THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14545, 25 October 1917, Page 5

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH 'OPERATIONS.

STRONG REDOUBTS CAPTURED

ALL THE OBJECTIVES SECURED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuter.)

London, Oct.* 23

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Highly successful minor operations were undertaken by us this morning in the neighbourhood of Poelcapelle and in conjunction with the French southward of Houthulst Forest.

Battalions of the Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Berkshire "Regiments and the Northumberland Fusiliers attacked eastward of Poelcapelle on a front of one and a half miles. They captured a number of strongly fortified buildings, converted, into redoubts, on the hill eastward of the village.

The night's rain made tie ground slippery and the task of assembly was difficult, but the whole objective was captured after fierce fighting, wherein many Germans were killed.

We pressed on south-eastward of Poelcapelle and carried otter valuable positions beyond the line of objectives.

The. Gloucester and Cheshire Fusiliers and Manchester and Royal Scots battalions further north, co-operating with tie French, attacked on a two miles front from the Ypres-Staden railway to northward of Mangelare.

We captured, after severe fighting, the southern defences of Houthulst Forest and a further series of fortified farms and strong points. '■ ■- ■

The Allies are, firmly established well beyond the southern boundary of the forest. ' Strong local counter-attacks in the vicinity of the railway checked our advanco astride the railway line, bv.£ tne enemy were unable to prevent progress elsewhere. The enemy casualties were 'heavy. The* enemy attacked one of our new posts in the southern part of Houth-ulst-Wood and forced us back a short distance,.

We maintained and consolidated cur gains on tie remainder of the front. Rain fell during the night, and xhe weather is stormy and unsettled.