WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FURTHER FRENCH PROGRESS. PARIS, October 25. A French communique says: "The situation north of the Aisne in the sector from Braye en Laonnois to Chavignon is unchanged Last night we again advanced on the Chavignon.--Mont Desinges front, and reached Nozay Farm. We took over 500 prisoners here since last night.

"An enemy surprise attack on Sapigneul bridgehead, on the Meuse, preceded by a violent bombardment failed, twenty-five enemy aeroplanes were brought down. ANOTHER GENERAL ADVANCE. PRISONERS NOW TOTAL 11,000. 120 GUNS CAPTURED. LONDON, October 26. A French communique states: A general advance was made this morn ing beyond the positions reached last evening, bordering the Ooise-Aisne canal A village in the Forest of Piron, also the villages of Pargny, and Fi'.ain, arc in our hands. South of Filain, which our parols penetrated, we occupy the farms of St. Mannus Chapelle and St. Berontha.

The enemy, under our pressure, were compelled to abandon much material, including 20 guns, several of which were 6-inch mortars. Altogether 120 guns have been captured since October 23rd. We have counted in addition several hundred mine-throwers and machine guns. We took over 2000 prisoners during the day. Over 11,000 prisoners, including 200 officers, have been taken since the beginning of the operations. GERMAN COMMANDERS UPSET. LONDON, October-26. The ''Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at the French Headquarters says: 'After the terrible blows on Tuesday, the minor German commands seem to be in disorder, Papers taken reveal that one battalion, of whom 600 were captured at Pinon, received contradic tory orders to retire and to hold Pinon at any cost.

.. For some''days French aviators have been ; reporting that the Germans are cutting down fruit trees, the, demolitiqn of. farms in the Ailette valley .recalling the Somme retreat. It seems that, the Bosche has got wound up very badly in this region. The French,are making steady and unrelenting , progress. The canal is no.t an obstacle,. but there is a good deal of marshy ground in the Ailette Valley. The. question also arises whether the enemy will attempt to hold the remainder of the Chemin des Dames. After two days' triumphs' our troops arc in splendid spirits. STILL ANOTHER OFFENSIVE. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS . REPORTED. Received 8.45. LONDON, October 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the Anglo-French forces launched an attack at 5.45 this morning, east and north-east of Ypres, making satisfactory progress. It rained heavily during the latter part of the night, and is still continuing. ENEMY RAIDS FAIL. LONDON, October 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy attempted a raid last night eastward of Loos, but were met by rifle and machine gun fire, and failed to reach our wire.

Two raiding parties attacked our line northward of La Bassee Canal. One was repulsed before reaching our trenches. The other entered the trenr ches but were driven out. We took a few prisoners.

During the night there were patrol encounters eastward of Poelcapelle. The weather on the British front on Wendnesday- slight]v improved. Our aeroplanes bombed an aerodrome at Courtrai. Eight enemy machines were brought down, Six of ours are missing. LONDON Oct 25. A French communique states: The Germans,' on the right bank of the Meuse, followed up a morning bombardment of the Bois le Chaume with an attack, which our fire stopped.

IMPORTANT FRENCH .CAPTURES.

UNDER GEEAT DIFFICULTIES. Received 10.40. LONDON, October 2(5. , A French communique states: We attacked at 6 in the morning between Driegraehten and Drasebank, in Bel gium and crossed the Saint Wansj beck and Vocerbeck shoulder-deep in water. We made important progress in spite of the desperate difficulties of the ground. We captured the village of Dradrank and Pergoes Woods, and apperi. IMPORTANT FRENCH CAPTURES. Received 11.30. LONDON, Oct 26. The night was calm along the entire front_ North of the Aisne Cne enemy only replied feebly with artillery. We are organising captured positions on the south bank of the Oise and .Aisne, also canal bridges which the retreating enemy blew up. The German s re-attacked north of Chaume Wood, to the right of the Meuse. There appears to -have been a lively fight in which the enemy suffered serious losses. They only gained a footing in one of our advanced elements. ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED. FRANCO BRITISH STILL ADVANCING. GERMAN ARTILLERY FEEBLY REPLY. Received 11.30. LONDON, October 26.

The United Press states that the Allies had taken practically all their first objectives along the Passchendaele and were still advancing along the Passchendaele spurs, around Gheluvelt, and had penetrated deeper into Houlthurst Wood.

The fighting resolved itself into two .battles, the •first bj sie Anglo-French from Daasbank' to below the Ypres-Roulers railway, the second along a short front, the centre of which is Gheluvelt.

A correspondent emphasises the..fact that'' there was no attack 'between the two battles because,..in .view of recent lies, Germans were almost certain" id claim that they Checked.the' advance : there although; none\" tf&i ; : attenipted;: German artillery replied only' moderately, 'the British febneeafcratifen fcf shell fire.'at night time obviously having had its effect. Prisoners are coming in "in drizzles.

TWO MAMMOTH GUNS.

CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH. TORPEDOES A TON WEIGHT. Received 11.30. LONDON, Oct 26. The French, at Gobineaux, captur ed two enormous guns, eacft." served by forty men They fire a torpedo carrying two hundred pounds of explosives? which the Germans intended to use against Chemin des Dames. Each gun had a supply of 100 torpedoes.