WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

HEAVY FIGHTING. IMPORTANT PROGRESS MADE. FIVE COUNTER-ATTACKS BEATEN OFF. London, Oct. 31. | bir Douglas Haig reports:—We carried out successful operations with limited objectives this morning between the Ypres-Roulers Railway and the Poel-capiwlle-Westroosebeke* Road. Important progress was made, despito the marshy ground, on the bulk of the front. Heavy rain and gales are making communication with the troops extremelv difficult. The Canadians, on the Tight, despite fierce opposition, gained all their objectives on the main ridge and reached the outskirts of Passchendaele. The fighting vos mpst severe on the spur westward of the village, where five connter-atnckg were beaten oil'. Captured machine-guns were used in'repulsing these attacks. The going was particularly bad on the left of the attack, flooded streams intersecting the lowlying ground. Naval and London territorial battalions captured a number of fortified farms and strong points, after heavy lighting. , AERIAL REPRISALS ATTACK ON SAARBRUCKEN. London, Oct. 31. Sir Douplas Haig reports as follows: Our airmen again attacked tho railway station and lines around Saarbrucken. The bombs seem V trurst with good effect. AH our men returned. Twelve machine.-,, in the morning, went further afield, and attacked munition and gas works at Pirmasens, 20 miles beyond Saarbrucken. Excellent results were obtained. All the machines returned. • BRITISH ARTILLERY ACTIVE. FURTHER AERIAL RAIDS. Received Nov. 2, 12.45 a.m. London, Nov. 1, Sir Douglas Haig reports: Local fighting to-day in the neighborhood of the Ypres-Staden railway slightly improved our line. In the afternoon we'carried out a successful raid north-eastward of Loos, inflicting losses. Our casualties were light. Our artillery was active, there being a number of destructive bombardments of hostile positions and batteries. Bombing squadrons at night time dropped two tons of explosives on the Roulers and Inglemunster stations, and on moving trains and billets. Our machines attacked a steel works and station at Volklinger, in Germany, with excellent results. Direct hits were obtained on a furnace, power house, and trains. The weather was brilliantly fine at the outset, but turned later to rain and snow. One of the machines did not return. AERODROMES RAIDED. Received Nov. 2. 1.20 a.m. London, Nov. 1 The Admiralty's air service on Monday night raided the Sparappelhock and Varssenaere aerodromes. The visibility was excellent, itnd the shooting accurate. All returned. AERIAL ACTIVITY. London, Oct. 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our aeroplanes fired several thousand of ma-chine-gun rounds at the enemy in the trenches and on the roads. Bombs were dropped on billets at Roulers, Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was hostile artillery action in the night against the positions captured yesterday, but no counter-attacks, BOMBING ATTACK. .London, Oct. 81. A French communique says: Tho artillery duel was fairly active in tho sectors from Braye-en-Laonnais to Hurtebise and the left side of the Meuse. We Inflicted heavy losses on the enemy by a pid north-west of Rheims. We bombed tho railway station at Lichtervelde, Mezieres-les-Metz, Longeville les Metz and Thoinville. A big fire broke out in Merieres Station.