YPRES BATTLEFRONT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 246, 15 October 1917, Page 5

YPRES BATTLEFRONT

NEW ZEALANDERS AGAIN IN ACTION GERMAN LANDING IN RIGA AREA After their latest hammer stroke on the Ypres front the British are consolidating their positions, no new attack having been begun since Friday. The New Zealanders participated in that advance, fighting gallantly through a welter of mud, amid uncut wire, in a terrain full of pillboxes armed with deadly machine guns. The sticky mud affected them equally with the rest of the advancing army, and the final objectives were not reached. Still some very difficult country, teeming with strong points and strongly manned, was captured on a five-mile front from the Ypres-Roulers railway to the fringe of Houthulst Wood, a total of 700 men and 41 officers being taken prisoner. The outskirts of Passchendaele village, hallway up the ridge, were captured. It is recognised that the capture of the battered remains of Houthulst Wood must precede a general offensive by all the Allies. The Germans have landed strong forces on the islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Riga. The Baltic fleet is apparently shirking its duty, and thus the fleet, which included battleships, cruisers, destroyers and minefields, was able to clear the minefields round the coast and effect a safe landing. The operation, which constitutes a menace, though perhaps not an immediate one, to Petrograd, may result in a further rectification of the German line between Riga and Pskoff. The crisis in Germany which has indirectly resulted from the revolt in the navy is still acute, and the resignation of the Chancellor is firmly demanded. Yon Capelle has resigned the leadership of the navy, and has warmly criticised Michaelis for deserting him.