Taking the line from north to south, for the sake
of clearness, we begin with Flanders. Here last Saturday the Belgians and General Plmner's veterans attacked on the wide front from Dixmude to the south of Ypres, while our monitors furiously bombarded the 'Flanders coast. The Belgian bulletins, our only source of informa- tion, are unfortunately vague, but it seems that the attack came as a complete surprise and was extremely fortunate. The Germans had taken their reserves from Flanders to support the Cambrai line, and they were caught unawares by Marshal Foch before they could bring fresh troops from their depots. The attackers overran the first and second enemy lines on the first day, and by last Sunday night had taken Dixmude, the whole of Houthulst Forest, and the whole Passchendaele Ridge of evil memory, as well as Messines and Wytschaete and Ploegsteert Wood. On Monday the Belgians, with French reinforcements, pushed on eastwards beyond Staden and crossed the Roulers-Menin road, while General Plumer, thrusting south-eastwards towards Menin and Courtrai, crossed the Lys and captured Warneton, Comities, and Wervicq, to the west of Menin.
Previous page
