THE BRITISH PROGRESS SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 76, 28 September 1915, Page 7

THE BRITISH PROGRESS SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT

GAINS pP SATURDAY AND SUNDAY \ "— — — — — (By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright.) ' LONDON, 27th September. Szz?3bfnr IFrendhrs despatch, dated Sunday morning, says- : "We attacked fSgg^nemy south of the La Bassee Canal, east of Grenay, and at Vermilles, on Batosday morning, and captured his trenches on a front of over five miles, penetrating Ins Jines in some places four thousand' yards. "We captured the western outskirts of Hulktch, also the village of Loos, the -mining nodes njand it, and Hill Seventy. Other attacks were "made north of the La Bassee Canal, which drew strong enemy reserves towards these points, where hard fighting occurred all day long, with varying success. At nightfall the troops north' of the canal occupied their positions of the morning. "We made another attack near Hooge on either side of ihe Menin-road. .The attack north of the road occupied Bellewarde farm and ridge,' but the enemy retook them. The attack south of the road gained six hundred yards. We consolidated the ground won. To th<s present, we have captured 1700 prisoners, eight, .guns, and several machine guns. , "The report in Friday's German communique that our- attempted attack on Thursday south of La Bassee Canal failed is. untrue. No attack was attempted. * ' "There was severe fighting on Sunday, and determined- enemy coanterjpfct&cks. We hold the ground gained, including Hie whole of Loos. > Our aeroplanes bombed and derailed trains at Douai and Result. The latter was full of troops. "On Sunday night we retook the quarries north-west of Hulfach, which (were won and lost on Saturday. In this fighting we drew in the enemy's reserves, thus enabling the French on out right to make further progress. The number of prisoners taken after yesterday's fighting was 2600. Nine gun*~and & considerable number of machine guns were captured. Our aeroplanes bombed Valenciennes station." " ' [Quoting from Sir John French's reports, the High Commissioner adds : "There was severe fighting to-day on the ground won by us yesterday, the enemy making determined counter-attacks east and north-east of Loos. As a result, of this fighting, except just north of Loos, we hold all the ground gained - yesterday, including the whole of Loos itself. Our aeroplanes to-day bombed and derailed a train near Loffres, east of Douai, and another full of troops near St. Amand. Valenciennes station was also bombed.]