SECOND EDITION. ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10118, 27 October 1917, Page 5

SECOND EDITION. ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Recoivcd October 27. 12.45 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 26.

, Tho United Press correspondent btates that the attack began in a drizzle which made the ground slippery on tho ridges I while the lowland bogs were impassable in I places, the enemy fighting: stubbornly from fortified farms, reinforced buildings, concreted blockhouses, shell-craters and pillboxes. The airmen participated despite the weather, and engaged the enemy artillery, transports and marching columns bohind the lines. Others machine-gunned the troops in tho front lino from a few yards' altitude. The British troops at 6.50 were seen entering the pill-boxes on tho Bellovue spur, one of the most important German positions, which is 2UQO yards wes'tward of rasschendaele

Half an hour later the troops wore seen fighting round Polderhoek chateau. The. Tommies were hustling prisoners from the* Strongest walls, the upper floors whereof were sandbagged yards deep, making the cellars and sub-cellars a Gibraltar of se-

curity. . \ "wireless German official message says: Violent artillerying is proceeding at Houthulst wood as far as Holleboke, which increased to drumfire this morning. Iho Wdo-Frcnch nocturnal attacks failed. 1110 enemy attacked at several points since dawn The French yesterday attacked in (he Ailcttc region. We, after a short engagement at Pinon wood, withdrew to the northern bank of the Oise and Aisne canal. \lso in accordance with our plans, wo withdrew behind the canal near Chavignon We stormed positions in Lhaumo wood for a width of 1200 metres.

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT. GENERAL CADORNA'S STRATEGY. (By Electric T«l?.graph—Copyright.) Received October 27. 2.5 p.m. WASHINGTON. Oct. 26 A semi-official despatch indicates that. General Cadorna is preparing an important movement. DISTRESS IN GERMANY. PEOPLE TIRED OF THE WAR. Received October 27. 2.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct, 26. Official advices show political and economic distress in Germany, discontent.being acute The Socialists are most active and are: threatening to tie up factories it the. war extends into the winter. There ara more frequent uprisings in several districts,, including Berlin, where the soldiers participated. •« Germany's population wants peace, and the "eople declare it will be concluded by Workmen are demanding 'Wy«d W and a more liberal apportionment Of food. Allied air raids are increasing the d scontent A raid at Essen killed 800 soldiers who were, attending a circus. BRITISH WaTTxPENDITURE. Received Octo;e L g7.^P ffl26 Mr Ronar Law asks Commoners on tho thirtieth for an additional credit of feu* hundred millions, making a total war OX penditurc of 5692 millions. THE AIR REPRISALS. \ustralian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 27. 12.25 p.m. AMSTERDAM, Oct, 2d. Travellers from Frankfort say the town is panic stricken, owing to the Allies air reprisals. Travellers were not allowed to leave their hotels after five in tho afternoon for five days, as the Allies' air operations were reported near. STARVING SERBIANS. Austr*lUn-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 27. 1.45 p.m. WASHINGTON. Oct, 26. Recent advices state that 50.000 Serbians are starving, and many thousands of others enduring awful sufferings, on account of the insufficient rations, particularly m the Monastir district, American Red Cross people report that a great political confusion exists owing to the ignorance of the Allies' plans, and also slate" that there have been serious food riots in Budancst, Vienna, and Prague. Soldiers fired on the crowd in one citr, killing 40 and wounding 150 women and chudNO WINTER MEETINGS IN ENGLANO. Received October 27. 11.20 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 25. Hon. Albert Stanley has informed the National Hunt stewards that the winter meetings cannot be held.

ANOTHER NORWEGIAN’S SCORN. FOR THE ATROCIOUS HUN. Received October 27, 10.15 a.m. CHRISTIANA- Oct. 26. Captain Svortlerup, the Arctic explorer, following Captain Amundsen s example, has returned his German decorations. PATROLLING THE PACIFIC. Received October 27. 12.55 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. It is reported that the Japanese will take up patrolling of the entire Pacific, including Australian waters. The Navy Department; makes no comment. MEN UNDER ARMS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. < The United States War Department’s compilations estimate that the men under arms for the Allies number 27,500,000, and for the Central Powers 10,500,000. Tho figures include the naval personnel.