WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

CANADIANS ENTER PASSCHENDAELE.

FINEST PERFORMANCE OF CAMPAIGN. FURTHER BRITISH PROGRESS, London, Nov. 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—f\Ve attacked at C, o'clock in the morning against positions in the neighborhood of Passchendaele. Reports state that satisfactory progress is being made. The Canadians attacked Passchendaele and were seen entering the village. Others are beyond Goeberg (a small village half a mile beyond Passchendaele). There is heavy fighting at Polderkoek Chateau. The Germans heavily shelled the attackers for ninety minutes, then the bombardment eased. The Canadians simultaneously attacked Passchendaele along the. ridge and stormed up the remaining slopes of the Zetcheclo spur, north-west of Passchendaele. The British are engaged in heavy flfchting at Poldcrhoek Chateau, four miles southward. The Canadians followed the barrage, in two minutes. The going was fairly good, having reached the sandy soil of the summit. . Now the situation is relieved it is permissible to disclose that tho Canadian flank, after the previous attack, would have been entirely in the air but that ten men at one point and twenty at another held on for 48 hours until reinforced. It was one of the finest performances of the campaign, securing the left and enabling the successful continuance of the Passchendaele operations. j THE EIGHTH BATTLE. GREATEST INTENSITY OF FIGHTING., CAPTURED MAP HELPS BRITISH. PROGRESSING ON RIDGE, Router Service. Received Nov. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 0. The headquarters correspondent states: The eighth' battle of the Flanders autumn campaign ;bogan at six in the morning, with the greatest intensity, the fighting taking place in the neighborhood of Passchendaele and about the YpresMcnin road. The weather was dry till well after the sun had risen. Then an intermittent drizztte caused poor visibility. . < The preliminary bombardment was shorter than usual, but of terrific intensity, our guns searching the zone west of Moorslade, where there were large enemy concentrations. A map captured by the Anzacs showed an ambitious scheme, for tho recapture of Crest Farm and territory considerably beyond. The information' enabled us to beat off the attack. W" aro working our way well along the dominant Gonberg ridge, between Passchendaele and west of Roosebcek. SITUATION VASTLY IMPROVED ROULERS UNDER FIRE. United Service. Received Nov. 7, 3.15 p.m. London, Nov. 6. Tho United Press correspondent says that to-day's fighting has vastly improved the -Whole situation around Yprcs, and that now Roulers is under constant British fire. GERMANY'S YOUNG MANHOOD. SPENDS ITSELF IN COUNTERATTACKS. CANADIANS' WONDERFUL WORK. Received Nov. 8, 1.40 a.m. London. Nov. 7. Mr. Gibbs concludes: Over this ground the young manhood of Germany spent itself. It was not worthless ground whereon they suffered agonies and'fought desperately. They came on again in mased counter-attacks, which, however, were swept to pieces by our fire. "Passchendaele must bo hold at all costs. If lost, it must be regained at all costs." It seems likely the enemy hag definitely lost Passchondaelo. The Canadians had more luck than the English, Australians, and New Zealandcrs, who fought up the. slope in heroic endeavor. " Nobody begrudges tho Canadians the honor they have gained, not easily, but at tho usual price of victory—some men's death, many men'? pain. IMPRESSIVE BURIAL OF AMERICANS. New York, Nov. 6. The United Press correspondent at American Headquarters states that there were most impressive scenes at the burial of the first Americans killed. They fought with clubbed guns, bayonets, knives, entrenching spades, even with their hands, but were overwhelmingly outnumbered. The whole force is now most anxious and impatient to attack. ■ i .