THE PASSCHENDAELE KEY.

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1917, Page 3

THE PASSCHENDAELE KEY.

.SECURELY HOLD.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, November 12.

j Mr Philip Gibbs reports that the 1 German resistance on Saturday was more desperate than the battle for Passchendaele. The •Germans used all their batteries for miles around, concentrating the deadliest fire on the outer lines on Passchendaele heights. The British traversed the storm of shells, took a few prisoners, and killed many, owing to the stubbornness of the resistance. The English, Irish, and Canadian attack succeeded in widening our defensive positions upon Passchendaele Ridge, and in driving the enemy further down the far side. The weather was dismal, hard fighting raging among the blockhouses all day long in a rainstorm. The enemy has regrouped his guns since our capture of the crest. His artillery, answering our barrage on Saturday, was extremely violent. The infantrymen declare they have seen nothing like it during the iprevious attacks. It was a frightful spectacle. They marvel at their escape from such a hurricane of high explosives. We reached the enemy's'pill boxes, where some Germans fought at close quarters. The Canadians upon the right had better ground than the English, who were lower down, and had a hard time fighting up the slopes against the blockhouses, which displayed fierce resistance. Numerous counter-attacks from the direction of Westroosebeek drove back some of our outposts. Heavy shelling, coupled with the difficulty of holding the defensive flank, compelled the Canadians later to withdraw from some of their foremost positions, but the key to Passchendaele and the neighbourhood is securely held. The Canadians had an anxious time, spend, ing six sleepless days and nights. They went forward gallantly, determined to take the crests at all costs. The commander says the men were fine.