In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 21, 18 August 1917, Page 5

In the West

P F THE ADVANCE ON LANGEMARCK ' STORMY WEATHER ADDS TO DIFFICULTIES. ENEMY SMASHED UP BADLY. RETREATING TACTICS DISCLOSED. / •" . ' ' NERVE-SHAKEN PRISONERS.

Press Association—Copyright, Austro lian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) I London, August 17, Mr Gibbs, states.: “Onn gain .of fif-' teen hundred yards on a wide front includes Langemarck, and hence runs south towards the French. We advanced along Swampy Neck, which was dubbed The Peninsula, as it was bounded by deep floods on three sides. The fighting on our right was most violent, the enemy repeatedly counterattacking over all the high ground between Nun’s Wood and Glencorse Wood to the Hunebeke river. His leases were Jiigh, for although the weather was, stormy, making the ground bad for us, there was light for “ our flyers, and the assembly of any enemy troops was quickly signalled, the guns smashing the formations with great slaughter. “The enemy’s newest method of .holding the front lines is in lightly concentrating the best troops behind for counter-attacks, which saves the manpower and reduces the casualties. But, while sound, it is the policy of an army fighting a retreat—relinquishing the ground at the highest cost and not returning by the counter-at-tack to quite the same line over which their assailants had flowed. Moreover, their success in life-saving was not great, because the Germans suffered hideously by shellfire, and the counter-attacks were costly in blood, as illustrated iq the counter-attacks on the Canadians at Lens. Successive waves were broken, wherein mere boys were marching shoulder to shoulder according to tradition, and they were destroyed In great numbers. “The fighting at Langemarck was greatly impeded by flooded ground. The Irish on the extreme right were engaged in the fiercest fight towards i Polygon Wood over frightful ground r V where the enemy was in the greatest strength. The 'lrish made headway before they were faced by masses of fresh German troops advancing in the wake of infernal shellfire. “The battle continues, but the result is uncertain. Many battalions op, both sides are heavily engaged. The enemy is prepared to scarifice thousands rather than Jose these defensive positions.“The French progressed rapidly, their only trouble being at Champ Auliert Farm, which had 'been transformed into a stronghold. They turned all the guns upon it, and ultimately a White Flag appeared above the ruins, and sixty survivors surrendered, the frightful gunfire having demolished their cover. A German colonel who was taken prisoner was dejected and nerve-shaken, but 'lie spoke freely of his men’s great losses. They belonged to the reserve division hitherto holding Langemarck. The greatest sufferer was a battalion of the 262nd Regiment, which was broken to pieces by the British attack across Steenbeke.”

hard fighting at lens. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ‘ ‘ London, August 16. The en6iny is desperately holding out at Lehs,’ where there was heavy fighting all'day. The Canadians last night crushed the Germans like flies,

and bloodily repulsed ten counter-at-tacks by iiine o’clock, when the enemy byoke off fighting. The Fourth Guards’ Division was practically annihilated as., it marched into Lens, whereunto, only a narrow neck leads across the. open ‘ country, which was swept by 'the.' British artillery and machine-guns, e Le Petit Parisien’s correspondent, describing the capture of Hill 70, writes: “Driven back by bayonets and grenades, the Bosches scattered

amongst the miners’ dwellings and the mine shafts, the cellars and openings . whereof bristled with machineguns,, The Canadians’ dash was irresistjhlc. In half, an hour three groups of dwellings were stormed, and those who were, jiot killed fled to another village, whei*e. machine-guns were massed. There .was a scene of fierce lighting. The enemy launched a series of powerful eouiiter-attacks. The Canadians’ sfpcfcess. was the more meritorious becap.se they attacked troops that had newly, arrived and were rested. The Germans have been forced to Atwlise'dhrft the ‘ British. are strong enough to attack wherever and whenever ami however they wish.

German newspapers are fully alive to the menace on the Western front. Their latest comments indicate that they are instructed to prepare the people for certain possibilities. The Koluische Volks Zeitimg says the worst hardships and the heaviest hours are about to come, and warns the people to prepare for grave difficulties. AIR hopes centre on von Hindenburg. LANGEMARCK CAPTURED. Press Association—Copyright. Router’s Telegrams London, August IG. The British have captured Langemarck. BRITISH; AIRMEN AT COURTRAI. Amsterdam, August 0. A British air squadron bombed German barracks, automobiles park, and munitions sheds at Courtrai on Tuesday, causing enormous damage, twenty soldiers being killed or wounded. NEW ZEALANDERS DECORATED, Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australia n and N.Z. Cable Assn., and Reuter. London, August 17. Military Crosses have been awarded to New Zealanders as follows:—Captains A. Addison, W. Aitken. ,j. Crawford, G. Dailey, E, F. Selby, F. N. Whitmore, A. S. Wilder. 0. jW. Williams; Lieutenants R. C. Abernethy, P. C. Ashley, .1. M. Barton, C. J. Howell, 1. A. Bristol, J. H. Catchpole, L. A. Graven. C. J. Davidson, F. Jbarl, E. Field, W. M. McGeddes.