New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-23
French and British Strike
Together at Houtholst
Forest
Capture Series of
Fortified Farms
Germans Counter Attack
Feebly-Their Casu-
alties Heavy

LONDON, Oct. 22.-The British and
French troops advanced together on
the front northeast Of Ypres this morn
ing and won important successes.
Haig's forces carried the southern de-
fences of Houtholst Forest and a series
of fortified farms, in conjunction with
the French, advanced along the Ypres-
Staden railroad and stormed valuable
positions southeast of Poelcapelle, be-
yond their detectives. according to the
field marshal's official report. The
French, in addition. made progress
north of Veldeek, and established their
positions in the face of what Paris
describes as feeble" reactions by the
enemy.
Up to midday the British advance
had reached distance Of thousand
yards on the eastern fringe Of Hou-
tholst Forest, according to dispatches
from British headquarters. Within
Poelcapelle the brewery, around which
stiff fighting has been going on for
days, was reported to have been taken,
together with several houses. The at
tack was launched in dense mist,
which soon cleared, however.
For the first time in many weeks the
Germans were able TO counter attack
with power enough to check the British
troops as they pushed forward astride
the Staden railroad At every other
point, however, they were unable to
prevent the Allied advance. Haig re-.
ports that heavy casualties were in-
fiicted on the Germans and that zoo
prisoners have thus far been captured.
The French communique states that a
certain number" of captives was
taken, together with two field guns.
Prepare for Further Drive
The attack was not on large scale
such as the recent movements east of
Ypres, being undertaken for the pur-
pose of widening the northern side of
the wedge driven into the German lines
at this point, and of thus preparing
the way for q further drive eastward
, toward the Ostend-Lille line Of COM
munications.
The fighting front covered distance
It
operating on the northern end. along
the southern border of Houtholst For
est, and the British advancing on the
southern end, from the eastern edge of
the forest to southwest of Poelcapelle.
/ The advance has established the Allied
line we'll beyond the southern boundary
of the forest. which forms an impor-
tant part of the German defensive sys-
Il. A,a
the railroad centre OF Staden and the
territory between that road and the
western side of the Passchendaele
Ridge.
Widen the Breach
The point of the British wedge east
OF Ypres now lies on the Passchen-
daele Ridge, only a thousand yards
from the village Of that name. The re-
cent successes on the ridge narrowed
the tip of the wedge to such an extent
that before a further advance could be
safely undertaken there it was neces-
sary for Haig to thrust forward at
local points to the north and the south,
widening the breach. Operations in
/ furtherance of this scheme having re-
suited successfully on the north, it Is
lot unlikely the next British attack
will be aimed at Becelaere and
Gheluvelt, on the southern side of the
wedge. A general offensive for posses
sion of the rest of the main ridge
could then be undertaken with safety
Beyond the statement that, follow
ing drumfire along the whole front
from Houtholst Forest to the region
: of Zonnebeke, British and French at
tacks were begun, the German War
Office makes no mention of the opera
ton