BELGIANS TAKE ALMOST ALL HOUTHULST FOREST ZONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16969, 1 October 1918, Page 5

BELGIANS TAKE ALMOST ALL HOUTHULST FOREST ZONE

FOUR-MILE ADVANCE OVER STRONGLY FORTIFIED AREA BRITISH WARSHIPS BOMBARD COASTAL DEFENCES. Australian and N.Z. and Renter. LONDON, Sept. 29. A Belgian communique states: At dawn on Saturday the Belgian wing attacked the German positions between Dixmude and the north of Ypres. The attack began after violent artillery preparation lasting some hours, and was launched in co-operation with Belgian batteries and numerous French and British batteries, as well as British . warships, which, bombarded the coast defences of the enemy-and vulnerable points of his lines of communication. After' preparation '" our infantry moved forward to attack strongly organised German positions, vieing with each other in courage. Our troops carried all the organisations and defensive lines of the enemy's front position and passed on without stop to attack the second strongly organised position. In spite of enemy resistance and a vain counter-attack which was launched, particularly astride the railway to Staden, our infantry captured practically the whole Houthulst Forest zone, which the Germans had strongly fortified during the last four years, and all the ' ground extending to a line marked by the localities of Woumen, Pierkenshoek, Schaap Baillie, and Broodseind, north-east of Zonnebeke. The advance made totalled about four miles. Numerous prisoners were brought in, the total for the Belgians being 4000. The guns have not yet been counted. They include a complete battery and crew, as well as guns of very large calibre. Considerable material was captured. The number of German dead lying on the field of . battle 'is evidence of the enemy losses.