FLANDERS BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17592, 24 September 1917, Page 5

FLANDERS BATTLE.

THE BRITISH SUCCESS. \ ; COUNTER-ATTACKS REPELLED. BRITISH LOSSES LIGHT. Tlio High Commissioner reports:—■ LONDON, Sept. 21, 12.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig’s more detailed accounts cf yesterday’s battle confirm the completeness of the success. In the evening local attacks in the neighbourhood of Tower Hamlets, north-eastward of Langemarck, cleared up a number of strong points, and completed the capture of cfnr objectives, and these are now established. In many counter'-attacks delivered by considerable forces of tho enemy in tho afternoon and ovening his casualties were unusually great. The clear light, in tho latter part of tho day, enabled us to obtain warning 0? impending attacks, and in every case tho advancing German infantry were destroyed by concentrated rifle, ma-chine-gun and artillery firo. Tho obstinacy with which tho enemy constantly repeated attacks only added to their losses, without recovering any valuable ground. Exhausted by previous efforts, the enemy did not counter-attack during the night, and we were able to consolidate undisturbed. Our losses were light. During the night small hostile attacks ■wcs.o driven off westward of Havriccfurt and westward of Lens.

HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS

ENEMY REPULSED.

NEW POSITIONS HELD.

A. and N.Z. Cablo Association and Router. (Received September 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 22.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Further evidence shows the continuous and obstinate nature of the counter-attacks yesterday, in which the enemy suffered exceptionally heavy losses, while not gaining any advantage. Minor fighting occurred to-day at different parts oi the front. We have advanced our lino at a number of points,. and have beaten counter-attacks. This morning English county troops on our right captured a collection of trenches and strong concreted points south of the Tower Hamlets. The enemy later launched a powerful counter-attack against the Tower Hamlet ridge, which we repulsed after heavy fighting. The Liverpool and Lancashire Regiments east of St Julien gained possession of a fortified farm and cleared up a number of dug-outs and strong points fronting their new position. Our artillery broke a counter-attack east of Langemarck. The prisoners in yesterday’s fighting reported up to the present exceed 3000. During the first two hours yesterday low clouds and drizzling rain made flying almost impossible, but our aeroplanes flew low and bombed an aerodrome near Courtrai and attacked bodies of infantry. The weather .improved laior and contact was maintained with the advancing troops. Aeroplanes and balloons carried out observations of tho locations of troops preparing for counter-attacks, and reporter! these to the artillery, which dealt with tho situation. During the attack aeroplanes fired 28,000 machine-gun rounds from heights varying from 100 to 1000 feet at infantry in trenches and shellholes, and at approaching reinforcements. German aircraft iii tho middle of- the day wore active, attempting to interfere with our artillery. with bombing and our low-flying machines. When tho weather improved in the evening they kept well eastward of their lines and wore disinclined to fight. Ten enemy machines wero destroyed and six were drivdh down. • Ten of ours are missing. Sir Douglas Haig reports later:— Hostile counter-attacks by considerable forces continued last evening on the Ypros front without result, except for the heavy increase in ills enemy’s losses. A powerful counter-attack in massed formation on a wide front east of St Julien penetrated at one point for a short distance our new positions, but was immediately driven out. We repulsed the enemy at all other points with great loss. Our whole line was intact at the end of two hours’ fierce fighting. The attack was delivered with great determination, and tho enemy losses were exceedingly severe. We completely repulsed a strong attack on both sides of the Ypres-Menin road and crushed a counter-attack east of Langomarek.

FURTHER HEAVY FIGHTING

GERMANS REPULSED

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September 23, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. A midnight communique says:— During the day there was heavy lighting south of tho Ypres-Menin road. The enemy fought with great determination, but was unsuccessful in the region of the Tower Hamlets ridge. Durham troops to-day completely re-

pulsed three strong counter-attacks north of the Tower Hamlets. Further south repeated hostile attacks compelled our advanced troops to fall back slightly from part of the ground gained yesterday morning. In this area the whole of the positions captured on Thursday are securely in our possession. On tho b: ttle front there were no further counter attacks, but there was great reciprocal artillery fire all aloDg the front. Our fire prevented an attempted raid in the neighbourhood of the Ar-ras-Cambrai road. We successfully raided east of Moncliy-le-Preux. There vfcis great aerial activity yesterday, our aeroplanes ranging for guns on hostile batteries and troops in trenches and shell holes, while low-flying machines harassed the enemy’s infantry and transports. Mines and bombs were dropped on Poolers, Menin and elsewhere. Eighteen enemy machines; wore downed and tw'elve of ours are missing.

THE GERMAN VERSION. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 21. A wireless German official message says:—Nine British divisions, including several Australian, supported by armoured cars and flame-throwers, made yesterday’s attack in close formation. The enemy penetrated a kilometre deep in our defenco zone and advanced further towards Passcliendaele. Ho gained ground northward of the Ypres-Menin road, bub was thrown back with very heavy lossos elsewhore. His reinforcements enabled him to make further progress, but villages in the fighting zone remain ours.

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September 23, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 23.

A German official messngo says:— After hours of strong drum-fire last night from Langemarck as far as Hollebeke, the English attempted at many points, but was repulsed after hand-to-hand fighting, especially between the Boe.singhe-Stadon and Ypres-Roulers roads and further south as far as Holleboke.

DETAILS OF EIGHT

POSITIONS CONSOLIDATED.

WOUNDED LANCE-CORPORAL’S SUMMING-UP.

LONDON, September 21. The United Press Agency’s correspondent says that notwithstanding the cyclonic shelling of places northward of the Ypres-Roulers railway, the British positions arc to-day firmly consolidated. The Germans north-east of St Julien, massing for assault,' dwindled under the British fire, aud the counter-at-tack was not developed.

More northward local affairs improved the British positions. Southward of the railway the Germans are shelling intermittently, sometimes heavily. A wounded lance-corporal summed up the prevailing impression when he said: —“Let Fritz counter-attack. We are ready for him. By the timo our new barrage rolls over him a couple of times, with machine-gun variations', he is a mighty sick man.’’ All tho troops agreed that never - has there been such a barrage. Ifi shattered the “ Pill Boxes.” some being completely blown out of tho ground. The gun crews inside were found dead in concreted, organized shell holes. The machine gun emplacements _ were filled with corpses. By the roadside wo saw scores of wounded, laughing, joking and drinking tea with wounded Germans.

AUSTRALIANS’ FINE WORK. PRUSSIAN OFFICER’S PRAISE. (Received September 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 22.

Mr Percival Phillips’s account emphasises that the Australians were the centre of the attack and much hard fighting between tho Roulers railway and tho Menin road beforo they cleared Glencorso wood and Nonno Boschen. The Australians planted the Commonwealth flag on Anzac redoubt and drove nearly half-way through Polygon Wood. Yet nearly all their programme was fulfilled to timetable. They went over tho parapet at 5.40 amid heavy shell fire because distress signals called all the German batteries into action. The barrago caught somo stretcherbearers and wounded men. Tho British victory was oven greater than it appeared yesterday. Sis counter-attacks were repulsed with exceedingly heavy losses. There is a notable change in the Prussian prisoners’ attitude. The officers are polite and complimentary. One said: “It is a great day for the English. You gained tho year’s greatest victory. It is far greater than Messines.

NEW GERMAN METHODS FAIL. (Received September 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. Mr Philip Gibbs says:—Yesterday’s attack proved that the new German method of holding lines lightly in blockhouses, with reserves behind for coun-ter-attacks, has broken down. If the

Germans revert to the old system of strong front lines they will suffer as they suffered od the Somme. The reserve German divisions which were brought up had a dreadful time. The counter-attacks were particularly fierce against tho Highlanders on the Zonnebeke road on the Australians’ left. The Highlandors were driven hack for a while, but tho Scottish rifle fire broke every attack of the German “ storm troops.” Six times the latter came on with much determination and six times their waves were broken. Finally three German battalions drove against the Highlanders at Delva Farm and Rose House. The Highlanders rallied at eight o’clock and swept, the Germans out and away. Mr Gibbs emphasises the fearful hammering inflicted by the British bombardment.' He says that at least 50 per cent of the German prisoners wero wounded. Many Germans around Polygon Wood and Glencorse copse were buried in shell holes,’ between blockhouses, and tb£ blockhouses themselves were smashed up or so battered that the garrisons iyere dazed and demoralised.

RESULT OF BATTLE. .GERMAN OFFICERS DISMAYED “ The Time 3 " Service. (Received September 23, 11.1 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. Mr Pirie Robinson, “The Times” correspondent, says that the German officers abundantly confirm the importance of the success. They testify to the overwhelming artillery and the brilliance of the infantry advance as things incredible. They do not attempt to disguise the seriousness of the defeat. Mr Robinson adds that the New Zealanders’ work was particularly valuable. Besides -laying 30,000 yards of cables they repaired all the roads and trenches. Describing ,t'ho German methods Mr Robinson says that instead of a single strong line, they have now based their defence on a great depth, crowding troops on very narrow fronts, supported by strong reserves further back, ready for immediate counter-at-tacks. The whole area is sprinkled with concrete redoubts, with massed guns from 4000 to 7500 yards behind the front line. This elaborate scheme is the best blossom of the German, strategists, and had been carefully worked out and framed with' enormous industry. But the British have broken it

Router’s Telegrams.

, (Received September 23, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 22Reuter’s correspondent' at headquarters says that the German positions were held so tensely that it is estimated that 1 there were four German to every yard of the front. Several of the best. German divisions 'pore so shattered that their withdrawal was necessary. Wo have won a victory which leaves the enemy in this wide- tract in Flanders at a serious disadvantage. Captured officers, who hitherto have been haughty* and supercilious, liow literally bow to their captors and confess defeat in what they regarded as "their strongest point l . They now view the future with dismay.

' ENEMY’S. CASUALTIES HEAVY. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 24, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 23. Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters gives an instance of tlie rescMrcefulnoss of the Tommies. A party of bombers reached the parapet of a •trench where the Germans were crouching. Owing to the closo quarters' grenades would have been equally dangerous to both sides. The Tommies pelted tho Bodies with water-filled bottles, and, scenting a new source of frightfulness, the Germans speedily yelled “ Ivamerad.” Describing the German counter-attacks, the correspondent says that fresh 'troops from the reserves were utilised. They attacked with great determination, and actually penetrated on a front of .three hundred yards. Fierce hand to hand fighting ensued, and the ground was soon filled with their corpses. Five other similar attacks were of a formidable nature, but all were repulsed with great losses. Our casualties were light.

FRANCE OVERJOYED

NEW OFFENSIVE METHODS

PARIS, September 21. The newspapers are overjoyed at th 9 British successes. “Le Petit Parisien ” says that the attack may be regarded as a first-class operation, and that the Allies have once again affirmed their superiority, despite unfavourable weather. _ M Marcel Hutin remarks that the chief interest of the battle consists of the occupation of almost the whole western plateau, which dominates tho regions north of Lille and Lille iasolf. M. Tulesq recalls the assault on July 31, and says that battle was a stationary and terrible butchery, which lasted a week. Fifty German divisions were mutilated, but the enemy’s powerful defensive system remained intact. The successes now claimed are the result of new offensive methods and gigantic labour conserving roads, by which many howitzers were brought up close to the enemy’s trenches.

AERIAL WARFARE. \ . ' NAVAL AIRMEN AT WORK. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. The Admiralty reports- Naval aircraft on the night and morning of September 20-21 dropped a largo quantity of bombs with good results on Aertryelte, Sparappelhoek and Thorout aerodronies, on tho Thorout railway station, and also near the naval workshops at Ostend. A Royal Flying Corps patrol assisted to drive off numerous enemy aircraft which attacked. Ail our machines returned.

OSTEND SHELLED. *

BELGIAN COAST PATROL’S WORK. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September 23, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 22.,

The Admiralty reports that ships of tho Belgian coast patrol bombarded naval works at Ostend with satisfactory results. Our air patrols downed three aeroplanes.