HORRIBLE WEATHER CON= DITIONS.

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

HORRIBLE WEATHER CON= DITIONS.

1500 YARDS' ADVANCE ON

B=MiLES FRONT.

GERMANS EVIDENTLY WITH-

DRAWING GUNS.

ALLIES MAKE A TELLING

STROKE.

Received October 10, 9.15 p.m

LONDON, October 9

The United Press correspondent, writing at noon, says: English, French and overseas troops" attacked on a wic|3 front on the Passchendaele ridges. Despite desperate counter-attacks wherein hurricane fighting .developed, the fifth battle of the summer campaign in this area went well from the start. * Prisoners, frequently.'-without escort, vtere apparently eager to reach a: ha\fen, coming in large numbers., Despite a gale, airmen observed the fighting like taunted eagles in a storm. Last night's rain made the Flemish Plains, and even the ridges, like a bog, but officers and men would not hear of a postponement. Moreover, the British weather man - pr.omisecl "Clear with high winds from midnight onwards." He hit it exactly. The troops got away well from shellhole positions wherein- they had assembled under the cover of a pitch black night. The British- fought stiffly in the region of Reutel for a chateau whence heavy machine-gun fire issued. One company rushed and took the chateau shortly after daylight, but were ordered to go back and dig in twenty yards to the westward in order to conform to the general tactics. 'Later reports show that the situation about the chateau has not cleared. Daisy Wood, bristling with all manner of Gerjnan defences; is .heavily garrisoned. The Australians quickly overcame the difficulties, surrounded the wood and left a detachment to clean up while the rest went on.

The British, at the time of writling, are dealing with a heavy coun-ter-attack astride' the Roulers railway, German waves breaking under strong shell-fire. Visibility is good and our guns are able to score bullseyes. The French are going strong, keeping shoulder to shoulder with the British left. The1 French report several hundred prisoners. The German artillery replied raggedly, being obviously more busily employed pulling back guns than in firing, although fairly busy at that in certain spots. The Germans are fighting hard for possession of a brewery in Poelcapelle. The rest of the town is in British hands. -,

Mr. Philip Gibbs says: The French [gained 1200 yards in two strides, taking hundreds of prisoners, two field guns and many machine-guns. They also killed many. We are within a hundred yards of Houthulsi: Wood. The Allies have advanced to a depth of 1500 yards along a line from Poelcappelle across the, YpresGheluvelt road. It is most wondeiful achievement since .the Highlanders and Naval Division captured Beaumont Haniel in mud and fog, but this latest is even,more wonderful because it is on a greater scale and in fouler weather.