INCESSANT FIGHTING.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 5854, 29 September 1917, Page 5

INCESSANT FIGHTING.

POWERFUL AND PERSISTENT BRITISH OFFENSIVE GAINS ALL t*. "▼IVES. FIERCE ARTILLERY FIRE IN LENS REGIb.AMERICA REQUISITIONS ALL MERCHANT VESSELS.

Press Association. —Eleos ric Telegraph.—Copyright.

MOST INTENSE FIGHTINGTHE SLAUGHTER PROCEEDS. AIRCRAFT LOSSES HEAVY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Ass’n.) London, Last Night. Sir Douglas Haig reports: After all our abjective® were gained yesterday several powerful counter-attacks in the afternoon and. evening were re_ pulsed with heavy enemy lasses. We took 1614 prisoners yesterday, including 48 off Leers. Our casualties were light. We to-day improved, our position southward of Polygon Wood. Our airmen encountered strong opposition. and there were heavy losses on both sides. Fifteen enemy machines were brought down. There are thirteen of ours missing. The United Press correspondent emphasises* the ferocious nature of the German counter-attacks, which ended fruitlessly. Heavy shelling .forced the British to retire slightly, immediately northward of Zonnebeke. In consequence of this tlie on neb eke railway station was re-capturejd, but the major portion olf Zonnebeke remained in British hands. The Germans also won minor local positions including Winzic farmhouse, although the British re-gained a portion of 'these Tlie British repulsed, with heavy slaughter enemy attacks everywhere southward of the Menin road.

Tlie enemy hotly assaulted the Anzacs’ position southward of the railway but after the heaviest Losses abandoned their attempts, not- gaining an inch. The correspondent pays a tribute to the splendid spirit pf the Argylle and Sutherland High land ere in refusing to surrender, although, they were practically without food and drink for twenty hours. The ground was littered with German corpses when they were relieved. THE GERMAN CLAIMS. London, Last Night. A wireless German official /report says ; Tlie battle in Flanders has gone on uninterrupted all day and all night. At least twelve enemy divisions, often accompanied by tank, advanced between Man gel aa res and Hollebeke. We repulsed repeated assaults. astride the Langemarck road. The enemy penetrated for one kilometre between St. Julien and the Menin-Ypres roaftl. There was stu-b----l>orn fighting at Zonnebeke ana Gheluvelt. Tlie latter remained in our hands. Repeated assaults more to the southward broke down.

THE HUNS LYING. London. Last Night. The War Office points out that a German message states that we gained less territory in the fighting on the 26th than we gained on the 20th. This is perfectly true but the objectives set were much smaller in the later fighting but all our objectives were gained. The War Office adds ; “Ludendorff, in purposely misleading phrases, describes the fighting near Zonnebeke and Gheluvelt, but omits to state that the German*, lost Zonnebeke, though he emphasises the retention of Gheluvlt, which was quite outside the British objective. HEAVY ENEMY DEFEAT. BITTER SAVAGE FIGHTING. London, Last Night.

Mr Percival Phillrvs states that Wednesday’s attack commenced in a heavy mist and semi-darkness and involved a number of new German divisions in the fighting which was one of the most determined character. Their efforts to hold the British in check caused caused severe losses. By eleven the British were engaged in clearing dug-outs in the western outskirts of Zonnebeke village, and the Australians were fighting on the eastern slope beyond Polygon Wood. This success was followed during the day by almost continuous attacks by German storm troops on both sides of the main road. They drove repeatedly against Tower Hamlets ridge and the Australian line at Polygon Wood. “We shall remember Tuesday as a day of bitter savage, effort by the Hun, wherein he employed every man ho could scrape together in order to try and re-gain a footing on the scarred hills beyond Ypres. The troops from the Home counties and Scotland at Tower Hamlets rildge lore the brunt of the storm, which ended in a. German defeat, and the coverted slopes are no wcovened with their dead.” The. fighting at Zonnebeke and Polygon Wood on Wednesday involved an advance of one thousand yards. vYo already held Arizae and Zonnebeke Redoubt® and the western half of , Polygon road. The hardest work fell | to the English and Scottish troops atj lar king below Polygon Wood, who I bad to re-take a steep slojic at Tower i Hamlets, lost during the German j counter-attack. They advanced from the marshes and Tower Haim lets ridge was the scene of close.quarters fighting. By seven o’clock ail our gpaJ« had Ix'c.n reached, and the Prussian ieinforeeiments brought up at) night wore evicted though ordered to stick at all costs. W.i have an unobstructed view of Zandvordo from Tower Hamlet-. ridge. Elsewhere we overlook Ikeelaero and Gheluvelt, reducing the opportunibics for German counter-at-tacks. Nevertheless the Germans 'today wasted men freely. When Zonneheke. was taken the Germans could Ire ’•eon corning over the ridge at Paochendalo, until our guns swept them away.

AUSTRALIANS’ ADVANCE. ENEMY MAKE A BOLT. London, Last Night. Mr Phillips states: The Australians, at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon. -cut men to help the troops oh their right who were passing through a. terrible ordeal, owing to the continual pressure of the enemy's storm troops. This wa« a serious anxiety on the eve of the new battle, hut it failed to frustrate Wednesday's attack. At dawn the Australians were already massed beyond Glencorse Wood for a contemplated attack further north, and other soldiers were ready to go over the hags. It was almost dark when they went forward through a wet, thick mist. Our artillery put up the same monstrous line barrage and the fire troops followed it at a. slow place. <riving time to avoid shell craters. Through the mist our men saw 'tlie Germans running and falling. Many didnl’t even stay at the blockhouse. Dead Germans were also found in shell craters. As they advanced thus, Boetleer and Zonnebeke were taken. The garrison in some of the pill-boxes were killed by concussion, and others surrendered directly the British arrived. The Australian advance across the racecourse and northward, across the spur to below the Zonnebeke chateau, was steady and successful. There was a regular chain of blockhouses here but again the black magic of the pill-liox failed. Most of the defenders were glad to surrender. The enemy’s gun fire was heavy over part of the ground. A nest of machine guns along a road gave trouble, but the losses were not heavy. British aircraft brought the first news that tlie Anzac® had captured the racecourse. Later it was reported that they had reached their furthest goal, where prisoners were surrendering freely.

TORNADO OF SHELLING. London, Last Night. Mr Philip Gibbs say- that the menace to our right wing on Wednesday was averted by tlie courage of the English and Scottiesh units, and the quick, skilful, and generous help of the Australians. The latter realising the dangerous situation, wherein their right flank was exposed, sent a body of troops t/> strike to the southward. They thrust back the German outposts anti established themselves, after fierce fighting, in defensive posts capable of holding off any likely attack. They had shared all the perils of their comrades on the right passing through tlie same tornado of shelling, and they fully appreciated their tenacity aukl valour.

VICTORY WELL MAINTAINED. GERMAN WAVES HALT. London, Last Night. Percival Phillips saysj: Our latest victory lias been well maintained. The German losses are even greater than thought yesterday. Ours are exceptionally light in many places and nowhere serious The Australians encountered tlie principal opposition around Butte and the north-eastern corner of Polygon Wood, but the obstacle was finally rushed. Nine counter-attacks in various stages of preparation broke against the Australian front before Thursday morning. Only two succeeded in approaching within rifle range. When the local enemy reserve® were ox ha ustod, tlie fresh 230th Division Wias thrown into tlie battle. Three waves under a heavy barrage came on steadily until the Australians got their captured guns into action. Them the wave® halted and finally fled, leaving many dead on the field. ’There was no further attack against the Australians during the night. They were thus able to consolidate, the new position along the forward slope below Polygon Wood and turn tlie German defences against the enemy The Australians on Thursday morning, near the south-east corner of Polygon Wood, pushed on along to Reutelbeek, meeting with little opposition.

Tlie fighting around Zonnebeke was very severe, but the enemy has not shaken our hold on the village on' forced our withdrawal at any vital point. The prisoners are greatly depressed at the failure of the new pill, box .system of defence. SHOT DOWN LIKE RABBITS. GERMAN OFFICERS CAPTURED London Last Night. Mr Oilmenr, the war cor.rosjwmdent, writes: An officer relates fl'al on the. “pill-box” the Germans. hoisted! a white flag while they continued to use their machine guns.' Our bays went mad and shot them down like rabbit®. Some prisoners indicated that n number of officers were hiding in a dugout 400 yards ahead. This meant going into our own hurrago but our men took it on and surprised a battalion commander, five officers and a number of privates, scores machine guns were captured and turned against the Bosches.

Another officer states that just he. lore Jumping off they found britiwoeii tin* first and second Australian lines a wandering Gorman patrol. They were promptly captured before' they could give an alarm, which would have drawn the 'fire upon thousands of our men lying thickly Vlown the ridgo. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAID. London. Last Night. The Admiralty naval aeroplane® today horn bed the St. Den i s- W rstrom aerodrome, also sheds and fifteen. Gotha® lined up alongside' an aero-

Irome. I ldireot> Ihifc wa® ob&ervea. iie lattei All returned sately. IIATOR KILLED. 1 Paris. Last Night. Guynenir was killed .after bnngug down Lis fifty-third aeroplane on each teAtory. An eye-witness Of js last fiXt states that he attacked ve Albatiss machines over the sea, ear Dunkrk and brought down two efore lie jiimself fell. He was five imes rejected for the army owing to is poor pjysique. ' CKS ON FRENCH FRONTT. a violent' London, Last Nighty of o Cerny m SmenT W SFl^ernt losses. A second Casemates and the. Oalif/>i*K,, ? was also, repulsed. VISIT TO THE WEST. DECLINED BY WILSON. Washington, Last Night. President Wilson, isi opposed to thy acceptance of the British House o Commons’ invitation to Oongressmei to visit the western front, and th< French invitation that Congress fx represented in an inter-AUied Parlia ment. President. Wilson Woes not wisl to givei the impression that the' Unit ed States is bound up by the alliance with the Entente.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS. BUREAUITES RESIGN. Petrograd, Last Night. A German offensive is preparing in the Dvinsk region. Kerensky has resigned from fihe bureau of tlie Soldiers’ and AVorkmen’s Couneil. Other bureau ites had previously resigned owing to the Maximalists’ vote of no confidence. LOYAL LETTISH WORKMEN. Petrograd. Last Night. Lettish workmen have reiusekl to work for tine German General Staff, and six of their leaders have been shot. ACUTE IN ARGENTINE. Bueuor- Ayres, Last Night. The strike has grown wor>e and the food shortage is acute. A r iolent clashes have occurred between the strikers and police and troops. DISORDERS IN GERMANY.

Berne, Last Night.

All postal com mu mention with Germany has stopped owing to an outbreak of disorders. BULGARIA PULLING OUT. ONLY WANT TERRITORY. Washington. Last Night. The Bulgarian Minister. Panaretoff declares that Bulgaria is ready to end the war. Having attained her desired ends she. must retain territory which by language, nationality and historic rights belong to her. He cited President ' AViVson'' national botuidnries statement. Bulgaria was not interested in Germany’s Mittel-Europia plan. Bulgaria preferred to fight with the Allies, but Germany hot! made a more acceptable proposition, and had entered the war with the object of re-gaining Dobrudja. Macdoiua and parts of Servia which had unjustly been taken from Bulgaria. Bulgaria bad no particular love for the Central Powers. Tlie Bnlgar armies -fought only on the Servian and Roumanian front, and won lfl not fight against. France and England, and would make no offensive except to maintain the territory they now occupied.

POPE’S FIRM NOTE. DEMAND FOR NO ANNEXATIONS. Rome, Last Nlight. Tho Vatican has announced that the restoration of Riga and till other Russian territory is explicitly and implicitly suggested in the Pope’s appeal. Tills is interpreted to mean that Germany must relinquish all plans (tor a kingdom of Poland with a German regency if she meets tho Pope’s conditions. It is reported that Germany has been told that the Pope views with active displeasure any attempt to restrict the liberties of Herr Erzberge.r or the Catholic press, which is firmly supporting a policy of "no annexation.’’

GERMAN PEACE TERMS. Berne, Last Night. The ‘ * Much etner Post" states that the Kaiser has. approved of Mkiinelis’ outlining of Germany’s minimum peace, terms in the Reichstag. Austrian newspapers state, that the speech will usher in the last pi vise of the war.

BASIS OF AGREEMENT. London, Last Night.

A conference of the Labour Party’s Executive* and 1 tiro Pa.rlianienta.ry Committee of the trade unions. appointed a. Hub-oonunittee to asoentain a, basis of agn'ornnit on war aims among the British Socialist arid Labon,r organisations with the objeot of convening an internationalist Social - ist Conferennci in some neutral country when the peace proposals are under discussion. A USTRI AN DEFICIT. Amsterdam bast. Night. The Austrian budget deficit is nearly £749,000,000. Tine cost, <>f the war l'or throd years is £1.162,000,000, and ail estimate of the cost'for t.liiei fourth year is £600,000,000. OPPOSED IK) REFORM. A msterd am, T <aat N igilt. The committee for the reform of the constitution of Saxony has rejected the Parliamentary system. BRITISH WAR BOND ISRIIE. Ixmdon, Last Night. The Government’s new war borrow-

ing scheme consists of an unlimited amount of national w-ar bonds, sales able daily over the counter b«anug 5 per aent. interest at par, with a currency of five, seven, and ten years. The "bonds are re payable at me hundred two hundred, three hundred and five hundred respectively. There wlll also be an issue Of per cent, bonds, freei of income tax, at par, and iepayable at pax.