THE WEST FRONT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12088, 17 August 1917, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT.

ANOTHER BRITISH ADVANCE. BIG ATTACK EAST AND NORTH OF YPRES. HEAVY FIGHTING AND PROGRESS AT ALL POINTS. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 16 (1.5 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports :•—_ Eastward and northward of Ypres at 4.40 o'clock this morning, the Allies again attacked on a wide front benvy fighting. Progress was made at all points, despite tho stubborn resistance of the enemy. On the Lens battle front, three moro fcnemy counter-attacks during the night fc-ere repulsed. At tlie village of f:ite St Aucuste our tirtillery broke up tho enemy concentration. GAINS ON A SIX-MILE FRONT. VALOUR OF THE IRISH TROOPS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Ass-Viatica. (Received August. 17. 2 p.m.) LONDON, August. 16. 'The, correspondent of the United Press Agency states that the new British blow in the Ypres region extends from Polygon Wood to the British and French junction, a six-milo front. The) French attacked simultaneously, brilliantly supporting Sir Douglas Haig'si left. The. French right has already crossed the Stenbeck stream and is Btill advancing, while their left, have gained all their objectives. Prisoners are coming in. The British advance continues. The Irish are performing wonders, Uistcrmen fighting side by side ultlv Southerners. Sir Douglas Haig keeps Prince Rwpprecht guessing, and is shifting like a master boxer in the ruig. The enemy is desperately holding oui in Lens, where there was heavy righting all day. Tho Canadians last night crushed tho Germans like flies and bloodily repulsed ten counter-atacks by nine o'clock, when the enemy broke off the fights. The Fourth Guards Division was practically annihilated as 'it marched into Lens, into which there is only a narrow neck leading across open fountry. This neck was swept by the British artillery and machine guns. LANGEMARCK CAPTURED. Eeuter's Telegrams. (Received August 17, -.10 p.m.)LONDON, August 16. The British have captured Langemarck. "MERCILESS VIOLENCE OF THE FIGHT." CAPTURE OF LENS IMMINENT. Auatralian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received August 17. 11.50 a.m.) PARIS, August 16. Tho "Matin" states that the British troops' impetuous assault was the Jn.ost violent witnessed during the past ten months. Tho merciless violence of the fight and swiftness explain the snail number captured. The few prisensra taken were completely exhausted, asd depressed. They belonged to the old classes, and included many invalided early in the war. " Le Petit Journal " says that if the British attacks north of Lens are continued tho fall of Lens is imminent.

FRENCH KEEP PACE WITH THE BRITISH. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 16 (2.5 p.m.). A French official report states:— Our troops in Belgium are keeping pace with the British, and havo captured their objectives, including Stensbeck. SUCCESSFUL AIR EXPEDITION. BRITISH BOMB ENEMY BARRACKS AND MUNITION SHEDS. ENORMOUS DAMAGE CAUSED. Router's Telegrams. (Received August 17, 2.40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. August, lfi. A British air squadron bombed German barracks, and automobiles park and munitions sheds at Courlrai on Tuesday. Enormous damage was done, and twenty soldiers wero killed and wounded. SUPERB ELAN OF FRENCH INFANTRY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. rßeceived August 17, 2 p.m.) PARIS, August 16. A French communique, states:— After violent, thorough artillery preparation we attacked at dawn in conjunction with the British on our right. The infantry with superb clan, assaulted enemy positions on both sides of tho Steenstraate-Dixmude road, carrying all their objectives. < We crossed the Steensbcck. and made progress on the right bank, where wo are in touch with the. British. A vigorous attack south of Ailles (north of the Aisne), carried a solid enemy trench system on a front, of a kilometre. Four enemy counter-attacks were easily repulsed. THE ENEMY FEARS THE WORST. PRESS PREPARES PEOPLE FOR " CERTAIN PROBABILITIES." United Service. (Received August 17, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, August. 16. German newspapers are fulfy alive to the menace, on the western front. The latest, comment, indicate- that they aro instructed to prepare the people for certain possibilities. The " Kolnis.be Volkszeitung " says the worst hardships and heaviest hours are about to come, and warns the people to prepare for grave difficulty. All hopes centre on Hiudenburg. WOUNDED FOR GERMANY. THE ENEMY'S HUGE LOSSES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 17, 10.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. August 16. Twenty to thirty train loads of wounded arc itraversing Liege daily for Germany.