THE ADVANCE DESCRIBED.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1917, Page 5

THE ADVANCE DESCRIBED.

ALL OBJECTIVES CAPTURED.

| OUTSKIRTS OP HOUTHULST FOREST REACHED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Oct. 11, 12.55 a.m. London, Oct. 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The continuous heavy rain yesterday afternoon and evening made the ground sodden and very dillicult for the passage of troops. [Notwithstanding the stormy weather and the waterlogged ground, w launched an attack, in conjunction witii the French, with very successful results. The attack extended from south-east of Broodseinde to St. .leansbeek, a mile northeast of Bixschoote.

The Australians on the extreme right advanced over the crest of a ridge eastward and north-east of Broodseinde. and secured all their objectives. A territorial division in the right centre, comprising the Manchester, Kant Lancashire, and Lruu-nshire Fusilier Regiments, advanced a mile northward along the ridge towards Passchendaele, cap" turing all their objectives under the most trying and difficult circumstances, with great determination and gallantry. A considerable advance was niade in the centre, hetween the main ridge and Poeleappelle, including the capture of many fortified farms and concreted redoubts. We captured in the left centra Poeleappelle. The English, Welsh, and Guards, on the extreme left of the British attack, taken all their objectives and gaini,: the forest of Houthnlst, two miles

:li and north-west of Poelcappelle. i'he French on our left crossed the . ,;t;ibeek stream, which was in flood, .asci also gained the outskirts of the forest of Houthulst, capturing all their objectives, including several hamlets and many fortified localities.

Upwards of a thousand prisoners have already been counted.

THE COURAGE OF FRITZ NEW ZEALANDERR TAKE MOST PRISONERS. FAILURE OF GERMAN DEFENCE METHODS. A CLEVER CAPTURE. United Service. Received Oct. 10, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. u. Mr. Murdoch, writing from Anzac headquarters and referring to last Thursday's battle, says it i s noticeable that the men speak very differently of Fritz since this battle. They saw" Germans rush singly from redoubts and die fighting. There were thousands of cases of easy surrender, but thousands of the bitterest opposition. Among nine guns captured by the Australians were "two anti-tank guns. The New Zealanders struck some heavy marshv ground, where they sank up to the crutch, but they achieved the largest total of prisoners in the whole battle.

Australians yesterday captured a most important German order reversing tlic shell-hole defence policy, as the result of a meeting of the enemy army commanders, whereat it was admitted that all-known methods were of no avail against the British.

Prisoners in the Australian sector of tie battle were so numerous that guards could not be spared to take them to the rear. The Australians merely pointed the way, and the Germans started running and did not stop until they were safe in the cages. A battalion commander and staff were captured under strange circumstances. A brigadier saw, upon a captured map. two hours after the commencement of the battle, a. mark indicating the enemy battalion headquarters, just outside our furthest objective. ]] e sent out two sergeants and three ;mn when the barrage lifted, and the- n,.l with the colonel, five officer.- . luns.

THE GAINS. ,'i!3ED.

THE HUN VERSION. .__. Received Oct. 10, 10 p.m. London, Oct. 9. A wireless German official says: A fresh battle developed and continues between Draaibank and Gheluvelt. The gain of territory, despite repeated assaults, is limited to a stretch of territory between Draaibank and Poelcappelle ADD HAIG

FRENCH DASH. MUCH GROUND GAINED. . AIRMEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE. Received Oct. 11, 1.30 a.m. Paris, Oct. 10. A French communique says: Our attack was launched in the morning, and developed brilliantly. The troops, after crossing the marshy brook at Broenbeek, carried with admirable dash, on a front of 2500 metres, the enemy's defences, despite the difficulties of the ground and the bad weather. We captured the villages of St. Jean, Mangelacre and Veldhock, besides numerous farms organised as blockhouses. The advance, which averaged a depth of two kilometres, brought us to the southern fringe of Houthulst Wood.

The air service, despite the gale, cooperated actively in the attack, machinegunning at low altitude the enemy infantry, and maintaining toush with the other arms. The number of prisoners counted is three hundred, whereof twelve are officers. Artillery actions continue on the Aisne front. ALLIED AIR RAID. Amsterdam, Oct 9, The Allied air raid on October 1 destroyed Wcmli 'lmeen railway station. Of 270 Germis soldiers 70 were buried in the debvii.