New Britain herald., 1917-09-21
BRITISH GRIP ON
 NEW LAND TIGHTER
Gains Made Yesterday Consol- dated With Little Trouble
GERMAN FORCES EXHAUSTED
No Counter Attacks Made During Night By Weary Army-Eneny Line Pierced to Depth of Mile East of YDrcS.


 Yprcs.
 London, Sept. 21.-Field Marshal Haig in later reports regarding the British offensive on the Belgian front, to the east of Ypres, yesterday, when the British troops pushed through the German lines for distance of moro than a mile, says that the complete ness of the British success is con- firmed by detailed accounts of tho battle.
 The British war office, after the re- ceipt of Field Marshal Haig's report, today issued this bulletin: More detailed accounts of yester- days battle confirm the completeness of our success.
 During the evening local attacks delivered by us near the tower Ham lets and northeast of Langemarck cleared up number of strong points and completed the capture of our ob- jectives in these localities.
 Tt is now established that in many counter-attacks delivered by consider able forces of the enemy during the afternoon and evening his casualties were unusually great.
 '"The clear light of the latter part of the day enabled our troops to ob- tain warming of impending attacks, and in every case the advancing lines of German infantry were destroyed by the concentrated fire from our rifles, machine guns and artillery.
 "The obstinacy with which the enc my constantly repeated his attacks to n hir V1yith covering for him any of the valuable ground which we had won.
 "Exhausted by his previous efforts, the enemy made no counter attacks during the night, and our troops were able to consolidate the positions un- disturbed.
 "Our own losses in the battle are light.
 "In the course of the night small hostile attacks were driven off west of Havrincourt and west of Lens.'
 Important Positions Captured.
 British Headquarters in France. Sept. 20 (Delayed)-By the Associat- ed Press-The British offensive which began at dawn over g. wide front east of Ypres salient, found the attacking forces late today holding many new positions of vital importance and con- tinuing the fight in German territory along a wide front, which In many places represented an average gain of mile in length.
 Such redoubts as Nuns wood, Glen course wood, Inverness Copse ana Shrewsbury forest, which have W1th- stood numerous fierce assaults recent ly, were entirely overrun by the Brit ish who reached points well beyond them. Heavy fighting was continuing at close range at various points and the Germans were massing troops with the evident intention of deliver ing a counter attack. It has been day of great success for the British arms, for the possession of the Wood- ed heights which they captured east of Ypres unquestionably is of crucial importance since these dominating positions form the keystone of the German structure of defense in this sector. The greatest gains have been made between St. Julien and Holl- beke, which was as had been planned, for within this stretch of country lie the important defenses just men, toned.
 British Advance Rapidly.
 The troops that went out to the
 
 men in the British army. They en- tered the conflict in high spirits and eager for the fray. Their advance was preceded by one of the most per feet and heaviest barrage fires yet at tempted. The men went over the top stripped light and as result of this, coupled with the fine artillery support, they were enabled to nego- tiate the first stages of the difficult ground rapidly. They had swept through Glencourse wood, Inverness Copse and the eastern part of Shrews- bury forest by 8 o'clock, two hours and 20 minutes after the Sttack be- gan. and other advanced positions were reached with equal rapidity, which is a remarkable achievement in view of the marshy nature of the ground due to heavy rain.
 On the left of the line attacked heavy fighting developed on the high ground on either side of the Zonne- beke-Langemarck road. A number of strongly fortified farms were en- countered in this region and bombe d into submission. Among these was Schuyler farm, short distance south east of St. Julien. Schuyler farm held out long against attacks and con- tinued to play on the British with machine guns until it was taken Strong resistance was encountered al a redoubt on the YpresR Roulers rail- way west of Zonnebeke. This re- doubt Is a massive concrete and stee structure and it withstood all of the shell fire poured against it. The Brit lsh advanced on two sides anC | stormed the place with bombs unti It's occupants raised the white flag Similar tactics resulted in the fall o1
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