GREAT EFFORT BY THE ENEMY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10107, 15 October 1917, Page 5

GREAT EFFORT BY THE ENEMY.

PICKED TROOPS EMPLOYED. LONDON. Oct. 13. Percival Phillips suvs:— I The fifth battle on the. slopes of Passchondaole ridge resulted in fighting ns determined as any ol the war. The enemy made a •superhuman effort to prevent our taking more ground, and met the attack on a six mile front witn an abundance, of picked infantry supported by the heaviest bombardment the British troops have vet confronted in Flanders. Though some of our men seem to have reached the edge of Passchondaole village, the slopes in front still bristle with strong posts nnsilcnccd, and the houses of I as.schendaelo still shelter many other machine guns Our attack commenced at 5.25, and the German batteries immediately re- ! doubled their fire and laid a curtain across our front, while other groups of German guns sought to break the infantry that was storming the outer redoubts. Sharp lighting took place at Augustus wood, winch was defended by young and wod-tramed Jacgar troops, who stuck to their posts. Wo also had a hard time trying to get forward along the flooded bank of the Lekkerbotorbest, which flows alongside tinroad frou Poelcapollo to Wostroosbeko. It stretched across open country commanded by a, few redoubts with machine guns and the barrage from Passchendaele. Wo went easily through the village and retook the brewery ruiius ami pushed along the xoao towards Weslroosbcke, As 1 write the battle continues on the entire front, and wo are everywhere attacking with unabated resolution The Germans are lighting bettor than usual, and all our wounded state there has been a great amount of bayonet " Keith Murdoch slates that the Australians and New Zealanders have been lion”il" * Advices have been received that warships are shelling the German positions on the Belgian coast.