SIR DOUGLAS HAXG'S REPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 47, 24 August 1917, Page 7

SIR DOUGLAS HAXG'S REPORT

x ADVANCE ON THE YPRES SECTORS

(atjstralian-new Zealand cable association and reuteb.)

LONDON, 23rd August. Sir Douglas 'Haig reports successful operations east and north-east of Ypres for the capture of a series of strong points and fortified farms astride the Ypres-Menin road, and between the • Ypres-Roulers railway and Langemarck. There was bitter fighting at, all points. The enemy repeatedly counter-attacked, but our artillery and machine-gun fire inflicted heavy losses. The struggle was fiercest on the high ground in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Menin road, where we advanced to a depth of fivci hundred yards on a front of a mile. We captured an important observation position on the western portion of Inverness Copse. Our line further north was advanced to a maximum depth of over half a mile, reaching the positions aimed at, on a front of 24 miles. The enemy resisted stubbornly. Owing to the obstinate nature of the fighting the number of prisoners is unusually small in proportion to the enemy's total losses. Since 15th August, 1378 prisoners have been captured at Lens. In fierce air fighting we brought down twelve of the enemy's aeroplanes, and drove down five- others. Twelve of ours are missing. PROGRESS SOUTH-WEST OF LENS (Received August 24, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 23rd August. Sir Douglas Haig reports : We advanced our line south-west of Lens.We repulsed an attack east of Langemarck by machine-gun fire. The enemy raided posts in the neighbourhood of Lombaertzyde. ENEMY REPORTS FAILURE OF BRITISH ATTACKS LONDON, 23rd August. A German communique states: Strong British attacks near St. Julien were repulsed. Fresh engagements developed between the roads from Staden .and Menin, towards Ypres., \ . There is bitter'hand-to-hand.fighting around Lens. Shell-fire set fire to a coal depot, which is still in British hands. A later German official report states : British attacks eastward of Ypres, on a front of nine miles, failed, with heavy losses.