BRITISH ADVANCE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7918, 14 August 1917, Page 3

BRITISH ADVANCE.

CAPTURE OF WESTHOEK. FIERCE FIGHTING. Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—This morning’s attack eastward of Ypres was on a front of two miles to the (southward of the Ypres-Roulers railway. On the right heavy fighting occurred for the high ground astride the YpresMenin road. Some progress was made hut the fighting continues. On the centre and left, overcoming resistance, we gained the whole of our objectives. Westhoek and the Westhoek ridge are completely ours, and we have established ourselves in Glengorse Wood. We inflicted heavy casualties. There was great aerial activity. Our rifle and artillery fire heat back *ix assaults for the possession of the important ground captured eastward of Ypres. After fierce fighting all the positions were maintained. We gained ground in the neighborhood of the Ypres-Menin road. We raided trenches southward of Armentieres. The enemy re-attacked in the morning our new positions northward of the Ypres-Menin road, and pressed us back slightly. We gained ground on the right hank of Stenbeck, in the neighborhood of the Ypres-Staden railway. There was intense aerial activity with most severe fighting in large formations all day long. We brought down sixteen enemy machines. Twelve of ours are missing. OBJECTIVES GAINED. Mr P. Gibbs reports: There was heavy fighting this morning southeast of Westhoek after night long artillerying. The later fighting was more difficult, as the rearward machine guns took advantage of the check caused to our troops by the wire tangle in the woods. We gained the main points attacked on the left; indeed, we gained more, for our men impetuously advanced too far and had to be recalled. On our right the fighting was more desperate and less progress was made.