WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

INSTANCES OF HEROISM. „ GERMANS RELY OX REVOLVERS. I ESTIMATES OF ENEMY CASUALTIES United tService. Received October 12, 5.5 p.m . London, Oct. 11. Mr. Murdoch records many instances of individual heroism, and numerous cases of men, single-handed, taking "cores of prisoners. A sergeant rushed between two machine guns and shot tlu> crews of both. A corporal worked his ivay round a redoubt and attacked an officer with the bayonet. The officer fled and the iifty inmates surrendered. An officer, armed with a cane only, entered a dug-out and took 20 prisoners. In tho final stages of the struggle men who were bringing up ammunition left their mules and participated in the fighting. Mr. Murdoch adds that in few of the battles seen has there been so much revolvering. Most of the Germans carried revolvers which they prefered to the bayonet. Good authorities confirm the estimate that, two Germans were lying dead on the captured ground for «very one taken prisoner. London, Oct. 11.

Mr. Murdoch, writing from Anzac headquarters, describes the terrible conditions of the battle. The Australians had to advance over broken ground, always knee-deep and sometimes to the waist, armpits and even further. The British battalions on their left had an awful time. They were waterlogged in shell-holes, causing them to jump off nearly half-an-hour late, thus the Australian sector went forward isolated and with no support on the flanks 'and drew the full force of the enemv.

Our attacking troops were very weak owing to the non-arrival of reinforcen'ento. They were tired, but with unquenchable spirit started behind the barirage for their distant objectives. The 'ranks were thinned as they fought ttair way forward, rushing and storming strong points until the final objective was heroically won. T'ner started to organise the positions and build strong points, though in many places they were decimated by German snipers and the numbers became still thinner. Lastly it was only a matter of a handful here and there standing their ground against the full force of the enemy gunfire and strong infantry attacks.

The position became impossible and little packets of Australians were withdrawn. Very few were taken prisoner, but they came back in twos and threes and organised a position a, few hundred yards beyond the furthermost objective Where, despite fierce counter-attacks, they remain. London, Oek 11. A French communique says: In Belgium, at night, we broke an attempted attack near East Draiebank. On the right bank of the Meuse, north of Hill 344. the enemy temporarily gained a 'tooting in the advanced elements of a trench, but were driven out. London, Oct. 11. The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft patrolling fired with machine guns on the enemy trenches. One. pilot descended, attacked and silenced anti-air-craft guns. Large quantities of explosives were dropped on Thorout and Lichtervelt. railway junction. London, Oct. 11. Wireless German official.—There is a most intense artillery engagement on the coast and between Blankarfc Lake and Poelcapelle. The French unsuccessfully re-attacked at Draeibank.

Eighty aeroplanes participated in an aerial battle at Zonnebeke and Zandvoorde. We brought down three We captured important ground in the Chaume Wood. Four counter-attacks were unsuccessful. Our enemies lo3t in September 22 balloons and 374 aeroplanes. We lost 82 aeroplanes and $ balloons. HEAVY RAIN. ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

London, Oct. 11. Sir Douglas Hiig reports:—There was rcavv rain last night. There is considerable enemy artillery activity westward Df Passehendaele. EFFECTIVE ARTILLERY WORK. AVIATORS BOMB GERMAN BIG GUNS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Oct. 12, 9.30 p.m. London, Oct. 12. 'Sir Douglas Tlaig reports that improved weather and good visibility favored the work of the artillery, and that there had been much effective counterbatterying, besides bombardments of the enemy's positions and communications in the back areas. Hostile artillery was less active. There lias been no infantry action. Our aeroplanes on Wednesday bombed the German big gun positions. Five enemy machines w"ere brought down ami lour of ours are missing. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON FRENCH FRONT. Received Oct. 12, 7.50 p.m. London, Oct. 11. A French communique mentions that mutual artillery activity has been in evidence at various points of the front, but that r.o infantry actions occurred.