THE OUTLOOK IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 16, 13 October 1917, Page 7

THE OUTLOOK IN THE WEST

; SPLENDID RESULTS OF LATEST \ BATTLE 5 ALLIES' PRESSURE STEADILY I INCREASING ng •■ a ee h, ' rs I THE GERMAN NAVAL , = MUTINY ■a. is ■ ;; REVOLT THAT BLOCKED THE I BALTIC OFFENSIVE iit . it ie General Sir F. B. Maurice, Director of Military Operations, of the |? Imperial General Staff, reviews to-day the outlook on the Western front. is "Wo have every reason to be satisfied," he nays, "with tho results of the latest battle." The pressure on the enemy is increasing in intensity, the i- supply of food for the Army, equipment, munitions, and so forth, in P spite orthe'activities of tho submarines, has enormously increased. Dis- ,. patches from Sir. Douglas Haig indicate an improvement, in the weather, 5' and a revival of artillery and air activity. Further details regarding the 5 German naval mutiny at Wilhelrushaven reveal a. much more serious :, state of affairs than the earlier messages indicated. The unrest on the * battleships was widespread. Six of tho big vessels were, seriously affected, i and the authorities' distrust of the situation was such as to check the s projected naval offensive in the- Baltic. The feeling among the disafI fected crews was ticuto enough to create the idea of going as far as > "handing the ships over to tho enemy." Popular feeling in Germany l" is turning against the German Chancellor. Tn the columns of certain newspapers the suggestion is plainly put forth that Micbaelis ought to retire and give place to Von Knhlemann (Foreign Minister), described as a master in foreign diplomacy. Tho latter's declaration that the German ' answer on the subject of concessions in Alsace-Lorraine is "Np," a reply, ' r says Mr. Lloyd George, that is calculated to prolong the war. 3 t : — 7 \ LULL ON THE BRITISH FRONT 5 , —- | BAD WEATHER IN FLANDERS \ ANOTHER STORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE i - . By Telegraph-Prces Association-Copyright •" • ' .London, October 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Heavy rain fell last, night. There was considerable enemy artillery fire west of Pa's'schendaele."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reulcr. THE WEATHER IMPROVES. . .(Kec. October 12, 0 p.m.) London, October 12.' Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Improved weather and good visibility favoured the work of the artillery, and there wasmuch effective counter-battery fire, besides bombardments of the enemy's positions and communications in the back areas. The hostile artillery is less active, and there are uo infantry actions - . Our aeroplanes on Wednesday bombed the German big-gun positions. Five of the enemy's machines were brought down. Four of ours arc missing."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ecuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT FIGHTING IN BELGIUM AND ON THE MISUSE. London, October 11. A French officiaJ communique states! "On the Belgian front during the night we broke an attempted attack new to and .east of Draiebantk. On the right bank of the Meuse, north of Hill 344, the enemy temporarily gained a footing in the advanced elements of a irencb, but was driven out."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ecuter, (Eec. October 12, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 11. A French official communique mentions mutual artillery activity on various points of the front, but no infantry actions—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuler. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT London, October 11. A German official report states: "'there is most intense artillery activity on the coast and between the Blankarc Lake and oPoelcapelle. The French unsuccessfully attacked us at Draiebantk (three miles south of Dixmude). Eight aeroplanes took part in an aerial battle over Zonnebekc and Zandvoorde. We brought down *hreo machines. We captured important ground in the Chaunio Wood (Verdun front). Four counter-attacks were unsuccessful."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable' Assn.-Eeuter. THE SITUATION REVIEWED "EVERY REASON TO BE PLEASED WITH OUR LATEST ADVANCE." (Eec. October 12, 7.30 p.m.} London, October 11. General F. B. Maurice (Director of Military Operations, Imperial General Staff), reviewing the situation, says: "We have every reason to be pleased with our latest advance." Ho describes Colonel Moraht's statement that siuco September 20 the British have lost half a million men as grotesque. "There was not that number of men engaged in this series of battles. Siuco January our total casualties in all theatres have not exceeded half a million. Tne enemy's submarines have not delayed our plans in France for one hour, nor kept back one single round of ammunition. The British are better fed and more liberally supplied and equipped than ever before. The importation of war materials into France, which was 11 tons per hour, had risen to 24 tons per hour in the last week of September. Railway and canal facilities for transporting supplies have enormously improved."—Reuter. TRYING ORDEAL OF THE AUSTRALIANS ADVANCE WITHOUT FLANK SUPPORTS. London, October 11. Mr. ICeith Murdoch, writing from the Anzac Headquarters, describes the terrible conditions of the recent battle. "Tho Australians had to advance mcr broken ground, which was always kuee-deep, and sometimes up to the waist or the armpits, or even further, in mud. The British battalions on the left had an awfui time. The waterlogged shell-holes caused them to jump off nearly half an hour late. Thus the Australian sector went forward isolated, with uo support for its flanks, and drew tho full force of tho enemy. Our attacking troops were very weak owing to tho ion-arrival of' reinforcements. 'Tired, but with uuqucnchablo spirit, they started behind (ho barrage for their distant objectives. Their ranks thinned as Ujcy fought their way forward, rushing and storming strong posts until the final objectivo was heroically won. Then they started to organise the positions and to build strong points, though in many places they were isolated by German snipers. Their numbers became still thinner, and at last it was only a matter of a handful of men here and there standing their ground against tho full force of the enemy's gunfire and strong infantry attacks. Tho position became impossible,' and little groups of Australians were withdrawn. Very few wero taken prisoner. They came back in twos and threes, and organised a ]jositi on iV f ew hundred yards behind their furthermost objective, where, in spite of fierce counter-attacks, they remain." Mr. Murdoch records many instance s 0 f individual heroism. There .vcro numcrons cases of men single-handed taking scores of prisoners. A sergeant rushed between two machine-guns and sh 0 t the crews of both. A corporal worked his way round a redoubt and attacked an officer with his bayonet. The officer fled, and tho fifty inmates of tho r<'do„b( surrendered. An officer, armed with a cane only, entered a dug-out. and made prisoner twenty men. In the tinal stages of the struggle men bringing up ammunition left their mules and participated in tho fighting. "Few battles," ho says, "have seen so much figbling with the revolver. Most of the Germans carried rorolvcrri, which they preferred to the bayonet. Good authorities confirm the cstimato of two Germans beiug coatl on tho captured ground for every one niado prisoner."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE AIR FIGHTERS IN FLANDERS ENEMY'S TRENCHES ATTACKED. ~, London, October 11. Iho Admiralty reports: "Naval aircraft on patrol duty used their machineguns against enemy trenches. One pilot descended and attacked and silenced anli-aircraft {runs. Largo quantities of explosivea were dropped on the Thourout and Lichtervcldo railway junctions.'"— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter, . OUR Mil LOSSES-ACCORDING TO GERMANY. . ~ _ . London, October JI. A. berman official communique states: "Our enemies lost in September 23 balloons and 37-t aeroplanes. Wo lost 82 aeroplanes and fivo balloons.' s —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Redter. RUSSIAN AIMS DECLARED CONCENTRATED EFFORTS FOR PEACE BY A VICTORY FIGHTING ON THE RIGA FRONT Petrograd, October 11. The Government has issued a manifesto to the effect that the. convocation of the Constitutent Assembly must not bo delayed. Meanwhilo the Frovisbna! Government will indefntignbly work for universal peace, which is essential for Iho reconslruction of Russia. Tho Russian delegates io tho inter-Allied Conference at Paris will ceclc to reach an understanding with tho Allies, subject to the principles proclaimed in tho Russian Revolution. The members include a special delegate who enjoys the confidence of tho democratic organisations. The Government will exert its whole strength in support of the Allied cause, to eject the enemy from Russia, and Testoro the fighting strength, of (he Army.—Reuter. RAILWAY STRIKE ENDED. Petrograd, Octo'jer 11. Tho railway strike has ended.—Reuter. THE SITUATION ON THE BATTLEFRONT GERMAN PRESSURE IN THE RIGA REGION. London, October 11. A Russian official report states: "In the Riga region the enemy pressed back some of our companies south of the Pskoff high road. Tho Germans attempted to fraternise with our troops south-east of Jacobstadt. "On the Asiatic front we havo captured tho villages of Marufa and Tubal, west of Urmia, releasing 200 Syrians. The enemy fled across the Great Zab River, destroying three bridges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. PUNITIVE EXPEDITION TO TURKESTAN Petrograd, October 11. A punitive expedition has arrived at Tsshkend (capital of Russian tt arrested the Revolutionary Committee and the Governor, whom the local Council of 'Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates had appointed—Renter.