THE BRITISH THRUST.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1917, Page 5

THE BRITISH THRUST.

FURTHER DETAILS. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT[Australian and N.l. Cable Assoolatlon.l LONDON, September 27.

Sir Douglas Haig gives later accounts of the fighting yesterday afternoon and evening, which was exceedingly severe. The enemy spared n<> efforts to regain the important, ground captured and made four separate counter-attacks in g' rejlt strength on our new front from Tower Hamlets to the St. Julieiy-Grauenstafel Road. Thei struggle was most severe in the area southward of the Polygon Wood, where the English, Scottish, Welsh and Australian troops defeated repeated attempts to' break, into their positions. All the enowy attack si were 'repulsed and hisi losses were extremely heavy. Later fo, the evening the fighting

died down, leaving us in possession of ii.e ground we had captured. After a severe si niggle lasting ail day, Um English and .'Scottish battalions eject,i.- enemy from lus positions and accomplished Uieg- allotted task, seeming the Hank of oar principal at-la-ai. relieved two companie.si of the Aigylls and .Sutherlands:, wlu> had ~ out with great gallantry during .im night in a. forward position wherein they were isolated by the enemy*. Later another counter-attack of great strength developed in this sector, when; fierce fighting continues. The Australians further north clear-: ■:.[ the remainder of Polygon Woodand captured a trench system eastward, which formed their day’s: objectives. On the Australian left the English, Scottish, and Welsh battalions, penetrating* the defences; to a. depth of nearly a mile, stormed Zonhebeke and gained their objectives. A coun-ter-at tack east of the Polygon Wood was repulsed. The North Midland and London Territorials, attacking on the left on both of the Wieltje, G raven - stafel_ St. .1 alien and Gravenstafel roads, captured their objectives and beat, off a, counter-attack. Our line here advanced half a mile across country defended by many fortified farms and concreted' redoubts. The enemy in (lie afternoon, launched a. second counter-attackVith larger forces atid pressed ua back a short distance on a. narrow front. Our counter-attack recaptured the bulk of ibe lost ground. Over 1000 were made prisoners: and there were very large numbers of Germain dead. The enemy' si losses were again heavy, WEDNESDAY’S ATTACKGERMANS’, SEVERE LOSSES. [Australian am) N.Z. Cable Association.) Received this day at 11.50 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 26. Mr Percival Phillips states that Wednesday’s attack commenced in a heavy mist. The semi-dark-ness involved a, number , of new German divisions in lighting of the most determined character* Their efforts to hold the British in check caused severe losses. By eleven the British were engaged in clearing the dugouts in the western outskirts of the Zonnebeke village, and. the Australians were fight inn* on the eastern slope beyond Polygon WoodGERMAN STORM TROOPS ATTACK. This success was followed by a day of almost continuous attacks by German storm troopsBoth sides met in the road. They drove repeatedly against the 'Tower Hamlets ridge and the Australian line at Polygon WoodBITTER. LIGHTINGWe shall remember Tuesday as a day of bitter, savage effort by the Hun, wherein he employed every man and gun he could scrape together in order to try to regain his footing on the scarred hills beyond Ypres* The troops from the Home countries and Scotland at the Tower Hamlets ridge bore the brunt 'of the storm which ended in the German defeat. The coveted slopes are now covered with their dead.

BIG DAWS FIGHTING

AUSTRALIAN LOSSES SMALL.

[Australian and N-Z. Cable Association.]

Received this day at 1-50 p-m LONDON, Sent. 27.

Mr Philip,Gibbs says: Wednesday was one of the biggest day’s fighting in the war. The Australian losses were not heavy. Ouraeroplanes report that they reached the furthest goals, and prisoners are. surrendering freely.

A GENERAL ADVANCE. DESPERATE FIGHTING. . * LONDON, Sept. 27. A general advance of a. thousand yards was made, including the Polygon "Mound. There was desperate fighting on the British front and most of our objectives were gainedSTRUGGLE FOR POLYGON % WOOD. The fighting at Zonnebeke and Polygon Wood on Wednesday involved an advance of a thousand yards. We already hold Auzac and Zonnebeke redoubts and the western half of the Polygon Wood, The hardest work fell on the English and Scottish troops attacking below Polygon Wood, who had to re-take the steep slope at Tower Hamlets, lost during the German counter attacks. Theyadvanced from the marshes and 'Tower Hamlet ridge was the scene of close quarters’ fighting, ALL GOALS REACHED. By 7 o’clock all our goals were reached and the Prussian reinforcements brought up at night were evicted though ordered to stick at all costs. We have an unobstructed view of Zandavoorde fram Tower Hamlets ridge. Elsewhere we overlook Becelaere and Gheluvelt, reducing the opportunity for Gorman counter attacks. Nevertheless, the Germans to-day wasted men freely. When Zonnebeke was taken the Germans could be seen coming over the ridge from Passchendaele until our guns swept them away. THE DAYOF DAYS. BRITISH HARD PRESSED. HEROIC REGIMENTS' STAND. [Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.] Received this day at 11,5 a m. LONDON, September 27. Mr- Philip Gibbs says: Wednesday will tie counted as one of the biggest days in the lighting in this war. The decision is of vital importance, both In the enemy aiad ourselves, Thus far it has gone in our favor. The bat. lalionst on the Australians’ right had Ibe hardest time. They were under incessant fire, and an attack from dawn on Tuesday, but the other British troops on their right, who were also severely tried swept, across to the ridge toward® Gheluvelt. It was fully expected that any attempt to advance beyond the ground gained in the battle of the 20tli would meet with the fiercest opposition. CAPTURE OF POLYGON WOOD. The capture of Polygon Wood seriously lessened the value of the Passchrndrcle Ridge, which forms the enemy's great defensive barrier. The enemy showed signs of desperate anxiety to* check us on the Polygon Wood line and the ground south--ward to the Gheluvelt Spur. They made a, great effort by massed artil- 1 lory to smash the organisation behind our lines, and, by a series of thrusts, ( to break our front. ;

A DESPERATE GERMAN ATTACK

They launched the first attack on Tuesday morning - against the British

troops immediately on the right of the Australians at Polygon Wood. Owing to losses, the British were obliged to fall back a little way in-order to reorganise for a counter-assault. Several British units did heroic

AUSTRALIANS IN THE THICK OF

Meanwhile the Australians were thrilling on the high ground on this side of the racecourse. The enemy failed to pierce the line, though the second thrust was attempted at midday.

AUSTRALIANS HELP THEIR COMRADES.

Tire Australians at 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon sent men to help the troops on their right, who were passing.through a, terrible ordeal owing to the continual pressure of the enemy’s storm troops.

This was a serious anxiety on. the eve of the new buttle, bub failed to frustrate Wednesday’s attack. Ac dawn (lie Australiatisi had already massed beyond Glenoorsa Wood, for the contemplated attack. Further north the other soldiers were ready to go over the bags. A FURTHER ADVANCE. It was almost dark when they went forward through the wet_ thick mist. Our arlilery put up the same monstrous line of barrage fire. The troops followed it at a. slow pace, giving time to avoid shell craters. Through the mist our men saw the Germans running and falling. Many did not even stay in the blockhouses. Dead were also fount) in the shell craters as we advanced. PILL BOXES INEFFECTIVE. Thusi Boelleer and Zonneheke were taken amd the garrisons of some of the pill boxe-a killed, by concussion. Others surrendered directly the British arrived. The Australian advance across the racecourse and northward across the spur to below the Zonneheke Chateau was steady-and successful. There was a regular chain, of blockhouses here, but again the black magic of the piU box failed. Most of the defenders w ere glad to surrender. The enemy’s gunfire was heavy over part of the ground and a, nest of ma-chine-guns gave trouble, but the losses were not heavy.

AUSTRALIANS CAPTURE THE RACECOURSE. Tlie British aircraft brought the first news that the Anzaog had captured the racecourse and later they reported that they had reached the furthest goal, where prisoners surrendered freely, -x

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG CONFIDENT. ENEMY’S POWER WEAKENING. LONDON. September 26. Mr. Bottomley (“John Bull”), describing a. visit to the front, writes: ‘’Sir Douglas Haig say’s, that he iJ absolutely confident of complete and early victory in the West. The enemy';.-. power is visibly weakening all along the line. Lens can be captured vhen lie wishes.” DESPERATE FIGHTING. . BRITISH SUCCESS ADMITTED. LONDON, September 27. German official: The battle between Langemarck and Hollebeke continues. r l he enemy in place® penetrated to a depth of one kilometre of our fighting zone, where desperate fighting cdillimiesi. BRITISH LEADERS. VISIT’ TO WESTERN FRONT. LONDON. September 27. Mr. Lloyd George proceeded to France in Monday, accompanied by Sir William Robertson. They conferred with M. Painleve on Tuesday and visited Sir Douglas Haig at British headquarters. They returned to London on Wednesday evening. v ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. A FRENCH REPORT. [ACBTKAMAN and W.Z. CASH AB*OCIAL'IO».I Received this day at 12.45 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 27. ' A French communique states: There was marked artillery activity on both sides and at various points on the Aisne front and on the right hank of the MeuseGREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. MANY GERMAN MACHINES ACCOUNTED FOR. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.] Received this day at 8.45 a-m-LONDON, Sept. 27. Sir reports: Our aeroplanes were extremely active yesterday and made successful raids on aerodromes at Courtrai, and Camhrai billets eastward of Lens and hutments south-east of 1 R oulers.

A further five tons were dropped at night at Menin and Wervicq on troops and transport on the roads leading thence to the Battle front.

The number of hostile machines were accounted for and twentythree were brought down. A three-seater bombing machine was shot down. One of our machines is missing.