FRENCH ON DIFFICULT GROUND.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1917, Page 5

FRENCH ON DIFFICULT GROUND.

!■ A SIGNAL TEIUIIP3 il , London, August 2. Th 6 Daily Chronicle correspondent at French Headquarters in Flanders saw tlist the French Army fighting in the teeter between Noordschote and Boeainfhe in in difficult flat country offering littl» poMibitity of concealment while the tdnadations extend south to the jheighborhood of Ferryman's House. The sector is important because it is pointing eastward, on the left to the Forest of Houthulst, a German stronghold since the autumn of 1914, and on the right of Roulers. The German first line beyond the Canal was already untenable owing to Sunday's bombardment, and abandoned. The passage-of a moderate-sized watercourse thus proved a relatively easy proposition, and the -whole three stretches of field works of the first position were in French hands in three hours, and the armies, holding-ground won and breaking successive' counter-attacks.

The battle was a* signal triumph for the gunners and infantry. It was tfc« Urstgroifc-battle of tb» war fought entirely, without th* nwintance of aero- , plana observation, but the ventur<wom» ' aviatQfi) played »' n»w part, flew W through'.the • dens*-mist; engaged pit,'-chin»-gtma redouWs, silenced uiauy strong points, as& thus beoonw th» cavalry of the air. Some intrepid pilots dropped »o low that their wings nearly brushed'the concrete forts; while their maehiue-sruna were raking the surrounding troflchea.

It ■ feu been •• a laborious day for' the tuner*" bringing batteries along the sdieii read*'.! A 4i»na# driest contisued.