POUNDING THE ENEMY.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 November 1917, Page 2

POUNDING THE ENEMY.

BRITISH GAINS IN FLANDERS. LONDON, October 22. Describing the British bombardment in Flanders, Mr Keith Murdoch, the Australian correspondent says he counted thirty heavy guns on one small sector, each firing - every minute. Ahead of them are the almost countless field guns, ever working nearer the firing lines. These, with a ceaseless stream jpf hijgh-cxplosive {shells, ape. pounding Bellevue, Passchendaele, and Keiberg, their communications, • and the back areas. This “systematic bombardment’ ’ is varied by sudden gusts of full barrages, which confuse and alarm the enemy. It may last for days or weeks, or only hours. The enemy keeps guessing. He : braces "himself over the attack, and then, finding that the infabtry is not Vioming, 'settles again to the prolonged shattering misery of intense shell fire.

Me have ample supplies of guns and shells, and new artillery is always arriving augmenting our strength. No troops have been subjected before to such a terrific rain of shells, which can be maintained until any moment we choose. Tito enemy shows feverish anxiety by sending aeroplanes on daring excursions daily, in an attempt to "discover whether we are concentrating for an attack. The aeroplanes always pay toll, but some, after sprinkling bombs, return, and doubtless report that we arc strange people, working happily under shellfire, men from all parts of the Empire being thus engaged.

A French commentator states that now battles arc in prospect On the British and French fronts. The extent of the artillery fire indicates that fighting in Flanders will shortly reach a high pitch near the coast, as well as between the Yser and the Lys. Correspondents state that the shelling is hottest on Passchendaele Ridge, where the Germans are fighting a dogged dcfensive. They are (accumulating masses of heavy guns and reserve troops.

Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters states that day and night the gunners are mercilessly pounding the Germans and tthe terrible effectiveness of the fire is proved by reports from many sources. The artillery battle is forcing the enemy to make constant reliefs owign to 'the demoralisation of his troops. A' letter on a captured officer bitterly complained of the shelling from -their own artillery, which had a “most unfavourable effect on his men. who had been exposed for seven days to continuous and heavy artillery fire.'’ Another letter states “The English in four days smashed seven divisions. Yesterday two companies of infantry were buried.” Another states that a company 140 strong Wi. 'ii paraded a fortnight later, was IS strong. The writer added that it was the same with a whole regiment. The bulk and flower of the Kaiser’s army is being hammered to the limits of human endurance. Writing in the Tageblatt, Baron von Ardenne displays profound concern over the demoralisation of the German army facing the British apprehending that it is the British grim determination to gain the complete mastery of the Flanders ridge system.