WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16311, 13 August 1917, Page 9

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

MORE BRITISH PROGRESS. .WESTHOEK RIDGE CAPTURED. FRENCH LINE ADVANCED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuter. LONDON, August 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We attacked and completed the capture of Westhoek and secured the remaining positions on the Westhoek ridge. The French, upon the left flank of the battle front, continue their progress eastward and northward of Bixschoote. Our raiding parties, on a wide front eastward of Monchy lc Preux, blew in Several dugouts. Great damage was inflicted and there were severe casiu alties. Our machine guns stopped a German counter-attack. DETAILS OF ATTACK. HIGH GROUND SECURED. The United Press correspondent at Headquarters states that the British attacked on a two-miles front at daylight from the Ypres-Zonuebeke road, near Frezenberg, to the Ypres-Menin road. They advanced the line about •500 yards. The object of the attack was to secure high ground. Clencorse Wood is now occupied de-' spite stubborn defence. The enemy's artillery was active all night eastward of Steenbeck and also on the coast sector. The sky was overcast, but the airmen n-ere active and brought down, seven aeroplanes. Eleven others were brought down uncontrollable and were destrovcd. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuter. LONDON, Aug. 10. A French communique states:—We continue to make progress ki Belgium. Last night we occupied several farms east of Bixschoote and west of Langemarck. A German attack, on a front of ono Kilometre, in tho Fayet region, north of St. Quentin, was broken by our fire and was repulsed with loss, "except in the centre, where some ouemy fractions obtained a footing in a small area. Our advanced elements bombarded last night the whole region south of AHc-monfc and Filan and north of the Aisne. BRITISH GUNS INCREASING. PARIS, Aug. 10. A correspondent- of the "Petit Parisjen'* states that the number of British guns in Flanders is increasing daily. The Allies recommenced an intense continuous hammering of the German trenches. The enemy at dawn violently attacked us from tho Pantheon Farm to Chevrigny ridge. Three battalions supported the storming troops and attempted to assault our lines at various times. Our accurate fire stopped the assailants on most of the front, inflicting heaviest losses. The onciny elements which penetrated our trenches were all killed or taken prisoners.

After hand-to-hand fighting in which our soldiers showed admirable dash, we held all the positions. Other German attempts. nota.blv srnith of Allies, south-west of the Chevreux region at Vauquois, towards Avocourfc and uorthwest of Fleiroy aJso failed under our fire with appreciable enemy losses.