THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 5

THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

PROGRESS REPORTS OP THE CAPTURES

fey Telegraph-Press Aesociation-Copvrißht * (Bee. October 3, 5.15 p.m.) London, October 2. An official report from Mesopotamia says that owing to the extent "Si thefighting in th'e area round Bamadio it is impossible at present to give a completo list of captures, which include ek hundred wounded and 3200 unwounded prisoners, of whom two hundred aro officers. "We buried two hundred Turks." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eenter. . Tho High Coirtmissionor's report states that 200 Turks were killed and 3foo made prisoner, whilo.thirteen guns and twelve machine-guns were taken. A Banter message, • i-eceived earlier than the two foregoing dispatches, states that the British captured 13,000 prisoners in Mesopotamia.

SIX DESPERATE ATTACKS ON THE BRITISH

ALL REPULSED WITH SEVERE LOSSES

HEAVY FIGHTING ON THE |MEUSE The High iCommiwioner reports: London, October 2, 11.10 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Betwecnthe Ypres-Menin road and the northeast corner of the Polygon Wood there were five onemy counter-attacks yesterday and at Zonnobeke, south of the Ypres-Roulera railway, a sixth. All the attacks completely failed, except that we lost two advanced posts. Tho enemy's loss was severe, and he gained no advantage." " .' ■ By Telcgraph-Prees Association. Copyrignt , (Rec. October 3, 9 p.m.) \ , . ( . ' London, October 2. Sir Donglag Haig reports: "The only fighting to report is a reciprocal artillery bombardment. Our aeroplanes bombed the Controde and Carnieres aerodromes and the German long-range fjuns. We brought down eight of the enemy's machines Two of ours are miseins."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter.

GREATEST ARTILLERY BATTLE OF THE WAR NOW RAGING London, October, 2 Mr Phillip Gibbs states that the ceaseless artillery battle on tho new front since September 26. has .reached great fury on both sides by day and night. The enemy is massing troops in tho Zandvporde region, and also behind the Passchendaele spurs; but our aeroplanes have constantly directed our batteries on the spot, and they have smashed the German battalions. The Germans are seriously alarmed by our new positions, -which threaten the whole Passchendaelo Bidce- and they are retaliating by eEormous gunfire on. a wide front, and also ' by deep barrages behind the front. It is the greatest artillery battle yet eeen -- in the" war Never has there been such concentration of batteries, or such intense and 'widespread fire.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

"THE ENEMY SUFFERED FRIGHTFULLY."

s London, October 2 Reuter's correspondent at British Headquarters etates that as the result of the fighting arising out of the German counter-attack yesterday our position be. yond Cameron House seems as if it vere not quite restored. Elsewhere we advanced over 100 yards. The enemy suffered frightfully in, his unsuccessful attempts to regain the shell-hole area. There was «■ considerable proportion of Poles and Alsatians with the -new troops which the Germans hurried up to defend the Menin Bidge.—Eeute'r.

THREE VAIN GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS SCOTCHED BY AKTILL'ERY AND RIFLE FIRE. ; (Rec. October 3, 7.15 p.m.) ' London, October 2Mr. H. P. Bobinson writes: "The Germans in their counter-attacks i:sed more men without making any impression in the region from the upper part of Polygon Wood to below Tower Hamlets. After a heavy artillery bombardment the Germans came on in three successive widespread waves. The first was 'far advanced before being picked out by tie; guns.f. and was eventually scotched by riflo fire before the line was reached. The second 'wave was wiped out by the artillery, while the third was broken, but not checked till scattered by rifle fire when the enemy turned and fled. Later in the morning attacks by the heaviest forces were everywhere stopped. The Germans are apin bombing the hospitals. Three nurses have been killed and one wounded.- —Thei limes.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT SEVERE FIGHTIN ON THE MEUSE. Paris, October 2. A French official communique states: "There have been somewhat lively artillery actions on tho Aisne front and on tho.right bank of the Meuse. After a violent bombardment the Germans attacked between Chaume Wood and Benonmux A desperate fight ensued in our advanced trenches, ending in our favour. Tho lines were completely restored."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. (Bee. October 3, 5.15 p.m.) \ , ' London, October 2. A French official communique states that there is marked reciprocal artillery activity along the whole of the Aisno front, especially on the Craonno sec tor. "Our artillery dispersed the enemy's forces, which were massing in tho region north-west of Eeiras. The artillery duel was particularly intense on j the right bank of the Meuse during tho night, from Samogneux to Bezonvanx. f We stopped two attacks in the Beaumont sector, inflicting appreciable losses. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. ..(Hoc. October 3, 5.15 p.m.) London, October 2. A Gorman official report states: "Wo captured n. portion of the Polygon Wood to a depth of five'hundred yards, and withstood repeated counter-attacks. We penetrated to tho rear of the French position near Bczonvaux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Beuter.

AIR OFFENSIVES IN THE WEST DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS BY BRITISH AND FRENCH SQUADRONS London, October 2. Tho Admiralty reports: "Naval aircraft on Siimlav T,ombe<l Hie hnngars :it the St. Donis-Wostrcm aerodrome, and ignited odd. Tho firo was visible thirty miles away. They also bombed the look-gates at Zeebrtigge. .In another rsid on St. Denis-Westrem at noon on Monday BOvoral diroct hits wore made, l'he raiders .ignited two of the sheds which wero hit on Sunday. These appear to bo completely nutted."

A French communiquo etatcs: "Our ljombing machines dropped over two tons of explosives on depots at Koulers, dx ton 3 oa the railway stations at AfutzBiidavioppy (?) and Thionyillo, an Aerodrome at Chumbloy, bivouacs at Spincourt and Tilloy, and a munition depot at Longeau Farm, where a violent explosion was observed."—Aus.-N.Z. CableAssn.-Heittor.

'FIFTEEN GERMAN AEROPLANES DESTROYED. (Ecc. October 3, 7.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 2. It is reported that fifteen German aeroplanes vrero destroyed in the Allied air raid at St. Denis-Westrem aerodrome on September 30.—Beuter.