CLAIMS OF THE ENEMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16848, 13 May 1918, Page 5

CLAIMS OF THE ENEMY.

ATTACK ON OSTEND.

FIGHTING IN FLANDERS.

(Received 5.5 p.m.) - - . - A. andNZ—Renter- LONDON, May 10. The German official version .of theV Ostend exploit states that enemy ships ''* protected by an artificial fog • tried to force their way into the harbour, but were driven off by the coastal batteries. It also asserts that the Vindictive, which was entirely battered to pieces, lies aground before the harbour outside- the : navigation channel, and that the entrance is quite free. . " ; A German official wireless message states: splendidly-directed' fife of our coastal batteries repelled several enemy vessels, which were endeavouring to penetrate Ostend Harbour. An old cruiser lies completely battered by shells aground outside the channel. The whole entrance is quite clear. Two survivors, who jumped overboard, were taken prisoner: The attempt to block the port 'was completely frustrated. We sank two * -£ ! motor-boats and badly damaged a monitor. An earlier • report - states: — Our local attacks south of Dicksbusch Lake were completely successful. We stormed strongly-fortified positions on the east (bank of the Vuverbeek on a width of a mile and a-quarter, and ran into a Franco-British attack, which was dissK ■'-.. **; pated. The enemy's attack in the gully developed only astride the 'llerttughelst- ; j Kemmel road, and was repulsed together with counter-attacks against our . hew positions. We took prisoner 675 men belonging to six French and two English divisions, which suffered heavily. We repulsed English advances on , the - south bank of the Lys, near Bucquoy. In air fighting- during the past few" days *« , brought down 37. enemy aeroplanes. -\\y~-*'; ->.-■' reached the mouth of the Don and occu-' r ; . . pied Rostoff. i -i :-;% *.