ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10119, 29 October 1917, Page 5

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE. PROGRESSING FAVOURABLY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Operations with limited objectives were jointly undertaken on Thursday. A line drying wind promised improved fighting conditions, but a sudden change came during the night. Heavy and almost incessant rain lias fallen since an early hour in the morning. Notwithstanding the great difficulties facing the Allied troops they made considerable progress and won valuable positions on the greater part of the front attacked. The main operation was carried out by the Eng. lish and Canadian regiments on a front northward of the Ypres-Houlors railway. The Canadian battalions advanced along the main ridge at Passchondaele, and passin"- beyond the objectives, established themselves on a rising ground southward of the village. Other Canadian battalions, with troops of the English Naval Brigade battalions and London Territorials, made furthor progress in faco of strong opposition along the spurs between the main ridge and our positions eastward of Pool crip el le. Ye captured a number of strong points and fortified farms. Heavy fighting occurred east and northeast of Poolcapellc, wherein the West Lancashire and North Country troops progressed at certain points. There were subsidiary and simultaneous attacks by English troops in the neighbourhood of Alenin Road and by the French northward of Bixschootn. There was fierce fighting all day astride the Monin road and eastward of Polderhock. wherein the progress made was considerable and a number of prisoners were taken. Northward' of Bixschootc the French attacking with great gallantry, crossed St. Jeansbeok, which was flooded, and captured objectives beyond with a number of prisoners'. Our allies, in the course of these operations, took 800 prisoners. During an air raid on the night of the 25th another ton of bombs was dropped on the _ Burbacb works. Three of the participating aeroplanes are missing. Our aeroplanes on Thursday night attacked four aerodromes. Forty-live heavy bombs were dropped, securing a direct hit in one instance on a group of hangars. One machine has not re(urned.

Sir Douglas ETaig Inter reports that the Canadians successfully repulsed two heavy counter-attacks yesterday afternoon southward and westward of Passchcndaole taking a number of prisoners. Wc consolidated our gains witliout interference, and mado further progress westward of Passchendaclo, capturing 10 macliino guns. HAIG REPORTS FURTHER SUCCESSES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON,' Oct. 28. Sir Douglas Ilaig reports: The operations of the French this morning, northward of St. Jeansbeok, continued with success, the French advancing astride the BixschooteDixmude road. Despite the difficulties of the floods and' heavy ground, they captured the villages of A.schoop, Kippe, and Mcrken, with many farms and strong points, also taking a number of prisoners. Thcrpis great reciprocal artillery fire on the British battle front, but no infantry action. Tho number of prisoners taken since yesterday morning exceeds 1100, whereof 300 were taken by the French. Despite the rain, our aeroplanes yesterday performed valuable work. Four German machines _ were brought down. Two of ours are missing. FRENCH OFFICIAL MESSAGE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 26.

A French western official message says: There were no enemy counter-attacks in Belgium. Following up the successes on outright, north of tho Aisne, we drove the enemy back from the region north of Chapelle St. Berthe to the reservoir, capturing the village of Filain. Further east we went 'beyond the crest of the plateau north of Chevrigny spur. The situation elsewhere is unchanged. We have counted 160 guns captured since October 23, including several six-inch howitzers and many heavy guns. Two of the enemy's coup-de-mains in the Champagne failed. Cannonading was proceeding all day on the right bank of the Mouse. GERMAN TRENCHES CAPTURED. LONDON, Oct. 27. A French communique says: In Belgium our troops are continuing tho action between Brcsgachten and Draiebank. We captured new German trenches north of tho objectives we reached yesterday. Progress continues satisfactorily, despite the diflioulties of tho ground. South of tho Aisne there is intermittent artillerv fire. German aeroplanes dropped 20 bombs of large calibre on Dunkirk. There were 30 civilian victims. A FEIRCE BATTLE. Australian-New Zo;aan { i ()^, ,^ Is . A^in^ on - Mr Phillip Gibba states that the majority of the 400 garrisoning the Polderhoek chateau were killed or taken prisoner. Those in the dugouts at Gheluvelt, Wood held out after we passed, constituting a temporary menace. The fiercest battle raged near the centre of the attack, we obtaining a sharply contested grip on the Bcllevue slopes. Ihe Canadians played aJt honourable part, in. the baUlc< LONDON, Oct. 26. The sweeping French victory is causing intense joy in France, Von Hindeiiburg chose one of the strongest ridges in H ranee for the challenge of battle, and it. resulted m a demoralising defeat. There are over 11,000 prisoners. It is no longer a. case o falling back to take new positions to avoid lOMSef " AMSTERDAM, Oct. 26. General Ludcndorfl! now admits that. he gave way to French pressure. The Cologne, newspapers, Volk Zeitung and Frankfurt Zeitung, show how impossible it. is to minimise the importance of the French success. The Norddeutcher Allegemaire .Zeitung states that the agreement between Holland and Germany begins to-day. Germany is supplying coal, iron, and steel, m exchange for foodstuffs, especially butter and cheese. PARIS, Oct. 26. M. Barthon, the new Foreign Minister, announcing the Government's foreign policy, said that in addition to reparation, compensation, and guarantees, France demanded Alsace and Lorraine, which were really invaded departments. GERMANS CLAIM ATTACKS FAIL. LONDON, Oct.. 26. A wireless German official message says: Strong Franco-British attacks from Bixschootc to the Roulers-Ypres railway, also astride the, Menin-Ypres road, broke down sanguinarily. b LONDON, Oct. 27. A wireless German official message says: The French elTort in Flanders yesterday failed. Tho French vainly endeavoured to secure a foothold on the north bank of tho Oise-Aisno Canal. A BOMBING EXPEDITION. •\ustralian-Now Zealand Cablo Association. LONDON, Oct. 28. The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft Ivombed the Varsscnaire aerodrome and the Thouroul railway station yesterday. The weather rendered observation difficult. All the machines returned,