THE CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10115, 24 October 1917, Page 5

THE CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG REPORTS FURTHER SUCCESSES. 11 RAW EN KM Y C’ASUA I .TIES. Australian-N«w Zealand Cable Association. Received October 24, 9.20 a.in. LONDON, Oct. 23. General Sir Douglas Haig reports highly successful minor operations by us this morning in the neighbourhood of Foelcapelle, and in conjunction with (he French southward of Houthulst forest. liattaiions of the Norfolk, Suffolk, F.ssex and Berks regiments, with the Northumberland Fusiliers, attacked eastward dl I’oeleapelle on a one -and a half mile front. They captured a number of strongly fortilied buildings converted into redoubts on the hill eastward of the village. The night’s rain had made the ground slippery, and ihe task of assembly was diflicnlt. but the whole objective was captured after fierce fighting, wherein many Germans were killed. Wo pressed on .south-eastward of I’oeleapelle and carried other valuable positions beyond the line, of our objectives. The Gloucester and Cheshire Fusiliers, with the Manchester Regiment- and the Royal Scots Hatallion further north, cooperating with the French, attacked on a two miles front along tin' Ypres-Staden railway to the northward oi Mangelaro. We captured, after severe lighting, the southern defences of Houthulst forest and a further aeries of fortified farms and strong points. The Allies are now firmly established well beyond the southern boundary of the forest.

A strong local counter-attack in the vicinity of the railway checked our advance astride the railway line, but the enemy was unable to prevent, our progress elsewhere. The enemy casualties were heavy. A SLIGHT SET BACK FOR THE BRITISH. Received October 24, 12.55 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. General Haig reports that the enemy attacked one of our new posts in the southern part of lioutliulst Wood, and forced us.back a short distance. _ We maintained, and consolidated our gains' on the remainder of the front. Rain fell during the night, and the weather is still stormy and unsettled. MR PHILIP GIBBS’ STORY. FIGHTING STILL IN PROGRESS. Australian-New Zealand Caole Association. Received October 24, 10.45 u.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. Mr Phillip Gibbs writes:—The attack on the 22nd was not over a wide front, or a great depth, but it brought the French ami English to the very edge of the- dense woodlands of lioutliulst Forest. The greatest depth of our advance was near Egypt. House, where the enemy'made a strong resistance, and a counter-attack followed immediately. which is still in progress. Though the weather has been fine, and wo have had a bright sun lor eight days, the ground has not dried, and is still difficult to operate over. Our hurricane artillery fire at dawn must have killed many Germans, but some machine-gun emplacements wore not destroyed, and these held up our men for some time. When the Gormans launched counter-attacks along the YnrcsStaden railway, our artillery was uiyable to get. the range on them, owing to the thick grey mist. The attackers forced bock our men a short distance. The progress of our counter-attacks is not known, but the fog has cleared, and the aeroplanes are now able to signal the guns, allowing us to support the infantry by smashing the enemy con centrations.

Mr Phillips, in his latest, accounts of • lie battle, says: We arc fighting on the outlying fragments of Houthulst Forest, and along the Wcstrooebeko road, where we overcame a number of German defences in difficulty, marshy ground. The German counter-attacks regained a slight, portion of the ground lost along the Stadcn railway, but the effect of our advances is to bring our flank closer to the high ground of Passehendaele. A DIFFERENT STORY. Abstralian-Now Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 22, Correspondents at the front state that despite the thick mist and strengthened machine gun defence, we recaptured the ruins of the brewery adjoining Poelcapello after heavy fighting, and made progress some hundreds of yards near Houthulst forest and northward of Poelcapello. A counterattack involved the enemy in heavy losses, A later message records another fierce coun-ter-attack along the railway. Visibility had improved, thus enabling our gunners to exact a severe toll from the enemy. GERMANS ALLEGE FAILURE OF BRITISH ATTACK. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 22. A wireless German official message says; The enemy attack in Flanders failed with the exception of a small gain near Veldhook, northward of Langemarck. A British attack on the Menin-Ypros road broke down completely.