DEFINITE STAGE IN GREAT BATTLE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6505, 5 October 1915, Page 3

DEFINITE STAGE IN GREAT BATTLE.

German Artillery Surprised and Overpowered.! Rec Oct 4, 8 30 p vo Londou, Oct 4 An artillery officer states that for every yard of trench four shells must have fallen withiu fire miouiies Each shell had a radius of destruction of twenty yards. Afterwards the guns were switched to longer ranges, their business being to search the enemy's supports. The secoud bombardment lasted half-an-hour. The German artillery was surprised and overpowered, and made a feeble reply. Our men curried-the first trench with ease and the secontl with some loss. Then they turned their attention ou the trench forts, and at noon had accomplished their set task, and had a fine bag of prisoners. Sir John French* in a special order of the day dated Oct 3rd, said :— We have reached a definite stage in the gieat battle. The Allies southward pierced the enemy's last line of entrenchments and effected largo captures of prisoners and guns. The Tenth French army on our right was heavily opposed, but was brilliantly successful, securing "Vimy Ridge. The operations of the British were most successful, and had , great and important results. The First aad Fourth Army Corps on the morning of the 25th carried ! the enemy's first and most powerful line of entrenchments, extending from our extreme right ilank at Grenay to a point north of Hohenzolleru redoubt, a distance of 6,DQO yards. British Consolidate near German Last line. The last position was exceptionally strong, couaistiDg of a double line, including large deboubts and a network of trenches and bomb-proof shelters. Some of the dugouts were very large, and in some cases were thirty feet below the ground. The Eleventh Army Corps, the Third Cavalry Division and the Twentieth Division were subsequently thrown into the fight. After the vicissitudes attendant on every great battle, the enemy's second line of posts were taken and a commanding position on Hill 70 captured. The | British then established and consolidated a strong line in close proximity Ito the German third and last line. The raaiujoperatious south of La

Bassee much f ic-litated the subsidiary utracKs by the Third and Indian Army Corps and the Second Army. The operations of the Fifth Army Carps ease of Papires rendered great help and made many important captures.

The total British captures were over three thousand men, twenty-five guns and many machine guns.

The enemy suftered heavy losses, particularly in their many counterattacks and endeavours to wrest back their captured positions.

>( 1 desire," continues Sir John French, 'to express my deep appre ciation of the army's splendid work and to record my henrtfelt thanks for the brilliant leadership of Sir Douglas Haig and the generals under his ordf'a in the main attack. Tha troops displayed- magnificent spirit, indomitable courage and dor^pd tenacity The old army aud the newarmy of Territorials vied with each other in heroism. 1 am confident that the same glorious spirit will continue until our elt'jrts are crowned with final victory. Ambiguous German Communique. Berlin, Oct 4 A communique states: — Monitors bombarded Westeudc. ! The Euglish abandoned their ati tempts to recapture ground north of ; Loos after bitter fighting with heavy losses. Hand-grenade lighting occurred at Souchcz, Neuville, Lemesnir and Villesurlourt. We forced a Freuch airship in A\sacc to descend and the crew were captured. News of Allies' Victories not Published in Germany. Kec Oct 5, 11 a m London, Oct 4 The Press Bureau published a ! Freuch official statement which poiuts out that in order to allay uneasiness in Qprmauy the German headquarters have pronounced nothing regarding the Allies' victories in the Artois and Champaj;uo regions, except the retreat of one division, and are silent regarding the capture of 25,000 prisoners and 150 guns. Progress North of Arras Continues. Paris, Oct 4. A communique states:— Northward of Arras progress has been continued iv tho GKvenchy wood and on Hill 119, where we occupied the cross-roads. One of our air squadrons dropped forty large calibre bombs on the Saolohs railway station at Metz, and other aeroplanes carried oo the bombardmeut of railway junctions and stations behind the German front.