nished with machine-guns; they had conquered the famous bastion of the forest of Houthulst and captured over 4,000 prisoners besides considerable material.
As for the British II. and XIX. Army Corps, they had reached all their objectives: Becelaere by the gth Div., Krviseecke by the 2pth Div., Zandvoorde by the 35th Div. Thus on the first day over the whole frontage of the Belgo-British attack there had been greatly exceeded the extreme limits of the victories of the third battle of Ypres (July-Nov. 1917) that battle of giants wherein 51 divisions of British and 78 divisions of the Germans had disputed the same country foot by foot for four months with a vigour unknown in history.
Action of Sept. 29. It was of importance that this brilliant success should be followed up with the greatest vigour. The following day the battle recommenced at 06:00 hours after artillery preparation of half an hour. It was intended to force the Flandern II. Stellung. In the northern group, after the ist Div. had secured Clercken and Ternst, the loth Div. con- quered Ruvter Hoeck and Zarren. At 09:00 hours the 4th Div. had taken Woumen and Eessen and proceeded to encircle Dixmude. Toward noon the division proceeded to clear up the town. With the central group, the battle was particularly vigorous: the 3rd Div. occupied in the first place Vyewege and in the afternoon made an assault on Stadenberg, which was secured at 16:45 hours after an obstinate fight.
The gth Div. threw six attacks against Wcstroosebeke with- out gaining a foothold.
In the southern group the 8th Div., followed by the nth Div. and fighting side by side with the British gth Div., prepared to attack Moorslede when the latter division was carrying Keiberg.
About 13 : oo hours the 8th Div. found itself 500 metres W. of Moorslede. The attack was made at 14: oo and secured the posi- tion after a severe fight, and completely forcing the enemy line, advanced the 7th Regt. toward St. Pieter, on the road Menin- Roulers, which was occupied at nightfall. On the left, the I2th Div. was taking the woods of Kalve and Calliemolenhoeck; to the right the British gth Div. secured Keiberg and penetrated into Danizeele. During the day's action four fresh German divisions were encountered.
Action of Sept. 30. On Sept. 30 the 3rd Div. occupied Sta- den; the Belgian gth Div. entered the evacuated Westroose- bcke and occupied the outskirts of Oostnieuwkerke.
The other divisions undertook by certain local engagements to rectify a frontage which was based on the first line of the Flandern I. Stellung. This position, established by the Germans in 1917, was strongly held, abundantly furnished with machine-guns and barbed wire, and supported by the artillery disposed on the whole front from Handzaeme to St. Pieter.
The first days of Oct. marked a halt in the operations. Only on the outskirts of Oostnieuwkerke and of Moorslede were there any lively combats. In front of the British the Germans men- aced by the salient of Moorslede were withdrawing progressively their front line to the line of Wedlghem-Comines-Warneton, in front of which the troops of Gen. Sir H. Plumer installed them- selves at 17:00 hours.
To sum up, the Belgo-British offensive which was delivered on Sept. 28 gave the most highly satisfactory results.
The progress realized had carried the Allied front about 15 km. from their starting point. The whole of the heights _ of Flanders was conquered. More than 8,000 prisoners, of which 6,000 were taken by the Belgians, were captured. 500 guns, machine-guns and material in proportion were the spoil of the victors. Thirteen German divisions had been engaged.
This rapid advance carried the Allied divisions beyond the zone of country so deeply cut up during the battles of Ypres. It was not possible to continue the advance before having built up across this historic stretch of mud sufficient communications for food and supplies for the troops. The reestablishment of a network of communications in this country, so completely cut up and full of water, constituted a delicate and most arduous task, which in spite of all efforts ought to have stopped the operations for a considerable time.
The crisis was most acute for two or three days, and certain divisions existed altogether on food supplies thrown from aero- planes. Thanks to the most vigilant activity the troops found themselves ready to take up the offensive on Oct. 14. The success took them this time to Bruges and Courtrai, and assured the freeing of the coast and evacuation of the region round Lille.
Battle of Courtrai-Thielt-Thourout. The battle of Sept. 28- 2g had put the Belgo-British in possession of the heights of Flanders, and had taken the Allied armies in one bound beyond the country of the Ypres battles. The reestablishment of com- munications across this zone absorbed the first days of Oct. On Oct. 6 the King of the Belgians sent out instructions for the continuance of operations.
The intention of King Albert was that, taking as a base of departure the positions conquered at the end of Sept., the Belgian right flank and the British on the left flank should push vigor- ously toward the last and seize the knot of communications at Thourout, Thielt and Courtrai.
These points conquered, an advance should be made from Thourout in the direction of Bruges, which would inevitably insure the deliverance of Ostend and of all the coast. Proceeding from Courtrai and combining their movements with the British I. Army which was marching on Valenciennes, the British II. Army would undoubtedly cause, probably without fighting, the liberation of the populous and industrial region Lille-Roubaix- Tourcoing. In consequence the Belgian army, reinforced by the French VII. and XXXIV. Corps, would seize the plateau of Hooglede-Gits and the centres of Thourout, Thielt and Oos- troosebeke, and then be prepared to follow the enemy towards Bruges and Ghent. The British II. Army would carry on the front on the Lys from Harlebeke to Menin. It would proceed to follow the enemy as far as the Scheldt. The II. Cavalry Corps and two divisions of French infantry would remain under the immediate orders of the King as a mobile reserve.
From Oct. 7 the corps commanders had caused the necessary cannonade to effect breaches in the wire entanglements and for the destruction of the most important enemy defences. On Oct. 14 the general attack was launched at 05:30 hours without any further artillery preparation.
The German order of battle was as follows from N. to S.: 38 Div. L.; 3 Div. R.; 36 Div. R.; Div. Guards Reserve; i Div. R.B.; 6 Div. R. B.; n Div. R.; 56 Div.; 12 Div. These divisions had all their three regiments side by side and in each regiment two battalions were placed in the first line. They were on the alert, and the three battalions occupied their battle positions.
However, the first lines of the enemy were quickly captured. The German defence was chiefly based on the employment of machine-guns. The Allied smoke-shells created a dense cloud which in the majority of cases prevented the enemy from making effective use of his weapons. The reply of the German guns was very serious, and very many heavy pieces on rails were employed. In the course of the day, six support divisions were brought into the line: they were used less for counter-attacking than to strengthen the front where broken.
In the evening the northern Belgian group had conquered Handzaeme as well as Cortemarck: the French, assisted by many sections of tanks, had secured Hooglede and Roulers.
The southern Belgian group, led by the valiant 3rd Div., had completely defeated the Guards Reserve Div. and the Bavarian ist Reserve Div.: they had taken Rumbeke, Ouckene, pushed almost to the gates of Iseghcm and captured 1,300 prisoners and many batteries, of which some had both teams and personnel.
Further S., the British forces had thrown back the enemy on the Lys in the neighbourhood of Menin, and had taken Wynberg, the western outskirts of Gulleghem and Wimkel St. Eloi. 20 enemy aeroplanes had been brought down.
On Oct. 15, while the Belgians in the N. gained ground to within 2 km. of Thourout and the British in the S. captured Gulleghem and then Heule, the indefatigable 3rd Div. (Belgian) passed through Lemdelede at 1 1 : oo hours and Cappelle Ste. Catherine, and the gth Regt. of the line pushed on irresistibly almost to Bavichove near the Lys.
