AT HOUTHULST FOREST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17110, 11 October 1917, Page 5

AT HOUTHULST FOREST.

FRENCH TROOPS BRILLIANT-

ACHIEVEMENT.

VALUABLE ...GAINS AT SMALL

COST.

(Main Service.) Received October 10,' 10.30 p.m. \ LONDON, October 9. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent says: General Anthoine's army, in co-operation with the British, pushed en and occupied half the ground between the line<s secured on July 31st and Houthulst Forest. To-day's plan was to swing the French right,' thus making a semi-circle rooind Houthulst Forest, which had become a formidable enemy fortress during the last three years, but our guns had greatly reduced the value of this low-lying woodland and th» Germans have already withdrawn the heavier guns hitherto secreted in the forest. However, even the bare stumps of former forest, trees make a dangerous nest for machine-guns. The forest cavers an area t'of three miles by two. In overcoming the obstacle, General Anthoine's mastery of the newest gunnery science was a great asset. The French assault troop? went over the top at 5.30, when the country was still buried in fog and | gloom., Preceded by an effective .barrage, the troops quickly cleared out the centres of German resistance on. the east bank of the St. Jeansbeek arid Broenbeek, and within'two hours 300 prisoners and p. naimber of guns had-been captured on a mile front. The French luckily caught an enemy division v/hilo relieving another. The former had just arrived from the Russian-front and, being new to the sector, the Germans were in no condition' to meet the dashing French onslaught. By 10. o'clock the French were before the. ruins of the village of Mangelaere. The v/bole success was won with practically no loss of French lives.