WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT BY FRENCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9788, 11 October 1917, Page 5

WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT BY FRENCH

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and Mew Zealand Cable Association and Renter. LONDON. October 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Wo again attacked at 5.20 this morning, on a wide front north-east and east of Ypres, in conjunction with our Allies on otir loft. Tho reports indicate that satisfactory progress is being made on all parts of the front. The weather is stormy. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 11, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports Continuous heavy rain yesterday afternoon and evening made tne ground sodden and very difficult for the passage of troops. Notwithstanding tho stormy weather and the waterlogged ground we launched an attack in conjunction -with the Trench with very successful results. The attack extended from south-east of Broodseinde to St. Jeansbeek, a mile north-east of Bixsohoote. The Australians on the extreme right advanced over the crest of the ridgi eastward and north-east of Broodseinde. They secured all their- objectives - The third line., of tho territorial division on the right and in the centre, comprising the Manchester, Bast Lancashire, and Lancashire Fusilier Regiments, advanced a mile northward along the ridge towards Passohenda-elo, capturing all objectives under the most trying and difficult circumstances with great determination and gallantry. A considerable advance made in the centre between the main ridge and Poelcappelle includes the capture of many fortified farms and concreted redoubts. We captured in tho left centre Poelcappelle. The English, Welsh, and the Guards on tho extreme loft Of tho British attack have, taken all their objectives and gained the. outskirts of the forest of Houthoulst, two miles north-north-west of Poelcapelle. The French on pur left flank crossed tho Broenhoek stream, which was in flood, and also gained the outskirts of the Forest of Houthoulst, capturing all their objectives, including several hamlets and many fortified localities. Upwards of 1000 prisoners have already been counted. High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON, October 10, 1.10 a.m. British official.—Despite heavy aUd continuous rain, over difficult ground, we. in conjunction with the French on our left, successfully attacked’ from a point south-eastwards of Broodseinde,'to north-eastwards of Bixsdhoote. On the extreme right the Australians advanced over the crest of the ridge east and north-east of Broodseinde, securing all their objectives. On tho right centre, the third line of the Territorial Division advanced one mile along the ridge in the direction of Passchendaele, capturing all objectives. On the centre many fortified farms at Poelcapelle were taken. On the extreme left, the British and French reached the outskirts of Houthoulst Forest, two miles north-west. LONDON, October 9. A United Press disptaoh states that the Allies advanced more than a mile in places. The front centres in front of Passohondaele. The troops reached their objectives in good order, and a large number of prisoners is coming m. The enemy, in the Daisy Wood, north-east' of Broodseinde, resisted stubbornly, but the Australians have surrounded it, so making certain of many prisoners, unless, tho Germans prefer annihilation. The Allied casualties were light. THE ATTACK ON THE PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE COUNTER-ATTACKS PRODUCE A HURRICANE' OF FIGHTING. Australian and New- Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 10, 8 p.m.) . LONDON, October 9. The United Press Agency’s correspondent, writing at noon, says:— “The English and french and overseas troops attacked on a wide front the Passchendaelo ridges." Despite desperate counter-attacks wherein a hurricane of fighting developed the fifth battle of the summer campaign in this area went well from the start. Prisoners, frequently without escort, were apparently eager to reach a haven. They were coming in in large numbers. “Despite the gale airmen observed the fighting like taunted eagles in a storm. Last night's rain made the Flemish plains and even the ridges like a bog, but officers and men would not hear of any postponement. Moreover the British weather man promised that the weather would be clear, with high winds, from midnight onwards. He hit it exactly. “The troops got away well from tho shell-hole positions in which they had assembled under cover of a. .pitch-black, night. The British fought stiffly in the region of Routel for a chateau whence‘heavy machine-guns’ fire issued. One company rushed and took the chateau', shortly after daylight, but were ordered back andl to dig in twenty yards westward, in order to conform to the general tactics. “Later reports show that the situation about tho chateau has not cleared. Daisy Wood was bristling with all manner of German defences and is heavily garrisoned. The Australians overcame _ all difficulties, surrounded the wood and left a detachment to clean up while tho rest went on. Tho British at tho time of writing aro dealing with a heavy counter-attack astride tho Roulers railway. Gorman waves are breaking under strong shell-fire. The visibility is good- Our guns are able to score bullseyes. “The French are going strong, keeping shoulder to shoulder with the British left wing.' The French report tho taking of several hundred prisoners. ' “The German artillery replied raggedly, being obviously busier in pulling back their guns than in firing them, although fairly busy at that in certain spots. The Germans are fighting hard for possession of a brewery in Poelcapelle. The rest of the town, is in British hands.” A MODEST FRENCH COMMUNIQUE Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, October 9. A French communique states: —In Belgium, in conjunction with the British, we attacked at 3.30 this morning the German positions south of the forest of Houthoulst, between Draeibaatk and Wydendreft. Fighting continues, and is developing in our favour. On the Aisne front there is marked artillery activity, notably in the region, of tho Pantheon redoubt. On the right bank of the Mouse an artillery struggle is in progress on the sector north of the Chaume Wood. SOME ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS SPLENDID CO-OPERATION BY AIR SERVICE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 11, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. A French communique says:—Our attack, which was launched this morning, developed brilliantly. Our troops, after crossing the marshy brook of Brdenbeek, carried with admirable dash, on a front of 2500 metres, the enemy’s defences. Despite tho difficulties of the ground and the bad weather, we captured the villages of St. Jean, Mangalaero, and Veldhoek. also numerous farms organised as blockhouses. Tho advance, which averaged a depth of two kilometres, brought us to the southern fringe of Houthoulst Wood. The air service, despite the gale, co-operated actively in the attack, using maohine-gens at a low altitude on enemy infantry, and maintaining touch with other arms. The number of prisoners hitherto counted’ is 300, of whom twelve are officers. Artillery actions continue on the Aisne front. A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT FRENCH GAIN 1200 YARDS “IN TWO STRIDES.” Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 10, 8 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. Mr Philip Gibbs says:—- . “Tho French gained 1200 yards in two strides, taking hundreds of prisons, two field guns and many machine-guns. They also killed many. “We are within 100 yards of Houthoulst "Wood. The Allies advanced 1500 yards in depth along the lino at Poelcapelle and across the YprAsGheluvolt road. It was the most wonderful achievement since the Highlanders and a Naval Division captured Beaumont-Hamel in -mud and fog. It • is even more wonderful, because on. a greater scale and carried out in fouler weather.”

THE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE FRENCH VALUABLE ENEMY POSITIONS SECURED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 10, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. ( The “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says that General Anthoine’s army, co-operating with the British, pushed on ana occupied half the ground between tits lines secured on July 31st and Houthoulst lorest. ‘•To-aay's lean was to swing the French right, thus semi-circling Houthoulst Forest, winch had become a formidable enemy lortress during the last three years; but our guns greatly reduced tho value of this low-lying woodland, and tho Germans hud already withdrawn, their heavier guns, which hitherto had been secreted in. the forest. However, oven the bare stumps of the former forest trees make a dangerous nest for machine-guns- Tho forest covers an area, of three miles by two. “In overcoming the obstacle General Anthoiue’s mastery of the newest gunnery science was a great asset. French assault troops went over the top at 5.30* a.m. The country was still buried in fog and gloom. Preceded by an effective barrage tho troops quickly cleared out the centres of German resistance o-n the oast bank of St. Jeansbeek and at Broenbeek. Within two hours 3C-U prisoners and a number of guns were taken on a mile front. “The French luckily caught an enemy division while relieving anotherThe former had just arrived from the Russian front, and being new to the sector the Gormans wore in no condition to meet a dashing French onslaught. “By ton o’clock the French were before the ruins of the village of Mangelaerc. The whole success was won practically with no loss of French lives.” SIR DOUGLAS HAIG PRAISES NEW ZEALAND TROOPS Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 10. 8 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. Sir Douglas Haig, replying to Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s congratulations, says:—“four message of congratulation is much appreciated by all ranks. Tlie gallant New Zeaianu troops took a most distinguished part in the various operations.” i ENEMY SUFFERS GREAT LOSSES NEW DIVISIONS RECEIVE FEARFUL BAPTISM OF FIRE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received October 11, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. Mr Philip Gibbs writes;—“Tho enemy again suffered great losses, two new divisions, namely, the 227th, straight from Rheims, which only got into line during the night, and the 195th. from the Russian front. Both received a fearful baptism of firo. Three other divisions were hard hit. They are now bleeding from many wounds, and have given us many prisoners.” SHORTAGE OF GERMAN SHELLS INDICATED LONDON, October 9. Artillery officers state that the Germans are using naval armour-piercing shells in Flanders, apparently because they are short of ordinary shells, or have an over-large stock of naval ammunition. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter, LONDON, October 9. A German official report states:—The English attacked this morning astride the Staden-Boesingho railway and north of the Ypres-Menia road. Fighting is in progress. ' (Received! October 10, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. A wireless German official message states:—A fresh battle has developed and continues between Draailbank and Gbeluvelt. The gain, of territory, despite repeated assaults, is limited, to a stretch between Draaibank and 1 Poelcappelle. MORE DETAILS OF THURSDAY’S BATTLE United Service Telegrams. (Received October 10, 7.20 p.m-) LONDON. October 9. Mr Keith Murdoch, Australian war correspondent, writing from the Anzac Headquarters, referring to last Thursday’s battle, says;—“lt is noticeable that the men speak very differently of Fritz since this battle. They saw Germans rush singly from redoubts and die fighting. There were thousands of cases of easy surrender, but thousand's snowed tho bitterest opposition. Among the nine guns captured by the Australians were two anti-tank guns. I “The New Zealanders struck some heavy, marshy ground where they sank to the crutch, but they achieved tho largest total of prisoners in the whole battle. “The Australians yesterday captured a most important German order reversing the shell-hole defence policy as the result of a meeting of the enemy army commanders, at which it was admitted that all known methods were of no avail against the British. “The /prisoners in the Australian sector of the battle were so numerous that guards could not be spared to take them to the rear. The Australians pointed the way, and the Germans started running. They did not stop until they were safe in the cages. “A battalion commander and his staff were captured under strange dreumstanoes. The brigadier saw upon a captured map two hours after the commencement of the battle a mark indicating that an enemy battalion at headquarters was just outside our farthest objective- He sent out two sergeants and three men. When the barrage lifted they returned with a colonel, five other officers, and seventy Huns.”