FLANDERS FIGHT.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7914, 4 August 1917, Page 1

FLANDERS FIGHT.

OFFICIAL REPORT;

ENEMY RETAKE ST. JULIEN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Reuter Message. LONDON, August. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Rail fell all day. Our line tfas advanced slightly in the neighborhood of the Zille-beke-Zandvoorde road. The French gained further ground On the east bank of the Yser Canal. Strong forces of the enemy heavily counter-attacked bur new positions eastward and north-eastward of Ypres, between Westhoek and St. Julien. After resisting repeated attempts we were compelled after stubborn fighting to withdraw from St. Julien. The fighting was particularly fierce for Westhoek. We now hold the western outskirts.

The enemy in the afternoon reattacked in the neighborhood of the Ypres-Roulers railway and entered our advanced positions on a narrow front. Fighting is proceeding. The British took prisoner yesterday over 5000, including 95 officers. We captured a few guns and a number of machine guns and trench mortars. Despite the weather yesterday our aeroplanes kept us in contact with the advancing infantry all day and successfully bombed and machine-gunned the enemy’s aerodromes, transport and infantry. A few enemy machines attempted to fly. We brought down six, and three of ours are missing. We took prisoner in July, including yesterday to 6 in the evening, 4038, whereof 85 were officers, with 8 field guns, 53 machine guns and 32 trench mortars. FRENCH REPORT. A French communique states: In Belgium persistent rain continues. Our troops continue to organise their positions. To the north of the Aisne there was reciprocal artillerying in the Craonne-Hurtebise sector. A German attack west of Cerny was repulsed. There was an artillery duel on the right bank of the Meuse. yc,qfiez J.. 9 REwp wp wp ww ENEMY ALARMED. Mr Gibbs says that the enemy, alarmed at the menace, is rushing up reserves in omnibuses and light, railways over the shell-swept roads. The Germans are moving their headquarters eastwards, probably almost to Brussels.