TENSION OF BOMBARDMENT SNAPPED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3152, 2 August 1917, Page 7

TENSION OF BOMBARDMENT SNAPPED

ANGLO-FRENCH TROOPS BRILLIANTLY ATTACKING "THE ONE BATTLE ALL THE WORLD HAS BEEN EXPECTING" (By Telegraph—Press Assoointion—Copyright). London, July 31. Sir Douglas Hajg reports:—"ln conjunction with a French operation, on our loft, we attacked at 3.50 o'clock this morning on a wide front'northward of tho River Lys (on the Franco-Belgian frontier line). Tho Allies captured their first objectives on tho whole of tho front attacked, and are reported to bo progressing satisfactorily at all points."—Aus.-A'.Z. Cable- Assn.-Rcuter. ' (Roc. August 1, 8,55 p.m.) London, August J. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The Allied operations wcro successfully continued, in spite of unfavourable weather. Wo have entered tho tueniy's positions and advanced bur lino on a front of fifteen miles from La Basso Villo, on tile Lys River, to Steenstrant, on the Yser River, and taken possession of both villages. The French, closely co-operating and protecting tho British left flank, captured Steenstraat, rapidly" penetrating tho German, defences to a depth of two miles. Having gained tho'day's objectfVes at an early hour, they continued to attack witlt the.greatest gallantry, captured Bixschooto and the enemy's positions south-east and west of the village, on a front of 2£ miles, including tho Korteker Cabaret, ami repulsed a conn,tor-attack in tho afternoon. "Tlioßritish divisions in the centre and left-ccntro penetrated to a depth of two miles, and secured crossings on the Stoenuek River, which were thoir final objectives. In the course of their attack they stormed two powerful defensive systems and carried the villages of Vcrlorenhoek, Frezonberg, St. Julien, and Pilkem, and also many strongly-defeuded_ farms, woods, and organised localities. Further south, our right-centre, after gafiiing tho whole of its first objectives, including tho Hooge-Santiiary "Wood, advanced against an obstinato resistance over difficult country in the neighbourhood of the Yprcs-Menin Road, and carried "Westhoek.: "Wo penetrated the enemy's defences to a depth of a mile in this neighbourhood, where heavy fighting lasted all day, and is still continuing. "We repulsed a number'of powerful counter-attacks. "We gained' tho whole of our objectives early in the day on the extreme right, southward of tho ZillebekcZanvoorde Road, capturing La Basse Ville and Hollebeke, and in addition inflicting heavy casualties. Prisoners to tho number of 3500 havo already been brought in, but it is impossiblo yet to accurately estimate tho captures.*'—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Retiter. CORRESPONDENTS' ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLE "WHOLE MONT BLAZING AND BOOMING." August 1, 5.20 p.m.) London, July 31. Router's correspondent' at Headquarters reports:—"Tho tension of the past few days lias been snapped. At 3 o'clock this morning tho British took the offensive in what is believed will bo tho biggest battle of the war. From the river Lys to Boesingho (north of Ypres) the wholo front is blazing and booming." ter. "The country where tlio i eaviest fighting is developing may bo likened to a vast saucer, of whicli the German positions form the rim. Nowhere is there any great ridge to tackle, such as at Vimy and Messines, but a steady incline, scarcely appreciable to the eye, is rmdered difficult by a stuhbly growth of sparse' trees, to where, further north, it merges into tho Yser .swamps. The hurricane bombardment, which reached its final maximum sliortly beforo the infantry went over, was the heaviest ever experienced. The earth rocked under tho tempest of gun-fire. "The attackers woro: gas .oasks. Nothing that the Germans havo yet invented in 1 the way of chemical {rightfulness has proved effective against our respirators, The 'Fourth German Army Group—tho Crown Prince's and Princo Rupprecht's—are bearing the brunt of the offensive. Several divisions are known to liavo been badly knocked about. It is believed that some have recently been withdrawn. A big proportion of these troops are mere boys. For example, one regiment whose normal strength was 2100 recently received a refit draft of six hundred lads from the 1918 class, indicating the extent to which Germany is feeling tho drain on her man-power. After Twelve Hours' Fighting. British Headquarters, August 1. 4 p.m. Reuter's correspondent: "We have got on famously during tho last twelve hours. The whole British Army has advanced to an avcrago depth of .ino thousand yards by ten thousand yards. During the morning the prisoners kept streaming in many readily surrendering. "We have crossed the Yser at many places. The bridging work has been wonderful. One division alone, exposed to fire tho whole time, "threw over seventeen bridges. The artillery is literally pursuing tho enemy. One minute"after the appointed moment for the begiunng of the attack our guns were moving forward. Our troops, imbued with fine spirit ami determination, crept up close behind their barrage, ready to rush the trenches when the shell fuses were .lengthened for the next barrage, m ono ease they actually dashed through their own fire in order to prevent tho escape of a largo number of Germans, who were preparing to nee, and bagged numerous prisoners at small'cost." . HEAVY FIGHTING FOLLOWS THE FIRST ADVANCE. " The United Press correspondent reports that a. colossal battle began at dnivn in the mist and fog, the Frouch and British attacking simultaneously. Tho first reports show that tho British in tlio region of Ypres have taken tne enemy's system of front trenches, and :'re still advancing. The artillery is moving up with extraordinary rapidity, and "tanks" were observed well forward of La Basse Villo (south-east of Messines), whinh was captured. Counter-attacks wero repulsed, and tho position was consolidated. The French crossed tho canal, capturing the first and second linos of trenches, and the advance continues. Many'prisoners and much booty wore taken. The Allies are now moving eastward into higher ground beyond (ho Yser. The artillery preparation and barrage were unprecedented, and tho first lines were obliterated in tho Yser area. Tho Allies met with slight, resistance, but heavy fighting developed as they penetrated eastward, where the Germans resisted stubbornly, especially from concrete "pill-boxes," as the machine-gun turrets are called. " The enemy's barrage was feeble and erratic. British airmen swooped under the clouds, which wore scarcely 500 feet high, and fired their machine-guns nt tho startled Teutons. They did great service, and reported progress, which the observers were unable to see. The Germans expected the attack, but Prince Rupprecht wns unprepared for the unparalleled blow, which sent him reeling from Hie "death valley" of Belgium. Brilliant Gains by the French. Tho deepest British advanoo was over eight thousand yards between EoesingTio and tho Lys. 'Elsewhere they penetrated to a depth of four thousand ynrds. The French brilliantly gained important successes.—United Service. Reported Success by the Australians. The "Times" correspondent reports that it is understood that the Australians took La Basso Ville.-Tho "Times." ENEMY THRUST BACK OVER A WIDE STRETCH. (lice. August 1, 5.30 p.m.) London, July 31. .Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"We have gained ground everywhere, captured tho enemy's positions across tho Yser Canal, and thrust the Germans' back over a. wido stretch between Pilkem and Hollebeke (north-east and south-east respecI tivoly of Ypres). Tho enemy is fighting desperately, and supported by a great weight of artillery.

"Tho 0110 battle nil (ho world imp been expecting began on ii front stretching roughly from tho River Lys to Boesmghe, ahovo which tlio French aro fighting shoulder to shoulder with ourselves. We hiivo thrust hack tho enemy on a wide stretch of country between I'ilkem and Hollebekc. 'J'lio enemy, desperately lighting, is flinging in his reserves in, coun-ter-attacks, intended to check our sweeping advance. Many of tho tanks which wcro preceding and following our infantry did marvels against; the enemy's strong points, where his machine-guns momentarily held the cltaCMrs. Mr. Gibbs describes tho terrific bombardment which preceded tho attack, and also tho British raids by day and night, to sco what strength tho enemy was massing against us. "Russia lured the onemy, in despite of our threat, and six divisions wero sent to tho Eastern front, but he simultaneously relioved many divisions which had I«on broken by our lire, replacing tlieso by his freshest and strongest troops. Our guns caught tho Gormans whilo they wero relieving trenches. Thus tho Fifty-Second Reserve Division stepped straight into the inferno of fire. Tho weather lias been against us day after day, rain and heavy, sodden clouds rendering aerial observation almost impossible greatly hampering tho work of tho artillery. The nighE before the attack was dark and moist, but luck was wjth ns. Tho threatened storm did not break, and the men wero kept dry. Tho'darkness was iD our favour. Tho assaulting troops formed up for tho attack vory close to the enemy's lines, which were merely fields of craters, from which our storms of firo lind swept away all trenches, buildings, and trees. The enemy's forward positions wore held lightly by small groups, that, knowing themselves to be doomed, awaited that doom m pits liko animals m death-traps. Waiting for the Dawn. Tho enemy in his less damaged second-line defences appeared to bo in-greater stren"th as flares from theso positions ascended all night in scores. Thousands of our men lying on tho wet earth, pud dies, and mud-holes, watched the Hares, and hoped they would not be discovered before tho order was given to advance. They lay silently while shells passed over or smashed among them. Tho enemy's aircraft, bolder than in the daytime, came out during the night swooped over tho places where thev imagino <i our batteries wero hidden, and dropped bombs, but seeing nothing, their aim was bad, and the damage done was unimportant. Shortly after half-past three thd iiofie of the artillery quickened and intensified to a monotonous overwhelming tumult, so great that twelve miles behind the lines big houses wero moved and shaken with tlio great trembling. People farther away wore awakened with fear. The gun-fire, winch did not slacken for hours, 'boat over the countryside At nine o clock in tho morning tlio same great rafalo caused terror when it started. Tlio thundering of our two thousand guns or more vas answered by the enemy s barrage ove Warncton, Oostavern, in tho valloy of Belmy, and Messmes Bulge. The. enemy delivered an appalling fire along our lino with shells of the heaviest calibre, which burst in monstrous explosions, and raised great pnßirs of whto smolce. It was a dentil valley, in which our men wero fighting for the slopes beyond. Our Progress to aDte. "It is too soon to give details of tho battle, or a full account of our progress. Tho English, Scottish, Welsh,'somo Australians aud New Zealanders nil alon" tho lino fought hard with good success over ground as difficult as any that they have ever been in. Owing tp tlio canal and swamps the onemy was quickly ejected from his front lino an'd and was thickly massed in his second line, but somo threw up their 'hands immediately, crying lor mercy. Tho Scots came up nnginst a strong emplacement liiachme-guns, whero tlio gunners fired rapidly, checking our mem Tho Scots relied the place, and finally a German hoisted a white flag, liven then others fared. Lhe Welsh wiped out tho famous Third Guards Divisions. Our success has .been as great as wo had dared to hope. Beyond Tpres, on the Memn Eoad, was a big tunnel; where the English lads expected trouble. They iound only forty-one men, wlio forthwith surrendered. Somo of the enemy s troops are voting boys, but tlio majority are older and tougher men. Tho French who were lighting with us kept paco with their usual gall antry/'-Aus.-Jf .Z. Cable Assn. INTENSE EXCITEMENT IN LONDON HAIG'S REAL AIM YET VEILED. (Gee. August 1, G. 30 p.m.) i London, July 31. Sir DouWas Haig's offensive has created intense excitement in London. The attack has a front of eighteen miles, extending from tlio Lys. to well north, of Ynres menacing Marin, which is tho key 'to Boubaix, Turcoing, and Lille. It is not known whether Sir Douglas Haig intends to mako a sensational advance, or is only seeking to bleed tho Germans white. Tho Lys valley is Hat, and recent rains liavo converted it into thick mud. Tho country, is always so waterlo""ed that it is impossible to dig deep trenches and dug-outs. Jlhe enemy instead is using concrete cupolas for his machine-guns.—Aus.-N./i. Cable Assn. THE FRENCH ACCOUNT OF THE ADVANCE London, July 31. ■V French communique slates:-"We attacked on a front of 1500 yards south of Eoyere and west of the Chcvregny Spur. Tho attack was entirely success ful and we reached all our objectives and broke a counter-attaok. The .nrtillcn struceto followed by infantry attacks, continues m Cerny-Hilrtebise sector. An enemy coup-do-main after a violent bombardment, north-west of Prosnes in tho Champagne, was defeated by our vigorous rifle and gun fare. —Ans.-i..//. UNO Assu.-Boutcr. ,„ , ~„ .„ . (Bee. August 1, 10.50 p.m.) London, August 1. A French official report states:—"After crossing the Tser Canal at night, lhe French at four o'clock in tho morning attacked in conjunction with the British on their right. A formidable artillery preparation completely levelled the' German or'ganiastions, and inflicted heavy losses. By the end of the morning wo had captured both the enemy's positions, and our troops, ardently passing their objective advanced along tho Lizerne-Dixmimo Boad, capturing Bixscuooto and tho Kortcker Cabaret. Our lesses wero insignificant. Wo took much material and many prisoners, while the battlefielct is covered with German dead. Details of tho fighting at Eoyere show that the French along the whole of their battlefront exceeded their objectives, and were ablo to clean up their trenches, which were choked with Gorman dead. ■ "There is most violent artillery activity on the Aisne. Attacks west of Clievrogny wero repulsed. Three German regiments attacked east of Cerny, but wero driven back bv immediate counter-attacks."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable issn.-Eeuter.

WHAT THE ENEMY SAYS ABOUT IT (Eec. August 1, 5.30 p.m.) , London, July 31. •V GDrman official report states:—"After gun-fire, strong attacks by Hie enomy commenced on a wido front from the Yser to the Lys. The French have penetrated to our positions on the Cherain-des-Dames. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Eeuter. ' „^_ (Bee. August-1, 7.1 a p.m.) London, August 1. A Gorman official report states:—"Wo repulsed tho first British assault on a twenty-five kilometres (15-rmlo) front astride tho Ypres line. The enemy, despito superior forces, merely secured possession of a crater position. We have gained an important height on tho Ghemin-dcs-Dames, and taken 1500 prison-ers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keutcr.