WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE ANZAC SPIRIT. A DESPERATE- FIGHT. LONDON, Oct 17. Mr Keith Murdoch (the United Service correspondent) supplies further • incidents of the fighting north-east of Y'pres. One fighting man volunteered to help his wounded captain back to the lines but was killed. A second took his place. He, too, was killed; then a third was killed, but the fourth brought the officer safely in. Describing one of the German coun-ter-attacks, Mr Murdoch says: "They came on in waves, maintaining inexorable discipline.. The Australians /called upon the artillery but the barrage descended behind the enemy, owing to the misapprehension that we were holding a more distant line. Therefore, there was nothing left for it but a desperate fight with rifles and partly choked « with mud. The Boches far out-numbered us. "Our Lewis guns mowed down the first wave like ripe corn, but a second ! wave and a simultaneous flank attack enveloped our positions, and isolated a body of fifty men, including Lewis gunners. They determined to fight their way out. Such fighting has seldom been seen. One man shot thirteen Germans before he was killed by a shot from behind Only six survivors reached the lines. The Germans, now broken Into scattered parties after their heavy losses, retired. Other attacks following were broken, but believing it to be possible to hold the position, which was also useless without further advance, the Australians withdrew. They had stood in flooded shellholes, sometimes in water to the shoulders. SUCCESSFUL RAIDING BY THE LONDONERS. I ' Received 8.35 # ! LONDON, Oct 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the Londoners successfully raided yesternight in the neighbourhood of Gavrelle. Our casualties were slight. Hostile artillery is active south.-' 1 ward of, the Ypres-Comines Canal, and in the neighbourhood of, Zonnebeke and Broodseinde. ON THE AISNE FROJMT. LONDON, Oct 18. A French communique states: There have been lively artillery aotions particularly in the region of the Plateau DAieiles and the right of the Meuse. MUCH ARTILLERY WORK. , LONDON, Oct 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports considerable activity of hostile artillery northwest of Ypres and in the coast sector The activity of our artillery contin. ued. •• " <-.A ••_ ■ , ■.:■•■; \ K i. .." . ( ... v r | ,. : BOMBING GERMAN TOWNS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. Received 10.33. LONDON this day. A British official message states: This afternoon we successfully bombed German territory Many bombs were dropped with good effect on a factory at West Saarbrucken, 40 miles beyond the German frontier. Fires were seen and all machines returned safely. , v THE FLANDERS WEDGE TO ENABLE TURNING MOVEMENTS AMERICAN EXPERT'S OPINION Received 9.15. WASHINGTON Oct 18. A United States torpedo boat was submarined in European waters but reached port. A communique issued by Mr Baker, Secretary for War, points out that the Allies are driving a wedge in Flanders, which will eventually split the German line, permitting a flanking movement and eliminating costly frontal attacks. A typhoon of fire is causing Germans real concern; they are compelled to amend their tactical dispositiohs in an effort to meet the shock The zone of operations around Ypres have been so extended that they can no longer be considered a salient, but the British are progressingly extending the wedge with French co-operation, which is most important. He said: "It afforded the Allie s the necessary elb'ow room at a low rate of casualties in assaulting columns to atest the precision of the Allies' barrage." It is officially announced that the United States will be represented at the forthcoming Allied .Council at Paris. 7 -i