South Bend news-times., 1917-09-21
HAIG'S ARMY
CONTINUES TO
DRIVE AHEAD
Colonial Troops Take Big Part
in Great 0ffenSiVe-Sub-
marine Base at Zeebrug-
ge Object of Attack.
international News Service :,

international News Service:
LONDON, Sept. 2f.-Com-
plete success has crowned the
great British offensive which was
launched in Belgium yesterday,
the war office announced TODAY.
Heavy German counter at
tackS were launched over a wide
front in an effort to win back
part of the lost ground east of
TPreS, but all failed, the official
statement added.
Severe losses were inflicted
upon the Germans.
Not only were all the captured
positions maintained, but, they
have now been consolidated and
linked up with the old trench
elements in the rear.
Following the main drive the
British launched local attacks
clearing strong points in the
Lower HamletS region which
isolated detachmentS of German
machine gunnerS still held.
/ Northeast Of Langemarck Field
| Marshal Haig's forces continued
strong pressure, forcing the Ger
mans out OF strongly fortified posi-
tions. All the detectives were OBJ
tanned by the British.
/ After a vigorous bombardment
the Germans made savage counter
assaults. the men advancing across
! the corpse-strewn fields i'm dense
I formation.
Nov Down Germans.
As the attackers came under the
fire of the British machine guns
and artillery barrage they were
moved down in heaps. the survivors
falling back TO their trenches.
Exhausted by their efforts the
/ Germans then ceased their attacks
and another al ,1llery duel developed.
over a front nearly 10 miles
wide. east of Ypres. a furious
struggle has ragged since dawn yes
| terday
British forces have pressed ahead
! more than a mile at some points.
capturing the villages Of Veldhoek
/ and Zevenkote respectively south
! and north Of the strategic Roulers
road.
! Not alone were terrific losses in
ficJed upon the Germans but 5000
or more prisoners were captured by
the British.
Fight i'm Heavy Rain.
The first phase Of the new Brit
ish offensive was fought out under
the greatest obstacles. \ heavy rain
had fallen which turned the fields
and roads TO deep mud holes and
/ filled the battlefield with hundreds
of miniature lakes. where the water
had filled up the shell and mine
craters.
The new tanks that were able 10
go into action floundered through
the swampy mire, like huge prehis-
toric animals and not a few Of them
sank SO deeply into the morasses
that they were unable 70 reach the
advanced line of fighting.
Acroplanes Active
Through the thick fog banks
, ,aerOplanes hovered close to the
/ earth and despite the fierce fire
from German high angle cannon
and machine guns continued their
work Of searching out batteries and
| observing the movements Of Prince
| Rupprecht's reserves.
In no previous battle in Belgium
has the artillery fire been so vio-
lent nor has the British high com
mand used such huge army for
took an active part in the first days
lighting but well tried regiments
from old England were scattered
along the firing line. always in the
thickest OF the fighting
Colonial Troops Take Part.
English scottish, Welsh. Irish
African. Australian. Canadian and
( New Zealand troops took part in the
hie thrust They had stern task
10 perform. for the Germans fought
stubbornly but they carried II out
with glory 20 themselves and the
empire
After sweeping over the FIRST and
second lines OF German trenches the
British began to encounter the
hidden blockhouses. or pill boxes
hidden away in dePressions of the
ground. These works are miniature
forts built OF steel and concrete
with the roof almost flush with the
ground.