THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14558, 9 November 1917, Page 5

THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

CAPTURE OF PASSCHENDAELE

RIDCE

CANADIANS' TRIUMPH COMPLETE

STRONG RESISTANCE OVERCOME

OBJECTIVES' SEQURED BEFORE

MIDDAY

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuter.)

London, Nov. 7,

Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Canadians' operations in the morning were completely successful against the defences in and around Passer, endaele and on the spur to the north and northwest.

After .successful assembly, the assault was launched at six o'clock as arranged. The enemy had been ordored to hold tl:is important position on the main ridge at all costs. Hard fighting followed at a number of points, particularly on the high ground northward of the village for a collection of fortified3 buildings and strong points on the Goudberg spur.

Nevertheless the troops made steady progress and captured at an early hour Passchendaele village and Mosselmarkt and Goudberg hamlets. They gained all their objectives before midday and made a number of prisoners. It was raining at intervals. Our guns are dealing effective^ with the enemy's batteries and concentrations of infantry.

The Liverpool troops made a successful raid north-westward of Queant.

We are consolidating the positions gained yesterday.