BRITISH GAINS HELD AND CONSOLIDATED

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

BRITISH GAINS HELD AND CONSOLIDATED

ENEMY LOSSES EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY WORK OF NEW ZEALANDERS AND AUSTRALIANS HIGHLY PRAISED By Telegraph-Press Association. Copyright London, October 5. Sir Douglas Haig 'reports: "Statements by prisoners and the identification of German units by the numbers of the German dead show that our attack anticipated, l>y a few minutes, an attack by five German divisions against our front from Polygon Wood to Zonnebeke. Our barrage descended on tho enemy's assembling troops, and the attack did not materialise. Our infantry overwhelmed those who c'scaped tho artillery fire. Owing to the enemy's losses in this area, few counter-attacks have yet developed, Two which were attempted early this afternoon east of Gravenstafel were broken by our' fire. Another, north-east of Langemarck, led to severe fighting, but failed to drive us from tho positions we had gained. Late)' in the afternoon three counter-attacks south-east of Polygon Wood failed. The enemy's losses throughout the whole of the fighting were exceedingly heavy, largely owing to the unusual number of German troops on tho bat-tle-front at the outset of our attack. Our casualties were light. .We captured a few guns and much material. The low clouds and the high west wind on Wednesday made aerial work almost impossible. Pour machines attempted to bomb the enemy's aerodromes. One of them bombed its objective; two bombed other targets. Pew hostile aircraft'were seen. ■ "Among the English troops engaged were battalions from twenty-eight counties, and also a few battalions from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Rapid progress was made at all points from the start. Only a short advance was intended south of the Menin Road, where our objectives were reached at v an early hour. The English battalions north of the road carried, after sharp fighting, the hamlet of Polderhoek and the Polderhoek Chateau. The first objectives were gained on the whole front of attack shortly after the assault opened, and our advances against the final objectives were carried out. in accordance with the plan laid down, and were equally successful. The whole of our objectives were captured before midday."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Eec. October 7, 11.5 p.m.) ' London, October (i. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy artillery is mors active, font 110 infantry action has been attempted. Welsh troops made successful raids northeast of Gouzeaucourt. We have consolidated the positions gained. Our prisoners since yesterday morning number Ui6, including 111 officers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.' DIFFICULTIES OF THE ADVANCE INCREASED BY ROUGH - WEATHER. London, October 5. « Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The weather, after \ promising to b\! favourable, became less settled, and a strong westerly wind, with the force of a gale, with rainstorms, throughout the battle, added to the difficulties of the advance and of the airmen's worlc. Nevertheless, our aircraft did valuable work, and afford- ' ed useful information as to the positions of our troops and the assembly of (lie enemy for counter-attacks."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. NEW POSITIONS SHELLED BY THE ENEMY. London, Octobcr 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy heavily shelled our new positions east of Ypres, which our troops were engaged in. organising. We drove off raiders north of Gouzeaucourt, inflicting losses. We repulsed three raids in the neighbourhood of Lens." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARTILLERY ACTIVE ON WHOLE BATTLE-FRONT. (Rec. October 8, 0.5 a.m.) London, October 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Our artillery has been aotivo nil day on the whole battle-frost. In'the evening the enemy shelled our new positions on the ridge from Broodseinde southwards, but did not counter-attack. Our aeroplanes bombed various railway stations and aerodromes. Seven enemy machines were brought down. Five of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■\ " THE MOST SLASHING DEFEAT YET INFLICTED" — : —. \ ' CONFUSION BEHIND GERMAN LINES. (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) V . . , London, October 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: "The men from the new front tell grim tales indicating that the Germans suffered the most slashing defeat wc have yet inflicted. In one section near Poelcapelle six German battalions in the front line were killed or taken prisoner. The New Zealanders and the English admit that Fritz often showed pluck while he had a> dog's chance, but many ran when tlie attackers got close. Confusion prevailed behind the German lines, probably as the result of our attack meeting theirs. The counter-attacks also were badlv planned, and caused further disaster. The Germans advanced in a straggling fashion, and many wandered in aimless groups until they were shot down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. /WHOLE OF HIGH GROUND WRENCHED FROM THE ENEMY -THE NEW ZEALANDERS IN GREAT FORM. London, October 5. Mr. Gilraour, correspondent for the Australasian Press Association, writes that lie saw the New Zealanders going up to the front. They were greatly relieved that they had not been .overlooked. Their greatest anxiety has been lest the "show" should be over before tiiey were given their chance. lliey were in great form, having been resting since Messines; and they were never keener to lheet the enemy. The New Zealanders closely co-operated with the Australians, in the same difficult sort of terrain as their previous assaults. The Anzacs were chosen for the push slightly nortli of the front tliey had occupied at the commencement of the offensive, and had to advance across slightly rising ground, and secure the ridge north of Polygon Wood, which wan the highest point necessary to obtain -complete command of the whole of the Passehendaele ltidge. Otherwise tho British line would be subjoct to a constant monaco. Sir Douglas Haig, by this third rapid assault on the same wido front, has wrenched from the enemy the whole of the high ground. It has been proved that nothing the enemy can do is able to stem our advance behind our ierriblo ■artillery barrage. Tho Germans' only hope lies in counter-attacks, in which they inevitably suffer heavily under our bombardment. The Anzacs will ho delighted at finding themselves in a position to look down on the ground where the°storm of shells is bursting over every vestigo of tho German defence—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF PERFECT ORGANISATION BRITISH GUNS ALREADY IN NEW POSITIONS. (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 6. Mr Percival Phillips says: "Although tho elopes of Passehendaele are covered with German dead, tho enemy still strikes. Apparently lie considers that no sacrifice is too great if he can recover the lost ground and restore confidence to his troops. Our success was so complete as ,to bo almost uneventful. Despite the difficulties of maintaining communications we never lost touch with any of our outposts Our guns havo already taken their assigned positions, and are searching the enemy's country. There was a wonderful example of perfect or- ■ "anisation in nur great force. A thousand German dead were counted in one position on the Australian front. Seven "hundred more were strewn in the craters further south. Tho position of rows of bodies shows tho men wore running wildlv towards thoir own rear whon struck dowh. Our man found many of the crnlvn uninhabitable, because choked with dead am! wounded."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A MOST IMPORTANT VICTORY

"ANZACS FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS."

London, October 5. The United Tress correspondent writes: "To-day a line of substantially intact bodies of men of Prince Rupprecht's storm troops are lying ir. ghastly postures before the British positions. TIIO prisoners aro probably more numerous than was at first roportedj Tho weather improved during the night, and there was a brilliant sunrise this morning. Von Hindenburg's defences liavo definitely proved vulnerable. The British barrage levelled a wide defensive zone, forcing the Germans to give up a complete trench system which liad become a deathtrap. Von Hindenburg's 'pill-boxes' and concreted sliell-craters, over a wide zone, did not meet the German expectations raised iu tho battles of the oarly summer. Seven counter-attacks launched yesterday all faded out before reaching their objectives, except at minor points, leaving Hie victory as a wliolo untarnished. Tiiero was little activity at night. Every indication points to the complete disorganisation of the enemy,. Tho Aiizaci Division fought like tigers, and deserves special praise. The liattle gave us probably the most important victory in the war."—Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn.

PAB.IS PRESS EULOGISTIC

Paris, October ,j. All 1.110 newspapers comment eulogistically upon iho brilliant success of llio British.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MOST TERRIBLE BOMBARDMENT OP THE WAR

FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER. OF ENEMY TROOPS

London, October 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "Although tho German barrage fell upon our men before they lept to tho assault,' it happened, torribly for the enomy, that our men were not stopped, but went through the zone of German shells without disorder. They swept over the German assault troops, annihilating them and orushing their plan of attack. Those German troops did not attack. Their defence, even, was broken. As our lines of lire crept forward they reached and broke the second and third waves of men who were intended for the attack. They caught them in the support and reserve positions; and we can only guess what the slaughter must have boen. It was a slaughter in which fivo German divisions were involved. The battle was being prepared for on a big scale ever since the Inst was fought and won. The Tommies and Chinese and coloured men were engaged in a fever of work, piling up mountains of ammunition to feed the artillery. Thousands of shells, new from the English factories, were unloaded in the waste ground of the old battlefield near Ypres, ready- for the greedy gnns, and tho Pioneers con tinned repairing tho roads and laying tracks and railways, astoundingly unconcerned by the enemy's fire. The German barrage was the beginning of his new plan', which failed because of the great courage of our troops and because the German infantry attack was an hour late. If it liad occurred two hours earlier, it might have led to our undoing, and might have prevented anything like a real victory. Fortune was on our side. The main force for the German attack was the fourth Guards Division, and two others were ready to assault the centre of our battle-front at Polygon Wood and down from the Broodseinde cross-roads. Wo fought the German assault divisions at the Broodseindo cross-roads, capturing many prisoners before they bad time to advance. Viewed from' the westward, tho whole scene of tho Passchendaele Ridge, Hill 40, westward of Zonnebeka. and the line of the crest to the Polygon Wood, was veiled in smoke and mist, through which the ridgo loomed darkly. But ono could clearly see the white and yellow cloud-bursts of our shell fire and the flame of the shell-bursts. Great as were the bombardments of the Somme, Vimv, Arras, and Messines, in frightfulness they were not comparable with this. It was the most terrible in the whole course of tho war. The entire Passchendaele crest was like a series of volcanoes, belching forth pillars of earth and fire—Aus.-Jf.Z. Cable Assn. ,

"AUSTRALIANS' AND NEW ZEALANDERS' MOST GLORIOUS DAY " TOOK OYER 2000 PRISONERS. (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, October G. Mr. Philip Gibbs slates: "It was a_ great day for the Australians and New Zealanders: tlioir greatest and most glorious day. They went grimly and bheevfully to the goal over every obstacle. The New Zealanders and Australians, fighting up the Abraham Heights, took over 2000 prisoners. Thev describe the number of German dead as unprecedented. Other Australians, fighting for the Broodseinde cross-roads, counted 900 dead Germans.' I saw the Australians going up, lithe, loose-limbed, hatchet-faced. Then the New Zealanders came along, a type midway between the English and the Australians. They were less lean and wiry, had more colour, and were of fuller build. They were as fine a set of boys as one could sen in the whole world. They went nn to the front gladly. I talked to some of them on the battlefield. Cheery and full of confidence, they wanted to go as far as the Australians, and do as well as they did. Among the Australians also a friendly rivalry existed between tho new men and the old hands, the now men wanting to show the old men what mettle thev were made of, and the fresh battalions were,keen to earn similar honours to those already won by the others. It was certain the Australians would reach the Broodßein.de crossroads if human courage could get there. Without check, regardless of the v enemy's fire, some went even too.fast behind our own barrage. In similar manner the New Zealonders reached the Abraham Heights, carrying all before them. The hardest time was spent last night, in tho mud and cold, under an intermittent heavy tire from'the enemy; but they stuck it out."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "NEW ZEALANDERS FOUGHT MAGNIFICENTLY." (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, October C. t Mr. Murdoch snTB the New Zealanders fought magnificently. The innnner in which they brought -up the guns is described as worthy of a military tournament.—'United. Service. i

FURTHER PRAISE FOR THE NEW ZEALANDERS "NEVER DID BETTER, THAN YESTERDAY." (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) ' ' London, October G. Mr. TV. Beach Thomas writes: "The 'Australians advanced over the ridge 60 rapidly that they found the Germans lurking behind our first and second objectives. They captured seven officers hidden in a hole, including tbree battalion commanders. Our airmen mastered the enemy all day. After our objectives were won German storm troops furiously attacked our wings. Each onslaught was heavier than the previous one. Eleven times they were repulsed, till eventually a fresh force, attacking regardless of cost, recovered possession of a little of tho ridge, but it was subsequently retaken. Two tanks captured two forts which had been holding up the advance. The New Zealanders never did better than they did yesterday. With another division they took 2000 prisoners. Going beyond their objectives and meeting double their force of the enemy preparing a counter-attack, they havocked them. They have already dug good defences, earning the highest praise by their rapid movement."—United Service. THREE STAGGERING BLOWS WITHIN A , FORTNIGHT GERMAN CASUALTIES CALCULATED AT 40,000. London, October 5. Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters reports: "Tho fruits of yesterday's victory have been held. There were no infantry counter-attacks during the night, the fact demonstrating tho exhaustion of the Germans 1 . The third enemy counter-attack yesterday advanced in great strength late in the afternoon, and bent our line back slightly; but it nec°s3itnted only' a trifli-ig modification of tho front, which has absolutely no bearinsr upon the general - tactical results achieved. Within the past fortnight we have struck the enemy in Flinders three staggering blows in a very vital spot, and sent him reeling back about three miles. We have taken about 9000 prisoners, and inflicted casualties conservatively calculated at 40,000.—Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, October 5. A French communique states: "There are violent.artillery actions on the right bank of the Meuse, in the region cf the Bezonvaux Hill."—A'us.-N;Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. (Rec. October 7, 11.5 p.m.) London, October li. A French communique records a lively engagement on the right bank of the Mouse. "An enemy group which gained a footing in our advanced' trenches was driven out and the line restored. Other raids were repulsed. Our artillery caught and dispersed an enemy concentration in the region of Caurieres Wood." —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) • London, October 5. A German official report states: "The hottest points in yesterday's .fighting we're at Poelcapelle and isolated farms at tho Passchendaele cross-roads, eastward. of Zonnebeke Wood and westward of Becelaero village and Gheluvelt, The enemy temporarily advanced over this line, but was unable to hold tin? ground owing to our counter-attacks. The English gains were restricted to a strip from one to one and a half kilometres in depth between Poelcapelle and Becelaere. We retained Becelaere and Gheluvelt. We repulsed almost everywhere twelve French attacks in three days at Hill 34'!."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable'Assn.-Reuter. London, October G. A German official'report states: "Tho artillery activity'lias increased to drumfire between Poelcapelle and Gheluvelt. A French attack north-east- of Reims failed The Bulgarians repulsed tho English eastward of Lake Doiran."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. NINE MONTHS' OPERATIONS REVIEWED CHEERING'RECORD OF BRITISH SUCCESSES HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES IN MEN AND GUNS London, October 5. A high military authority states that from tho ond of July to tho ond of September, the troops which participated in tho recent offensive comprised 70 per cent, of English, 10 per cent, of colonial, 6 per cent, of Scottish, and 8 per cent, of Irish. The casualties wore distributed as follow: English, 76' per cent.; colonial, 8 per cent.; Scottish, 10 per cent.; and lrisli, G percent. We have captured during the past nine months on the West front, 51,435 German soldiers, and 342 field and heavy guns. We lost in the same period 15,065 prisoners and no guns. In all theatres in the nine months, we captured 72,513 prisoners and 470 guns, and lost 15,850 prisoners and no guns. . During tho September nir raids on London, lifty-one people were killed and 247 wounded. The Germans dropped f Ol . lim i half tons of bombs in London. In the same period we dropped 21j lons of bombs behind the German lines. Tho enemy had copied our inol]| ol | s . We taught them how to bomb from aeroplanes, but they have not yet succ ee <ied as much as we have dono. y Now the hot weather has passed, we should begin to hear something from Mesopotamia. The capture of j s mos t; important. If the enemy had got it, it would have left our flank agajust Bagdad open. In East. Africa the Germans are now enrolled within an area two hundred 1 miles by fifty miles.—Aus.-N.E. Cablo- A ssn .