ENEMY STRONG ATTACKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1917, Page 5

ENEMY STRONG ATTACKS.

BEATEN OFF BY THE BRITISH. ENEMY'SUFFERS HEAVILY. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. • Received Oct. 25, 12.50 a.m. London, Oct. 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Besides the attack reported in this morning's communique, the enemy delivered two other counter-attacks last evening. In one ease he attempted to advance along a line west of the Rossebeke—Poelcapelle road, but, when two hundred yards from our new positions, was engaged by our infnntry and machine-gun fire, and beaten off with loss. Survivors, in endeavoring to withdraw, were caught in the artillery barrage, and again suffered heavily.

A second attack was made in considerable strength immediately northward of the Ypres—Staden railway, and tiiis was nlso met with rifle and machine-gun fire and driven off.

Eariy ibis morning another attack was made on our positions in the Houthulst forest, north-east of Veldhoek. but was completely repulsed, leaving prisoners in our hands.

A less powerful attempt was made against a fortified farm captured yesterday south-east of iPoclcapelle. It was equally unsuccessful. Reciprocal artillerying was active today, despite the unfavorable weather. Flying yesterday was almost prevented by the weather until the afternoon, when our aeroplanes, despite the rain and bad visibility, co-operated with the infantry's attack, continuously reporting progress, and assisting with machineguns.

The enemy dropped many bombs during the last few nights on our forward areas. His machines last night were not nearly so active, except in the neighborhood of Dunkirk. Ours vigorously attacked seven aerodromes. The bombs fell near the hangars and aeroplanes on the ground. The railway station at Courtrai was later hit, and-the rear portion burst into flames. There was little air fighting. Two enemy machines were brought down. Two of ours collided over the enemy lines. One other is missing. A CURIOUS FEATURE.

GERMANS ORDERED TO DEFEND TO THE DEATH.

Received Oct. 24, 10.55 p.m. London, Oct. 23. Mr. Gibbs reports that the fighting on the 22nd revealed a curious inequality and strength of determination of the German defence. The Norfolk and Essex regiments east of Poelcapellc found the chief difficulty from a machine-gun barrage in the German rear. Tho heavy gunfire which the British had put over the ground for a week had made the area most unhealthy for the Germans, who had withdrawn many troops to safer lines, leaving only small outposts. The hardest position to take was the right of Houthulst forest, which, despite all the gas that soaked4t, was full of the ■2Bth'Reserve Division, which was under uteni orders to defend it to the death. There were many concrete emplacements in the forest and blockhouses along the Staden railway. HUN TERRORISM. 19 BELGIANS EXECUTED Received Oct. 24, 8.30 p.m.

Amsterdam, Oct. 23. Nineteen Belgians, including several women, were executed at Ghent for espionage. ZEEBRUGGE AGAIN BOMBED. London, Oct. 23. The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft bombed railway sidings near Ghent and Zeebrugge Mole, where they hit two small vessels. .SUCCESSFUL FRENCH ADVANCE. London, Oct. 23. A French communique says:—After artillery preparation for several, days we attacked at 5.15 this morning powerful German organisations in the region of Allemant and Malmaison. We made considerable progress along the entire front of the attack and took many prisoners. ,