GREAT BATTLE RAGING.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16043, 27 October 1917, Page 9

GREAT BATTLE RAGING.

FURTHER GAINS

A GERMAN WITHDRAWAL.

4th YEAR—Bsth DAY

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

BRITISH OPERATIONS

ENEMY ATTACK REPUUSED

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) LONDON, October 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Wo completely repulsed another strong .counter-attack last night south of Houthnlst Wood (north tif Ypresi. "The Gloucesters, Worcesters, and Berkshiree successfully raided positions between Rceux and Gavrello (east of Arras).

RAIDS AND PATROL ENCOUNTERS.

(Received October 26th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 26.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: —

"The enemy attempted a raid last night eastward of Loos, but was met with rifle aftd machine-gun fire, and failed to reach our line.

"Two raidihg parties attacked our line northward of La Bassec Canal. One was repulsed before reaching our trenches: the other entered our

trenches, but was driven out.

took a few prisoners,

"During the night there were pat?rol encounters eastward of Poelcflppdlle.

"Our artillery is active. Tile weather on tho British front on Wednesday slightly improved." THE AISNE BATTLE. FURTHER FRENCH ADVANCE.. IiONDON, October 25. A French communique states: — "Tho situation north of the Aisne in tho sector Blr.ye-en-Labnnois-Chavig-iiott, is uiichanged. "During the flight we readvanc&d on the Chavignon-Mont des Singes front and reached Moisy Farm. ■ We have taken over five hundred prisoners since last night.

"An enemy surprise attack at Sapignc.:l bridgeheadj preceded by a violent bombardment, failed. Twenty-fivtf enemy aeroplanes have been brought down."

A later French oottlihtlhicme says: — "North of thfe Aitfne the German artillery was particularly active in tho sectors of La Royere and Les Bovelles, and in the region of Malraaison, cii out new front, Which rilris from Mont des Singes, the whole Of which js in our possession, to Chavignon. The enemy did not attempt any infantry action. ."It is confirmed that the tanks played an important part in yesterday's attack.

* "The number of prisoners taken exceeds 8000, and the booty already ; counted ifichidpfj 70 30 inind > throwers, and 80 machine-guns. "On the right bank of thti ''Mouse ; there were brisk rirtillerv actions in the ' region of SamogneUi; Vacherauville, 1 Chaumo, and west of Doualimont." 1 GERMAN 'qfrVltfClfrLES" CAPTURED. (Australian abd N.Z. Cablfe Association,J PARIS, October 26. Two regiments of Guards were captured in the Aisno battle, including the 55t,hs, who are regarded as one of "the elite." The meii of this regiment possess certificates attesting that they had repelled 21 attacks, and, therefore, merited the title of "Invincibles." ACTS OF VANDAMSM. (Australian and, N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received October 27tli, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 26. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at French Headquarters says:— "After the terrible blows of Tilesday the German Commands seem in disorder. Papers taken reveal the fact that one battaliofa of which 600 were captured at Pin on, received contradictory orders to retire ftnd to hold Pinon at any cost. 'IW some days Frebch ariatora had been reporting that the Germans were cutting down fruit trees and demolishing farms in the Ailette valley, recalling the . Sommo retreat. The French are making steady and unrelenting progress. The canal is not an obstacle, but ihere is a good deal of marshy ground in the Ailette valley. The question also arises whether

the enemy will attempt to hold the remainder of the Chemin des Dames. After their two days' triumphs our troops are in splendid Spirits." RESULTS OF THE ATTACK. (Renter's Telegrtuhs.) (Received October 26th, 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 26. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of October 25th, says "Oft the right our victory was completed by the capture of the villages

AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE ON ITALIAN FRONT.

FRENCH ADVANCE IN THE AISNE.

(Australian arid N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rfeuter's Tfclegrams.,

(Received October 26th, 11.5 p.Si.) October 25A French comnltiiiique states:—

"The Division was again engaged on October 12th, and attacked Bellevue Spur. Enemy wire' and heavy ma-chine-gun fire from pill-boxea, combined -frith the bad state of tho ground, held up the attacking brigades. The battalions attacked in turn with great determination, but were unable to penetrate the enemy's defences. Some progress was made nevertheless, and 93 prisoners were taken. "Since October 12th there have been no offensive operations, but tho lino gained has been Consolidated and held till relief." The Minister added that the defence orders for Messines were captured, and had been retained as an official wax trophy for New Zealand. They showed that the enemy was lelying on five concreto strong points in tho town.

of Pargny and Filain. In this region and in the forest of Pinon the enemy was forced to abandon a large number of guns. We made progress on the left beyond the limits assigned for the advance on October 23rd. Our patrols were in touch along the OiseAisno Canal this morning. The tanks co-operated i n the attack.

"Following Tuesday's victory our troops continued to advance towards tlio Oise-Aisrie Ciinijl froin the west and sotith. "We now hold all tlio heights on the south bank of the Canal above tlio eastern end of the Ailette Valley. Wo are firmly established on tlio receding slopes from Vaiixaillon to Cllavignon."

"A general advance took place this morning beyond tho positions we reached last evehing, bordering oil the Oise-Aisne Canal.

"Tho village and Forest of Pitiori, also the villages of Pargny and Filain, are in our hatids. South of Filain, where our patrols penetrated, we occupy the farms St. Manneus and Chapellg fSt. Bdrmtiic.

"Tho' enemy, under dur pressure, was compelled to abandon Much material, including 20 guns, several of which, were Bin inortars. Altogether 120 guns.ilave been captured since October 23rd, jji addition to several hundred iriine-tlptwerg find machine-guns. We took over 2000 prisoners during th& day, ftnd Ove? 11,000 prisoners, including 200 officers, have been taken since the beginning of the operations. "The Gerttians, bh the right bank of the Meuse, followed up this inorfling's bortibardnient of the Bdis Le Chaume, with an attack which our fire stoppod."

(Australian ahd N.Z. Cable (Router's TcJceroihaJ (Received October 36th ; 5.6 p.m.) LONDON* October 25. A German official report states• "Our advanced troops in the Pinon-Chavignon-Ailette region have withdrawn behind the Aisne, owing to Frelich pregsut-e."

THE NEW ZEALANDERS WORK. AN OFFICIAL SUMMARY. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, October 26. In the House of Representatives thiS afterribott, the Minister of Defence read the following Summary of the work of tho New Zealand Division for the moflth of October, as Supplied by Geileral Godiey:—

"The Divisiott took part with great and complete success in the British advance on October 4th. The Division attacked at 6 a.m. on a front of 2000 yards and captured Gravfenstafel Village, Abraham Heights, • Berlin aiid Kronpriria Farm, besides numerous other fortified poltits and trench elements. All objectives were! taken according to time-table, behind artillery and machine-gUn barrages. The artillery co-operation waS good. The Gefinan positions wero penetrated to a depth of 1700 yards at certain points. The enemy fought well at first, but later surrendered Altogether 1159 prisoners of four different German divisions were taken, also 59 machine-guns. The enemy wete so disorgaiiised that no serious counterattack was made. A counter-attaak on a Small scale Was destroyed at the outset. During the assembly east of Krdnpriiiz Farm the enemy suffered a serious setback, and lost valuable ground before relief. The captured ground was consolidated and trenches were dag.

EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. (Australian and N.Z, Cable JUsoci&tion.) (Reuter'a ToJeyranw.) LONDON, October 25. A Belgian East African official message enys:— companies of Germans on October 13th twice attacked n Belgian detachment entrenched north-east of Littagui village, south-east of Mahcnge. By tho evening they were repulsed. I "A speedy junction of the "British i and Belgian forces is apprehended."