the terrible sufferings arising from the war. Russia, like a woman, was labouring in childbirth, and Germany had chosen this moment to strike her down. The spirit of history would never forgive her. which was being painfully born in Russia would arise and vindicate her in coming generations and become the most implacable enemy of the future Germany. The Central Powers are everywhere beaten. They are retiring everywhere but in Russia. Add to this the fact that the Central Powers \ are exhausted, demoralised internally and faced with the spectre of bankruptcy, and we see the end is no longer uncertain. The Germans’ hopes of the submarine have proved illusory. It has now ceased to be a decisive factor; take' that from me as a bedrock fact.” General Smuts predicted that Germany’s aerial warfare-would not only fail, but would prove a terrible boomerang to the enemy. We are dealing with an enemy whose culture had carried him beyond the rudiments of the Mosaic law. He can only apply the maxim "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” consequently we are most reluctantly compelled to retaliate. There is no longer any choice in the matter. We shall endeavour to avoid German abominations, sparing as fax as is humanly possible the innocent and defenceless in our air but it is inevitable they must suffer to some extent. I ■ v SIX BATTALIONS KILLED OR CAPTURED. LONDON, Oct 6. Mr Gibbs says; Men from the new front tell grim tales indicating that Germans suffered the most slashingdefeat we have yep inflicted. In one section, near Poelcapelle, six German battalion s in the front line were killed or taken prisoner. The New Zealanders and English adnfit that Frits often showed pluck while he had a dog’s chance, but many ran when the attackers got close. Confusion prevailed behind the German lines, probably as the result of our attack meeting theirs. Counter-attacks were also badly planned and caused further disaster. The- Germans advanced in straggling fashion. Many wandered in aimless groups until shot down.

AIRMEN BUS'i . LONDON, Oct 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artillery was active all day on the whole battle front. In the evening the enemy shelled our now positions on the ridge from Broodsiende southwards, but did not counter-attack. Our aeroplane s bombed various railway stations and aerodromes. Seven enemy machines were brought down. Five of ours are missing. PRISONERS TOTAL 4446. LONDON, Oct 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Enemy artillery is more active. No infantry ,action has been attempted. Welsh troops made supccessful raids north-east of Gouzeaucourt. We consolidated the positions gained. Our prisoners since yesterday morning number 4446, including 114 officers. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS CARRIED OUT. Received 8.55. LONDON, Oct 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports considerable artillerying on the battle front all ni<rht. We successfully raided south-east of Broodseinde, inflicting casualties. We repulsed an attempted raid south of Ypres-Menin Cana! The Leicestershires successfully raided westward of . Cite St. Elie. Thweather is showery and colder.

NINE THOUSAND PRISONERS. GERMAN CASUALTIES 40 000. ; LONDON, Oct 5. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters reports that the fruit of yesterday’s victory has been no infantry counter-attacks during the night, demonstrating German exhaustion. A third enemy counter-attack yesterday advanced in great strength late in the afternoon, bending our line back slightly, but necessitating only a trifling modification .of front, which had absolutely no bearing upon the general tactical results achieved. Within a fortnight we struck the enenmy in Flanders three staggering blows in a very vital spot, and sent him reeling back about three miles. W r e have taken about nine thousand prisoners, and inflicted casualties conservatively calculated at forty thousand. LENS TO BE EVACUATED. Received 8.55. NEW YORK, Oct 7. The “Times” Geneva correspondent reports as a result of the British victories in Flanders the enemy are preparing to evacuate Lens, which has lost its importance as a strategical point. Hindenburg will take this step shortly.