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THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG
GREAT BATTLE OF THE AISNE. WHOLE GERMAN LINE MUST GIVE WAY. FRENCH CAPTURE EIGHT THOUSAND PRISONERS.
GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS IN FLANDERS.
ENEMY COMPLETELY REPULSED.
RUSSIAN FLEET ESCAPES FROM RIGA GULF. RUSSIAN ADMIRAL ELUDES GERMAN TRAP.
Franco-Belgian brant,
LATEST CABLES (THROUGH REUTER'S AGESOE.]
BRITISH FRONT,
GERMAN REPORT.
London, October 24th. A wireless German official report states: Our counter-attacks almost com pletely ejected the enemy from our de
There was little air fighting. Two of the enemy's ranchines were brought down, Iwo of ours collided over the enemy a lines, and one other is missing.
DESTRUCTIVE BOMBARDMENTS
We captured a few prisoners last night int patrol encounters south-westward of | Havrincourt.
The neiny artillery is active against our Houthuist Forest positions.
We carried out counter battery work:
DAILY PREN
GERMAN REPORT
LONDON October 24th.
A wireless German official TEPOTE statesThe Trench between Ailleled and the Oestel heights, encountered a strong resistance and did not advance, owing to
We withdrew from our untenablo, post- tions, blowing up the advanced batteries. Simultaneously, repeated assaults south ward of Filain, acd also between Brave and Ailles failed
Tiver
food
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 2613, 1917.
plateau, or retreat to safety behind the the western plateau must give way the
unite have been without enemy cploying in the morning in
threatened lines at least six divisions who were ordered to hold on at all costs.
A battle is waging for the possession
enters of the western end of the long narrow barrier between the valleys of the Aihe and Ailette. This barrier between the
The Intile from an artillery point of view, in the of the most important of the war. Never, except upon certain
Dccasions in Flanders thie omer-has
13
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GERMANS REINFORCE
AUSTRIANS
LONDON,October 24th. Router's Correspondent at the Italian Headquarters states Practically the whole of the Austrian Army is now on the Italian Front, Also there are strong
parently intended to attack Tolmino, perhaps in order to force the Italians to abandon the Bainsizza Plateau and retire to the right of the Isonzo.
GERMAN REPORT.
their heavy losses. Reinforcements later, there been adr en enormous concentra aupported by armoured cats, broke in oution of gun-power, The preparazios: vivers burg the upproach from the south. Germans reinforcements, which are ap- our positions, reaching Allemant and lasted many days and the Anal hurricane to Laon and is the strongest natural Chavignoti
between three and five this morning was fortress in Northern France and the of a most terrifio intensity.
comer-stone of the Hindenburg Life It was one of thom are ocessions for a
On a relief map it resembles a fantasti big infantry attack in the darkness, and
enlly carved club, of which u natrow and
· LONDON. October 24th.*-- an hour later, at daybreak, the battle had
irregular haft expands nt Epin de
A German ofheial report saysOur already retreated beyond the skyline,
Chevrigny into a head consisting of combined attack on the Italian Front is only the distant smoke and shell flashes,
jumble of spikes and promontories, the progressing. We have taken Bome thon showed that the fight at Malmaison spikes hang the Aisne plateau with an
sands of prisoners, still undecided. The famous First Prus
average height of 650. fect and varying Africa. san, Grenadiers, defended Malmaison
in width from a thousand yards to two. ADVANCE EXCEEDS /
miles.
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BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
EIGHT THOUSAND GERMAN PRISONERS
PARIS, October 24th. A communique states The night generally was calm on the whole front. North of the Aisne the enemy did n counter attack, but merely bombarded our new lines, especially in the region, of
Vauderson.
We are organising our gains.
Bu far we have captured 5,000 prisoners, including 160 officers, belonging to eight different divisions, including two Guarda, Malso the staff of three regiments, includ
ing three Colonels..
fences on the southern edge of Houlthiland destructive bonubardments at differ
Wood,
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SEVEN COUNTER-ATTACKS WITHOUT RESULT.
LONDON, October 24th. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports: The enemy last evening again attacked our positions at Houthulst Wood and against the junction of the Anglo-French armies, bus we completely repulsed him.
ent points.
Our artillery caused large explosion in the Nieuport sector,
The weather is wet and stormy. Aeroplane reported missing on Sunday has since been Incated, the pilot being slightly wounded.
LATEST CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT.
EXPECTATIONS.
ch
LONDON, October 24th. Reuters Correspondent with French Headquarters reports: The success of the new advance har exceeded all expecta tions. From captures are betog signalled
The abtack is comparable with the
The possessor of the main crest cum mands the Aisne Valley to the south and the Ailette Valley to the north and to
the cast from Chévriguy,
The enelny holds the crest, and the object of to-day's battle is to deprive, the Bocho of it.
dan Everywhere along the orest the Germansi face the French across a most narrow space, in places only twenty yards apart.
The battle must be fought out on this narrow crest and ridge. French posser-
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{THKOVOS: DEZTER'S AGENOT.]
EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.
NO PEACE TO THE ENEMY
LONDON, Octour 24th. Reuter's Correspondent with the Bei- tish forces in East Africa - telegraphs that the enemy is sull retreating ang the
fahenge area.
Under pressure in the hilwa area the
enemy pushing south but resisting desperately.
brilliant operations at Verdur in October and December last year. The victory is due equally to the wounderful prepara, sion of the ridge will render German The enemy also is being given vo pesce tory work of the artillery and the tenancy of the Ailette, Valley beyond in the Liudi ares.
The latter practically impossible. The French pre- / Many deserters are coming in, and gallaury of the infantry
before Farations were vast and meladed the the spirits of our troops are excellent,
It is confrined that two enemy divisions ten fought very hard placed in the reserve behind the frontching their objectives, for the resist zome places was desperate participated in yesterday's fighting and cein-
on the right. were severely handled. FRENCH DEFEAT BEST GERMAN The French.advanced a great speed, following a barrage of 75% which was TROOPS A communiqué states North of the extremely deep in order to give the most Aisne the attack this morning developed effective support. They simply swept most brilliantly, despite the fog and rain, over every kind of obstacle. There were against the formidable defences garrison- jonumerable feats of individus) courage. An offker in high conimand remarked to The first rush captured the line markede Correspondent, "One could kneal by the Fruty and Bohery quarries. Then before some of these men." Fort Malmaison, in the centre, felli
Since Monday the enemy has delivered THE STRATEGIC FRUITS OF THE ed by Germany's best troops.
seven counter-attacks without achiev ing any material results at any point.
The Gloucesters successfully raised south-eastward of Gavrelle. They killed. a number, blow up several dugouts, and captured a few prisoners.
COUNTERATTACKS DRIVEN OFF
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- the attack reported ports-Besides
VICTORY
LONDON, October 24th. Reuters Correspondent, with French Headquarters reports: The strategic in tention of the high command in the Aisne battle was to finally and completely thrust the enemy off the crest-line. We now hold practically the estire line of the crest between Craonne and Vauxail- in this morning's communiquée the enemy
lon. It addition, we have got a command. delivered two other counter-attacks · last evening. In one case he attempted to ing view of Ailette Valley from end to advance along the line Westroosebek-end. Also a view up the Ardon Valley, Poelcapella road, but when 200 yards at the head of which stands Laon, and a off our new positions he was engaged by view northward across the plain over the our infantry with rifle and ranchine-gun- enemy communication to Anizy, in the fre and beaten off with loss.
upper Concy Forest It will be long before the full strategic fruits of the victory are garnered.
The survivors, in endeavouring to with draw, were caught by our artillery bar rage and again suffered heavily
The second attack, in considerable strength, immediately northward of the Ypres-Staden railway, was also met with rifle and machine gun fire and driven off.
A fleet of 10 Tanks co-operated very effectively, despite the breakneck ascents, accomplishing all that was required of
them
The French, pushing forward, expelled the enemy from the Mont Parnasse quar ries,
Progress on the left was equally to cessful, the villages of Allemant and Veudesson being taken.
GERMAN REPORT:
LONDON, October 24th, A wireless German official report dates The French did not continue their attack Ki Choin des Dames
FRENCH HEAVIES" POUND UNDERGROUND FORTRESSES.
LONDON, October 24th, Our right carried the line to the heights.
Correspondent with the commanding Pargny-Filainf
The troops in the centre hustling fresh French Headquarters says: -The ground enemy reserves, stormed the village of in today's Battle of the Aisne is BORD Chavignon. The advance here reached a with pitfalls in the shape of quarries or underground stone workings. Many are depth of 31 miles
The enemy losses were very heavy Seven thousand five hundred prisoners so far have been counted.
The enormous booty includes 25 guas,
Our aviators were most admirable in the had weather, keeping 160 feet above the lines
--ON THE MEUSE -
Reuter's
capable of sheltering hundreds of men, These quarries arc scattered along the crest and honeycomb the slopes of the ravines leading to the Valley of Ailette and offer complete security from bom bardment, except by the heaviest calibres. Some, however, are
re considered absolutely shell proof. These subterranean strong,
building of emplacements for hundreds of guns, new roads and railways.
Naval Activitiesi
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ÍTHEĎUGH BRUTER'A ÄGEMUS.}.
BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK IN COLLISION.
Losboy, October 28th The Admiraltyannounce that
sunk as a result of destroyer was
Two officers and 21 uien were saved.
ARMED MERCANTILE CROISER TORPEDOED.
Losnov. Cytobar 27th The armed fiercantile cruiser, druzi, was torpedoed and sunk on Friday. There
were no casualties
THE GULF OF RIGA BATTLE RUSSIAN WARSHIPS REJOIN
BALTIC SQUADRON,
PETROGRAD, October 24th.
LATEST CABLES"
BELGIAN DETACHMENT
ATTACKED.
LONDOS, October 24th.
A Belgian East African official report states-Several comparties of Germans, On the 13th inst with four machine-gung, twice attacked Belzian detachment en- trenched north-east of the Littazue vil- lage, south-east of Mahenge. The enemy was repulsed leaving 17 dead.
A speedy junction by the British an dễ Belgian forces 18 apprehended.
Geranal
LATEST CABLES,
'AGENCY.]
THE NATION'S THANKS.
Lospes October 24th: In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George gave notice that on the 29th - tant he would move that the thanks of the House of Commons be given to the
A despatch from Helsingfors states Navy for its farthful work upon the sens that the Russian warships in the Gulf during more than three years of cesser. of Riga hare succeeded in rejoining theiras danger and stres while guarding main Baltic Equadron.
The successful junction of the Riga Squadron with the main feet was due to the strategy of Admiral Radvozoff who outwitted the tremendous German
efforts to entrap him.
Admiral Radvozoff's Buuadron entered
crews of the main flot lined up on the
cally welcomed their comrades.
our shores and protecting us from attacks
by a barbarous the, and the commerce upon which the victory of the Allies depends, (Cheers.) Also to the Army, women, medical, and other auxilis for their unfailing courage and endur ance in defending right through suffer ings and hardshipg unparalleled in the
Servi
A violent enemy attack north cast of holds have been converted into modar Finnish waters on the 19th inst. The history of war, and for their loyal readi- Early this morning anothor attack or GENERAL PERSHING WITNESSES Hill 344 on the right of the Meuse was field fortresses and many have been in decks of the warships and enthusiasti
our positions at Houthulst Forest and north eastward of Veldhoek was complete- Jy repulsed, leaving prisoners in our hands
A less powerful attempt against the fartified farm captured by us yesterday south eastward of Poelompelle was equal ly unsuccessful.
Reciprocal artillery Bring was active to day, despite the unfavourable weather AERIAL WARFARE
Flying yesterday was almost prevented
THE BATTLE General Pershing of the American Army witnessed the battle and inspected the conquered ground,
The
The enemy losses must have been extremely beavy. reserves were crowded in the subterranean quarries, practically all the roofs of which were smashed in, causing the full of iemense masses of stones on the heads of enemy
troops
Our acroplanes machine-gunned groups.
by the weather, until in the afternoon of infantry in ling, also reserves and our aeroplanes, despite rein and bad bombed trains from a very low altitude visibility, co-operated in the infantry's at Laon station.
attack, continuously reporting progress and assisting with machine-guna.
May rounds were fired on "ground targets, including machine-gun emplace ments, troops in shell-holes, marching and in villages. Many bombs in the daytime were dropped on billets, butments, and infantry in shell holes and trenches,
ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE
repelled after a desperate fight
sued up by underground passages with Bally-ports in the German trenches, hald by strong garrisons of picked troops.
The enemy obtained a footing in a work on our advanced line, but a vigorous counter attack completely drove him out and our line was entirely restored. A German at empt on Caurieras Crest failed with heavy enemy losseR.
LATER
On the right of the Mouse there were risk artillery actions in the region of Bamogneux, Vacheraustille, Chaume and west of Dousumont-
The artillery preparation began at 7.15, and increased gradually to last night's paroxysm of violence, surpassing
home they work to which they ness to continue had set their hand until the liberty of the world as secured. Also to LATEST CABLES.
the gallant troops from the Dominions GERMAN ADMISSION.
(chers) from Indis, and the Crown Colonies, who have trævelled many thou- LONDON, October Sith.
unds of miles to share with their com- wireless German official reportades of the British Isles the sacrifices.
LATEST CABLES.
THROUGH REUTER 8 AGENCY.]
ITALIAN TRONT.
GERMAN CLAIM.
freedom. To the Mercantile. Marine → (cheers) __for_their devotion to duty_ with which they continued to carry vital sapplica to the allies through sets in fested with deadly peril. And the House of Commons saknowledges with grateful admiration the valour and devotion of those who have offered their lives in the servico of their country, and tenders its sympathy
their relations and friends in the sorrow they have sustained.
the preparations for the Somine, Verdun statesBetween the Riga Gulf and and triumphs of the battlefield and taken and Flanders battles. The roofs and Drina we withdrew on Bunday without their full share in the struggle for human
interruption on a wide front, exits of the underground fortresses were pounded with the leaviest guns, with a Italian Front,
roofte and vow to smashing the
Whenever the blocking the entrances, neroplanes reported a breach, a flood of lighter shells was concentrated theroom of the most important since 1914
with complete confusion Aerial photo- Long months of preparation by both graphs demonstrated the substantial sides have really brought Erane and damage done to these Beche rabbit Germany to grips in this conflict, for which the Germans had massed the best troops and most powerful misterial
FRENCH SUCCESS COMPLETE Yesterday's battle on the Aisne was one
A commentque states North of the Aisne the German artillery is particularly active in the sectors of La Royere and Les Bovelles, and in the regions of Maimai The French success is complete. They son. In front of our new front, which run,hare pushed beyond Fort Malmaison from Mont des Singes, the whole of which which is the key to the position, to the Aillems Valley Numerous German natural underground fortresses were smashed by sixteen inch shells and the Occupants buried
The enemy dropped many bombs, duris in our possession, to Chavignon, the ing the last few nights on our forward
SPACE PRO fange penemy did not attempt any infantry. areas, but his machines last night were dam
not nearly so active, except in the neigh- bourhood of Dunkirk
Our machines, as soon as darkness set in, vigorously attacked seven aerodromes Bombs fell near the hangars, aeroplanes on the ground, and od the railway station at Courtrai
Later they attacked a train and hit the Teer portion, which burst into Bames,
action.
Patrols sent out in the region of Chavig non and Yandesson brought back a large number of prisoners.
It is confirmed that the Tanks played An important part in yesterday attack The number of prisoners exceeds 8,000.
The booty counted mine thrower
80
170 guns, 30
e
Warrena.
LONDON, Uctober 24th Awireless German official report states: The Austro Germans this mome Sing captured the foremost Italian past, The roof of the great Mont Faraons near Flitch-Tolmino, also the quarry, capable of harbouring a brigade,
are cap has been pierced, and likewise the hig Guiltan quarry, in the centre
northern portion of Bainsizza-
ATTEMPTED ENEMY ATTACK
ROME, October 24th
FRENCH SHIPPING,
- PARIS, October 4th. For the week the arrivals were 980, and the sailings 1,032,
The sinkanga "übovo – 1,000 tona Veren
An official report states: Thenew it and below 1,600 tons one. The enemy resistance on the right was
Fort falmaison, of the highest point ha concentrated large forces, of which a of the plateau, which the French large proportion are German.
hum
battered out of recognition, GERMAN LINE MUST GIVE WAY
The most intense artillery firing daring
a the northern portion of the
ed the eginning BILDE to bad weather the fire JEWALTONG
GERMAN REPORT.
AN ARTILLERY BATTLE
of the attack measured s FORDON October 24th miles from Vauzsillón to La Royere attac
Basulted The French
in the decreased at Reuter's Correspondent with the Farm
ith such a speed that before rench Headquarters reported in the
the first objectives had been enemy reserves maksed in Aillette valley are being decimate
and prisoners count
reason to French shell and
(Germand line on move to help their comrades
believe that the while
LONDON October 24th, German official report
JAGWITHCRE ates A combined Attack on the Italian front as in progress. Bone thou-
anda of prisoners bave been captured
vessels were unsuccessfully attacked.
ITALIAN BHIPPING
LONDON October 24th
An Italian official report states. e, arrivals for the week wera #274 the sailings 414
One sterner over and three under 1300 tons were
and one Fessel unsuccessfully
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