DETERMINED FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1917, Page 5

DETERMINED FIGHTING.

the STRUOfiT/r: ynn r,\>SCHKNDAELH. EXEMY'S SUPERHUMAN - EFFORT. THE VILLAGE TAKEN*. Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. IS. 51 r. Phillips states that the fifth buttle on the slopes of the Pasgchendaelc ridge resulted in the fighting- 'being: as determined ns any during the war. The enemy made a superhuman effort to prevent our taking more grounds and met the attack on a six-mile front with an abundance of picked infaniry. supported by the heaviest bombardment the British troops have yet confronted in Flanders. Though some of -our men poem to -have reached the edge of t'Kssehendaeio village, the more forward j slopes still bristle with uirdlonced strong j posts, while the houses of Passi-hondno'e I shelter many other machine-guns.

The attack commenced at 5.25. The fiorman batteries immediately redoubled their lire and laid a curiam across our front, -while other groups of (Herman guns sought to break the infantry that was storming the outer redoubts. There was sharp fighting at the Augustus Wood, which was defended by young and wcl'-traiiied Jaeger troops, who stuck to their poets. We a>o had a hard time trying to get forward along' the flooded hanks of the Lckkcrboterbest, which Hows alongside the road from Poeleapelle t 0 Wcs'rcosbokc. It stretched to the open country, commanded by a few redoubt* and machine-guns, also by the barrage from Passchendaele. We wont easily through the village, re-took the brewery ruins, and pushed along the road towards Westroosbeke. As 1 write the battle continues or, ih». "utire front. We are everywhere attacking with unabated resolution. The (Hermans are fighting better than usual. All the wounded men state that there has been a great amount of bayonet work.

MANY DEFENCES CAPTURED. RAIN impedes progress. * Ahs. and X.Z. Cable Assoc and Renter. Received Oct, 14 5.5 p.m. London. Oct. IH. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Notwithstanding last night'tt heavy rain, the troops in this morning's attack' progressed along the entire front from tin* Ypres-Roulers railway to our junction with the French on the southern edge of Houthnlst forest. Throughout the front we captured many defended localities, fortified farms, woods, and concreted strong- points., with a number of prisoner*.

The lighting was especially severe on tl ; " slope of the main ridge itself, southward of Passchendnele.

Heavy rain recommenced this morning and continued with increasing violence ad day, impeding our progress, consequently we decided to make no further effort to reach our. final objectives We have captured approximately fiv* hundred prisoners There have been no bosfile counter-attacks.

ON TH EFRENCH FRONT,

. VIOLENT ENEMY ATTACKS Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. -London, Oe*\ 13, A French communique states: North of the Aisne the Germans during the jnight launched several attacks on our positions in the Hurtebise Chevraux sector. Despite the violence of bis efforts the enemy only temporarily gained a footing in our advanced line.' There has been active artillery work in the sector of Laliaux mill and in the region of Craonr.e. Enemy raids at Soiur.n and Auberive, mentioned this morning, were carried out by strong effectives, preceded i)y thirty-six hours' bombardment. The attacks were delivered by the Stossrup-!>'-:i pioneer detachments,'l4;l stronir, and lively engagements resulted, ending decidedly in our favor. Enemv losses'wero particularly heavy.

RECIPROCAL ARTILLERYIMG,

! DISASTROUS AERIAL OPERATIONS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Router. Received Oct. H, 11 p.m. London, Oct. 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the weather is wet and stormy and there lias b"en the usual reciprocal urtillefrying. The German prisoners taken veste'nlav numbered 7-11, inehitl'mg 41 officers. Despite the weather tlie aeroplane vjjnt oat. A lew enemy machines were, encoii'itered and tlitre was n little air fighting. Nine enemy machines were I downed and ten of ours are missiua', evidently having been lost in the storm. GERMAN REPORTS. Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 13. A wireless German o!*'ciai report states: The battle is still in full swing on the Laiigcmarck-Zonnebeke front! Fighting continues in some place., where the- English penetrated our lines northward of Poelcapelle and south-westward of Passchendaele. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Assoc, and Router. Received Oct. 14, 5,5 p.m.

London, Oct. IS. A wireless German official report states; The English yesterday penetrated between the station and village of Poelcapelie. We threw hack the enemv on both sides of the Pensbeck. The enemy directed strong pressure «t Pa-wchondacle, which we. retain, the enemy {raining only a narrow strip of the forefield. The artillery has increased to drumliro between the Lys and the Com-ines-ypres canal. AUSTRAL!.'* ys ANT) NEW EKS TAKE PART. United Service. Received Oct. .14, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. II!. Mr. Murdoch states that the Australians and New Zealandcrs have been honored with a place in the latest attack.