WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ANOTHER THRUST. 1500 YARDS' ADVANCE ON 8MILES FRONT. ALLIES MAKE A TELLING STROKE. LONDON, Oct. 9. The United Press correspondent, writing at noon, says: English, French and overseas troops Attacked, on a wide front, on the 'Passchcndacle ridges. Despite desperate counter-at-tacks wherein hurricane fighting developed, the fifth battle of the summer campaign in this area went well from the start. Prisoners, frequently eager to reach a haven, coming in large numbers. Despite a gale, airmen observed the fighting like taunted eagles in a storm. Last night's rain made the Flemish Plains, and even the ridges, like a bog, but officers ant. men would not hear of a postponement. Moreover, the British weather man promised "Clear with high winds from mid-ri-rht onwards." He hit it exactly. The troops got away well from shellhole positions wherein they had assembled under the cover of a pitch black night. The British fought stiffly in the region of Reutcl for a chateau whence heavy machine-gun fire issued. One company rushed and took the chateau shortly after daylight, but were ordered to go back and dig in twenty yards to the westward in order to conform to the general tactics. Later reports show that the situation about the chateau has not cleared. Daisy Wood, bristling with all manner of German defences, is heavily garrisoned. The Australians quickly overcame the difficulties, surrounded the wood and left a detachment to clean up while the rest went on.

The British, at the time of writing are dealing with a heavy counter-at-tack astride the Roulers railway, German waves breaking under strong shell-fire. Visibility is good and our guns arc able to score bullseyes. The French ar e going strong, keeping shoulder to shoulder with the British left. The French report several hundred prisoners. The German artillery replied raggedly, being obviously more busily employed pulling back guns than in firing although fairly busy at that in certain spots. The Germans arc fighting hard for possession of a brewery in Poelcapelle. The rest of the town is in British hands. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: The French gained 1200 yards in two strides, taking hundreds of prisoners, two field guns and many machine-guns, They also killed many. We are within a hundred yards of Houlthulst Wood. The Allies have advanced to a depth of 1500 yards along a lino from Poelcappelle, across the Ypres-Gheluvclt road. It is most wonderful achievement since the Highlanders and Naval Division captured Beaumont Hamel in mud and fog, but this latest is even more wonderful because it is on a greater scale and in fouler weather. • SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. LONDON, Oct. 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Continuous heavy rains yesterday afternoon and evening made the ground sodden and very difficult for the passage of troops, but, notwithstanding the stormy weather and waterlogged ground, we launched an attack, in conjunction with the French, with very successful results. The attack extended from south-east of Broodseinde .to the St. Jansbeek, a mile north-east of Bixschoote. The Australians on the extreme right, advanced over the crest of the ridge eastward and north-east of Broodseinde and secured all their objectives. A Territorial division on the rightcentre, comprising the . Manchester, East Lancashire, and Lancashire Fusilier regiment, advanced a mile northward along the ridge towards Passchendaele, capturing all objectives under most trying and difficult circumstances with great determination and gallantry. A considerable advance was made in the centre between the main ridge and Poelcapelle including the capture of many fortified farms and concrete redoubts.

The English and Welsh Guards on the extreme left of the British attack have taken all their objectives; They have gained the outskirts of the Forest of Houthulst, two miles to the north-north-west of Poelcapelle The French on our left flank crossed the Brocnbeck stream which was in flood. They also gained the outskirts of the Forest of Houthulst, capturing all their objectives, including several hamlets and many fortified localities. Upwards of 1,000 prisoners have ' already been counted. THE GERMAN REPORT. . LONDON, Oct. 9. Wireless German official. —'A fresh battle developed and continues between Draaibank and Gheluvelt. The gain of territory, despite repeated assualts, is limited to a stretch between Draaibank ; and Poelcappelle, j

BRILLIANT FRENCH SiJCw.^.j. V.ONBON, Get. 10. A French cu:^:a—pie auj war attack laur.ckec this morning developed •jiiliiantly. The troops, afcer crossing the marshy brook at Broenbeck, car- ! vied with admirable dash, on a front of 250 metres, the enemy's defences, Despite the difficulties of the ground and the bad weather we captured the villages of St. Jean, Mangel'acre, Veldhock, and numerous farms organised as blockhouses, The advance, which averaged two kilometres, brought us to the southern fringe of Houthulst Wood The air service, despite the gale, co-op-erated actively in the attack, mach-ine-gunning at a low altitude enemy infantry and maintaining |oue,h with other arms. The number of prisoners so far coimted is 300, of whom 12 are officers. FRENCH TROOPS BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT. LONDON, Oct. 9. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent says: General Anthoine's army, in co-operation with the British, pushed o:i and occupied half the ground between the lines secured on July 31st and Kouthulst Forest. To-day's plan ; was to swing tlie French right, thus making a semi-circle round Houthulst Forest, which had become a formidable enemy fortress during the last three years, but our guns had greatly reduced the value of this low-lying woodland and the Germans have already with--1 drawn the heavier guns hitherto secreted in the forest. However, even the bare stumps of former forest trees make a dangerous nest fvr machineguns. The forest covers an area of three miles by two. In overcoming the obstacle, Genera! Anthoine's mastery of the newest gunnery science was a great asset. The French assault, troops went over the top at 5.30 when the country w'as still buried in fog and gloom. Preceded by an effective barrage, the troops quickly cleared out the centres of German resistance on the east bank of the St. Jeansbeek and Broenbeek and within two hours 300 prisoners and a number of guns had been captured on a mile front. The French luckily caught an enemy division while relieving another. The former had just arrived from the Russian front and, being hev? to the sector. The Germans were in no condition to meet tlie dashing French onslaught. By 10 o'clock the French before the ruins of the village of angelacre. The whole success was won with practically no loss of French lives. ANZACS' GREAT HUGE HAUL OF PRISONERS. LONDON, Oct, 9. Mr. Mudoch, writing from the Anzae Headquarters and referring to last Thursday's battle, says: It is noticeable that the men speak very differently of Fritz since this battle. They saw Germans rush singly from redoubts and die fighting. There were thousands of cases of easy surrender, but thoiisands offered the bitterest opposition. Among nine guns captured by the Australians were two anti-tank guns. The New Zealanders struck some heavy marshy ground, where they sank to the crutch, but they achieved the largest total of prisoners in the whole battle. \The Australians yesterday captured a most important German order, .re--1 versing the shell-hole defence policy as the result of a meeting of the enemy army commanders, at which it was admitted that all known'methods were of no avail against the British. Prisoners in the Australian sector of the battle were so numerous that guards could not be spared to take them to the rear. The Australians' pointed the way and the Germans started running and did not stop until safe in the cages. A battalion -commander and staff were captured under strange circumstances. The Brigadier tew upon a map, two hours after the commencement of the battle, a mark indicating the enemy battalion headquarters just outside our farthest objective. He sent out two sergeants and three men when the barrage lifted and they returned with a colonel, five officers and seventy Huns. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALANDERS. LONDON, Oct. 9. Sir Douglas Haig, replying to Sir Thomas Mackenzie's congratulations, says: Your message of congratulation is much appreciated by all ranks. The gallant New Zealande troops took a most distinguished part in the various operations. TERRIFIC BAYONET FIGHTING. Received 10.35 LONDON Oct 10.

The United Press correspondent states the Australians, after a terrific bayonet charge, gained possession of Celtic Wood, south-east of Broodseinde.

ENEMY SUFFER GREAT LOSSES LONDON, Oct. 10. Mr. Gibbs writes: The enemy again iulrcred great losses. Two new divisions, viz., the 27th (which had come itraight from Rheims, only getting into vi:o line during the night-) and the 195th, (from the Russian front; both received a fearful baptism of fire. Three other divisions were hard hit. and are now bleeding from many wounds. They have given us many prisoners.

..OW POELCAPELLE WAG TAKEN ji/üBLOitN FIGHT FOR RIVERS. ■J-ERMAN DIVISIONS CAUGHT RELIEVING. Received S.oo. LONDON, Oct 10. Mr Fercival Phillips says:—The fourth German .lias been deieated again The recent battle is another unqualified success for the Anglo-French forces. Prisoners are surrendering in large numbers. We again caught the German divisions in the process of relief and punished them severely. The rain and mud made the enemy believe that another enterprise was impossible. It was a complete surprise. Our troops foug-ht in swamps and pools, sometimes buried by shells, but the unquenchable spirit of victory carried them through. Some marched for nearly twelve hours before going into battle, yet they fought like lions. The attack was less a great battle than a re-adjust-ment of the battle front. There were two advances. The larger operation was the swinging forward of our left towards Passchendaele village, thereby easing the salient where Bro.odseinde was a pronounced point. This involved the capture of the remainder of Poelcapelle village and an advance among a wilderness of ruined on the western spurs .of Passchendaele ridge, in the direction of Houthulst forest. On the right battle front we straightened out our erratic line around Rentelbeck and Polderhoek chateau. The fighting between Poelcapelle and Houthulst was handicapped by marshes caused by shellfire shooting away the banks of the Broenbeck. The country here was a sheet of stagnant yellow water, with a long, irregular slippery ooze beyond, cut by shattered embankment of the Thourout railway and Langemarck road All were liberally planted with enemy redoubts, Thourout raiway embankments giving cover for machine-guns, and. the number of "pill-boxes" being replaced by the railway station. It was here two German divisions were caught relieving one another, one being hurried from Lego'nne in motor buses and thrust into the forest during the night The troops they relieved had been lying in the rain and mud since the last attack, and a great number of men were ill. These battalions were so eager to get away that they failed to give the necessary information to the Argonne division, who later knew nothing about the disposition of the British opposite. The men surviving the barrage surrendered immediately. The first and second objectives were gained on time by 8 o'clock. The troops of the British Isles and another island of the Empire were breakfasting amongst the vanquished redoubts, and here they rested for a time before going on to the final goal. The Germans evacuated some "pillboxes" as our men came up They admitted being badly pounded by Stokes' mortars.

The French on the British left suffered even more from mud, but were splendidly protected by our artillery. Stiff fighting occurred at Poelcapelle, where the Germans occupied the eastern half of the ruins, also the remains of the village. The Germans had strengthened the cellars of the village since Thursday. When we halted at the cross-roads the German regimental commander was convinced that he had still a fighting chance of turning us out but before dawn the Germans were being chased out of the cellars of the village, running along the broken streets, re-assemb-ling at t-hc brewery. Here machineguns,filled the apretures of the sandbagged brewery walls, where stubborn fighting followed throughout the morning But the English troops early in the afternoon gained a foothold in the brewery, which finally was captured, and the garrison either killed or prisonered. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. Received 11.45. LONDON, Oct 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—ln the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Staden railway yesterday Several enemy counter-attacks were repulsed south of the railway, on a front of about 2000 yards, our advanced troops were forced back a short distance. Northeast of Broodseihde other enemy attacks were repulsed with loss..'

FRENCH OPINION ON WAR SITUATION. ■ DECISIVE OPERATIONS IN 1313. Received 10.35. ' WASHING lON, Oc: K.\ The French Commission, author!tatiyely reviewing the recent course of the war, declares the Geru;;;::•have reaciied their supreme militar; effort for the first time since the beginning of the war. It is clear there will be a decrease in • the totivi strength of the German force*.. I recorded that Germany has been forced to call up part of the VJI class, and break in newly-fovme* regiments to reinforce fighting units. Despite the Russian upheaval the continuity and intensity of the AngloFrench offensive prevents Germangetting the benefit of her valuable reserves. Germany still retains great powers of resistance, which will take all the strength of the Allied forces to break. But her resources are dim inishing at the very moment when the military situation require? an increase. The Anglo-French armies have reached their full strength, and are cap able, with the help of the United States, of maintaining theirenormou? strength until the end of the wcr. This will prove of a decisive character in the 1918 operations. THE SEE ADLEE. HOW THE CREW WERE CAPTURED AUCKLAND, Oct. 10. The following from the "New Zealand Herald's" Suva correspondent, has been passed by the Censor for publication: Friday, September 21st, was a day of intense excitement in Suva. Early in the morning a startling message came through that the steamer Amra was expected to arrive in port that evening with a detachment of German prisoners. They were members of the crew of the German raider See Adler. which, it was stated, was burned at sea. The first intimation of the arrival of these unwelcome visiters to Fiji was given by a half-caste named McPherson, at Levuka. He said there was a strange boat with six Europeans in it at Waikava a small island, between Viti Levu and Vanua Leva. The natives, it was stated, became alarmed because these strangers would not talk, and were armed. It was decided to investigate the matter, and a cutter was despatched from Levuka with SubInspector H. C. Hills, of the Fijian Constabulary, and six Fijian police. Fortunately for this little party, a gale blew up and forced them back to port that night. The Amra, with Captain Day in charge, arrived at Levuka and proceeded to Waikava. There they found a 22ft. boat, with a cutter in tow, which when Amra was sighted, immediately put off for a break in the reef. Captain Day, who was determined not to lose his quarry, lowered a boat, and Sub-Inspector Hill, Inspector Howard and six Fijians gave chase. Their only weapons were a Colt revolver and an automatic pistol. Fortunately the bluff that was being maintained proved so successful that the occupants of the cutter did not show fight, although all were fully armed and they surrendered after a short consultation. The prisoners suggested that as there was a motor in their boat they should tow their captors, but the offer was rejected, and the Germans were ordered into the British boat. One German was left in the cutter to work- the engine. The I cutter carried a machine gun, 15 bombs and a large quantity of ammunition. The British officers occupied the captured boat and towed their prisoners to the Amra. Count von Luekner, commander of the See Adler, naturally was anxious to know the strength of their captors and when it was told him that the guns he imagined he saw were merely cattle-pens covered with canvas and that the crew's sole defence were a revolver and a pistol, his face was a study. After having been, as he asserts, wounded in the -Battle of Jutland, and having command of a vessel that (according to his story had the proud distinction of having sunk 23 boats in the Atlantic, it was indeed an indignity for him to have surrendered to such "bluff." The See Adler's mission in the Pacific is stated to have been the capture of grain boats and saltpetre, but von Luekner stated that he had no luck. He says that he took no lives, and did not sink any steamers. The logs of many destroyed vessels wore on the captured boat. All the men got away from the burning See Adler, but von Luekner will not say where they had intended to go, except that they expected to obtain possession of a schooner leaving Fiji for America, and convert her into another pirate. - i S AUSTRALIA'S FIGHTING STRENGTH. Received 11.35. MELBOURNE, Oct. 10. Official returns show that 315,000 Australians are on active service abroad and 18,000 training in Australia

LATEST WAR K •...."... GERMAN TERMS OF i „aC£. SHAKING-'THE MAIL;-., 1.... Received 11.35. COPENHAGEN, Oct 10. Br. Michaelis the German Chancellor, in the Reichstag, broadly stated the peace which Germany is fighting for, namely, free development on the Continent and sea. She must strive to prevent economic offensive succeeding the present armed offensive against her. She must have markets abroad, hence her ships must be allowed freely to enter the world's ports. If her enemies refused such peace, German cannon and submarines must continue their work. A BOMBSHELL IN REICHSTAG. REVOLUTIONARY. IDEAS IN THE NAVY. Received 11.35. COPENHAGEN Oct 10. In the Reichstag Admiral von Capelle, in a sensational statement, disclosed a plan to introduce Russian revolutionary ideas into the German Navy. He asserted that the Independent Socialists members of the Reichstag, in the course of a conference actually held in the Reichstag building, had approved a scheme whereby representatives should he selected aboard all ships, who were to persuade the men to disobey orders, paralyse the fleet and force the conclusion of peace. "I am able to state," said von Capelle, that the few persons in the Navy who forgot their honour and duty, have suffered the deserved penalty." A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION, Received 11.35. PARIS, Oct 10. A four days' conference of the Socialist party at Bordeaux concluded by tße delegates overwhelmingly adopting a motion in favour of assisting in the war and voting the Government war credits. MORE DISCLOSURES. DESTROYING CANADIAN RAILWAYS. Received 11.35. WASHINGTON, Oct 10. The State Department publishes cablegrams to Bernstorff revealing that in 191 G Germany proposed destroying the Canadian-Pacific railway, and instituting sabatage in .the United States. The plot was instigated by Casement. CrJSNBEAI, GABLES THE CHINESE FEOODS. SHANGHAI, Ocr. 9. Enormous floods have inundated North China. A densely populated area of 20,000 square miles lias become an immense deep lake. There is' -likelihood: of Tieirisin becoming icebound and. uninhabitable, and the removal of thei capital from Peking may also be neecessary owing to the instability of road and rail communications.