ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10120, 30 October 1917, Page 5

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

FURTHER FRENCH AND BRITISH SUCCESSES. Australian-Now Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 28. A French communique says: The attack in Belgium began at 5.15 in the morning ami was completely successful. The French on l)oth sides of the Yprcs-Dixmude road carried all the enemy positions on a front of four kilometres to_ an average depth of two kilometres. Despite stubborn resistance we reached the western border of Houthulst forest and carried the villages of Verdreudesmis, Aschoot, Merckom, and Kipp©; also numerous solidly fortified farms. The enemy suffered the heaviest losses-. We made fresh progress on the Aisne front from Chcvrlgny an<l occupied Froinment farm. LONDON, Oct. 28. A French communique states: Wo continued our progress in Belgium. On our left in the Peninsula of Luighcrn wo captured some small “islands” and took 200 prisoners. LONDON, Oct. 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We improved our positions slightly in the night time in the neighbourhood of the Ypros-Roulers railway. The Belgians on Friday night made a successful raid northwards of Dixmude, and yesterday, jointly with the French, they crossed the Inundations and occupied the Morckj Peninsula, in the neighbourhood of Vijfhvezen. SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS BY FRANCO-BELGIANS. BOMBING BY NIGHT AND DAY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, Hl'Miror’s Tel°?ram.) Received October 30. 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 29. The Franco-Belginns carried out successful operations northward of Mercket. The French captured Luighem village and the Allies now hold the whole of tho Mercket peninsula. Reciprocal artillorying is proceeding on the battle front. Our aeroplanes were busy all (lay Saturday, and co-operated with the artillery in firing thousand rounds at ground targets from heights ranging from one hundred to a thousand feet. They drop ped 29 heavy bombs on Renders station, 6 on Abode aerodrome, and 121 lighter bombs in billets eastward of Lons. Our squadrons at night time dropped four tons on seven aerodromes and three important railway stations. Several burst near tho hangars and rail tracks. Enemy aeroplanes repeatedly attacked, but ours never failed to roach their objectives. We downed eleven enemy machines; nine of ours are missing.

HEROIC FRENCHMEN WIN \ NOTABLE VICTORY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 30, 10.40 n.m LONDON, Oct. 29. Mr Phillips says: Nothing during'the campaign has been ‘quite like the FrancoBolgian victory on Saturday, on the Peninsula of Luighem—a tongue of land a quarter of a mile wide at the widest point. The first French advance on Friday morning took them through marshes, where they waded and swam. Their success gave them lim bridgehead across the flooded Yser. French engineers on Friday night by a wonderful piece of work threw pontoons over the flood, working shoulder deep, and enabling the infantry to cross before daybreak. The enemy was taken by surprise. The Eighth Bavarian Reserve Division had arrived in the line on the previous night and were expecting to be undisturbed in his quiet region. A sanguinary fight followed with bayonet and bomb. The Bavarians were driven from line to line, the French pursuing them so closely that the enemy, was unable to establish himself. Then ihV French stormed Verbandesmist, Anchor,!, and Kloostermolen. The whole region vLis most, difficult and lay under water, but, the impetuous French toiled until they rono’hed the firmer ground on the outskirts of Yierc kern and then they charged with their FRENCH COMMUNIQUE, GERMAN ATTACKS BEATEN BACK. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Router’s Telegram.) Received October 30. 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 29. A French communique states: “There is fairly great artillery activity in the region of Pinon-Chavignon and near Epinc-Decho-vrigny. . The Germans at midday strongly attacked our positions north of Froidmont farm. Our fire drove back waves of attack with heavy enemy losses. There was a fairly lively artillery duel in the region of the Champagne Heights.