Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-27

The Germans are resisting desner
ately and along a front OF about a
thousand yards astride the Ypres- Nc
min road q terrific struggle has been
proceeding.
The most important points involved
III the new offensive, as was the case
SIX days ago, lie directly east of the
city of fpres between the Ypres- Roul-
ers Railway and the Ypres- Menin high
way. Here are situated those strongly
held elevations that still remain to
the Germans out of the numerous
ridges and forests which formed a VIII
a. part of their defense in this section
of Belgium.
Rising Tide Against Germans
Last Thursday they suffered a crush
ing blow in the loss of such strong
holds as Anzac Nuns Wood. Glen
corse Wood and Inverness Copse. and
now an ever-rising tide is reaching out
Tor still more. Australian, Scotch and
Englsh troops this morning were push
ing out into a difficult country over
ground still sodden from rains and
floods, among concrete and steel re-
Coubts heavily armed with machine
guns. through bits Of wood choknd
with rapid firers. They might fail in
their object and still have covered
themselves with glory.
Patrolman Mclaughlin OF the North
End beat was off duty Wednesday after
noon and his place was taken nv Eight
Patrolman Rancourt.
The Germans undoubtedly Knew that
the attack was pending and It is nrob-
able that their heavy counter attacks
yesterday and last night against the Brit
ish positions on the ridge cas-, Of Ypres.
between Polygon Wood and Tower Ham
lets, we're carried out in an attempt 70
Illustrate the British plan The battle
inaugnrated here yesterday continued
with great fury all night and it was alone
this bit or front that the bitterest work
was being done this morning.
Concentrated Fire
The British artillery had been poupdins
the waole front of the new offensive for
days, but last night a concentrated fire
was turned on that section where the
counter attacks were made and the entire
ground was torn and smashed together
with the men who under sparse shelter
were endeavoring to hold this point OF
vantage. Guns of all calibres came to the
assistance of the infantry and the bonn
bardment for long periods was maintain
ed with drumfre intensity
The Australians, north Of Polvgon
Wood, and the Scotch and English. to
the north of the Anzacs. appear to have
met with nothing like the opposition en-
countered to the south. The Germans
replied very weakly 20 the British bonn
bardTent prior to the attack north of
the Ypres-Roulers railway.
The enemy's main efforts early today
were directed against the advance on the
right Of the offensive. His attacks against
Tower Hamlet's ridge. west Of Gheluveit
have undoubtedly been continued as a
protection against possible attack on
Zandvoorde ridge. to the south. For days
the Germans have been bringing up rein
forcements in anticipation Of today's at
tack and. unless all signs fail, much san
culinary fighting Is to follow. The at
tack today was started at $50 in the
morning and again the infantry was pre-
coded by great barrages
Berlin (vfa London, Sept as-The Brit
ish forces in their new offensive in FIsn-
ders have penetrated German position.