WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

EXTRAORDINARY CONFUSION, A PARALYSING SI'RPPTPP, BRTTISTT OVERWHELM MASSED GERMANS. Received Oct. 8. fl.lo p.m. London, Oct, S, Sir. Phillips, tlie war correspondent, says that the Fourth Prussian Guards 1 wore still sneering from the losses in. curred at Lens, wliero the Canadians systematically shelled and gassed tlicm among the ruined collieries.'" They only left Lens 011 September 20, being pri»nised a rest for a time in Belgium; but General von Arnim thought 'otherwise. He needed men, even tired men, so within three days they were under fire at Zonncbcke. They were weakened and discontented. Every company of a division, except four, repre-ented in the prisoners, came fiom the Twentieth Division, recently on the Russian front. The division yielded over a thousand prisoners, besides a large number of dead strewn on the battle field. There was extraordinary confusion in the German line, owing to the promiscuous throwing in of regiments. Many battalions were cut olf from regimental headquarters.^ Troops waiting in the darkness for the order to pass through the stationary infantry found themselves overwhelmed in tho British barrages. The officers completely lost their heads, and run about cursing the men. Distress signals for the artillery were not answered. Even German Wireless stations were knocked out. The situation east of the Polygon Wood was an example of the confusion prevailing on the entire German front. Here three battalions of storm troops had assembled ready to attack in three waves, with foot Guards ready to take over the line when captured, and a reserve regiment ready to mako a second assault if the first'failed. All the detachments were in close formation. Exactly ten minutes before the first (ierinan wave was to advance, the British were among them. By this time barrages were sweeping through the reserves with terrible effect. Survivors of this defeated mob said the surprise was paralysing. No soldiers could have rallied.

A third defeat must affect the enemy's plans in many ways. They must dig new winter quarters, and at the rear of ttie range of artillery establish fresh railheads, aerodromes, and hutments. The disappointment of the German commanders was great, as they believed we would not attempt- large operations after the end of August, owing to the difficulty of taking heavy guns over the marshes. The German high command is offering tempting rewards for every British prisoner taken. The price varies from twenty-five to fifty sihllings for a living muii and ten shillings for a dead man or his identification badge. DEMORALISATIONS OF ENEMY. AT LEAST TIIURE GOOD DIVISIONS LOST. Received Oct. 9, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct, 8. Mr. Percival Phillips writes that the statements of prisoners, and much information from unollicial sources, con.firm the fact of the demoralisation of enemy troops in Thursday's battle, fieneral von Arnim must, have lost at least three good infantry divisions, including the Fourth Guards and the Fortv-iifth Reserve, who were among the best of the German army. The Guards consisted of 'thoroughly trained Jnen, the pick of recruit depots, -averaging from 25 to 30 years of age. The Forty-fifth Reserve were a storm troop division, chosen for heavy attaeka. -

STORMING OF ABRAHAM HEIGHTS.

DRAMATIC INCIDENTS. NEW ZEAT.ANDERS' RESOURCEFULNESS. Received Oct. 0. 12.!>5 a.m. London, Oct. 8. Continuing, Mr. Philips savs: The storming of the Abraham Heights and Gravenstafel contained much dramatic incident The New Zealanders were rather handicapped at the beginning by the bulge in their original line. This prevented their starting evenly, and in order to remedy this, some New 'Ay,alanders had to fall back and rush forward again when the barrage began, covering a considerable extent of extra ground at the double. Somewhat to the New Zealanders' surprise, a group of firm redoubts, close to the jumping-oft' places, was full of Hermans, while Otto Farm, which was only a few yards distant, came suddenly to life, and spat bullets through many loopholes until stormed.

There was a lively fight at Berlin Farm. 011 the west of the Roosbeke road, but the New Zcalandera silenced the Berlin Farm with bombs. There was 110 time to examine (lie redoubt, hut. wlien broken open next day. it was found full of dead Hermans. A number of pill boxes were dotted on Ihe Tioosbeke rorni above (Jravenstafel. In one case a Orman gun crew appeared through the narrow (ioor carrying- gun cartridges, and dodged behind tree trunks, but'the New Zcalamlers' sergeant, \»ith a few men, worked round them. When capture was inevitable, the Germans put. up their hands, but a moment later the hands were dropped. Expecting treachery of the usual sort., the New Zcalandera killed them all. FURTHER BRITISH SUCCRSSES. London, Oct. 7. Sir Douglas llnig reports; There was considerable artillery activity on the buttle front all night. We made a successful raid south-east of Broodseinde, indicting casualties. We repulsed an attempted raid southward of the Ypres-Menin Canal. The Leicestershire's successfully raided westward of Cite St. Elie. The weather is showery and colder.