FRENCH DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE THRUST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16670, 15 October 1917, Page 5

FRENCH DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE THRUST.

AEROPLANES ASSIST INFANTRY IN ONSLAUGHT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. Oct. 14 The battlefront extends six miles south from Houthulst Wood. Everything is- going well. At noon the troops were within a very short distance of Passchendaele. It is too early to estimate the number of prisoners taken. The fighting continues vigorously, aeroplanes swooping up and down in swarms at a low altitude, and freely attacking the enemy infantry with machine-guns. The French did not participate in the attack. The rain ceased at dawn, leaving heavy low clouds, but the visibility was fair. The enemy artillery was active during the night on the central and southern portions of the battlefront, especially Broodseinde Ridge, Anzac Ridge, and the Roulers railway, putting over a considerable number of gas shells between 4 and 4.30 a.m., when the British barrage began. Enemy machine-gun fire answered with a terrific rattle, but the artillery replied tardily and erratically. The British have taken all their first objectives, and are still sweeping on, carrying all before them. Considerable batches of prisoners are coming in.