THE BIG OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2585, 6 October 1915, Page 5

THE BIG OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST

FURTHER PROGRESS NORTH OF ARRAS

AIR WAR ON ENEMY'S COMMUNICATIONS ,

i The High Commissioner reports:—

London, October 4, 5.30 p.m. Ivorth of Arras our progress continues; at Givenohy .and Hill 119 the French occupied five crossroads. 1 'Fighting continues at Quennevieres, Nouvron, in Champagne, and at Mesnil; at latter place the. enemy was repulsed. "French aviators dropped forty largo shells at Sablons Station, Metz : other'aviators bombed the junctions and stations behind the German front."

/ . London, October 5, 1.40 a.m. "The cannonading continues at many points. At Artois tils' enemy again set foot on \our trenches south of the Givenchy wood. Everywhere else violent counterattacks, were repulsed. i v A hostile aeroplane was brought down and the officers made prisoners. "In the eastern Argonne,the Allies' heavy artillery caught a moving enemy column." t .

DETERMINED ATTACK ON THE'BRITISH FRONT

ENEMY. RECAPTURES PORTION OF HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. By Tclcerauli—Press Association—Copyrlfflit (Reo. October 5, 6.30 p.m.) London, October 4. Sir John French reports: "The enemy on. Sunday, afternoon delivered a heavy bombardment,, aiid followed this up with. repeated attacks over open ground against our trenches between the quarries and the Vermclles-Hulluch Koad.- Tho.attacks were pressed with determination, but. all were repulsed with severe loas, the enemy failing to reach'our trerichesr "The enemj;, further 'north-west, succeeded in recapturing the greater portion of tho Honenzollern redoubt." ■' •

GERMANS VEILING THE FACTS

NO MENTION OF HUGE LOSSES,

London, October 4. The Press Bureau states: A French official statement points out that, in order to allay uneasiness in Germany, German headquarters has announced nothing regarding the Allies' victories in the Artois md Champagne, except the retreat of one division. It is silent regarding the capture, of 25,000 prisoners and 150 guns. i. \ "SQUARING -THE, FACTS." v : Amsterdam, October 4, German headquarters explain that the retirement from the. first lines .during the recent offensive was not- due to the ability of the English commanders, but was the consequence of a successful surprise attack with intoxicating gases. The German Staff calculates that the French casualties were'l3o,ooo, and the British 60,000, while the Germans did not' lose one-fifth of that number.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GREAT RUSH

GERMAN SECOND LINE POSITIONS BOMBARDED.

£Rec. October 5, 11.25 p.m.)

• , , Paris, October 5. The bombardment of the German second-line positions continues in prepar- ' ation for another assault. The German's are not allowed to know whether the } same points are threatened or whether it will be an entirely different one. Critics point out that only three British army corps were deeply engaged on September 25. Sir John French therefore possesses ample troops for a future advance; meanwhile time is being allowed the German reserves to exhaust ■themselves in counter-attacks, in which they are losing heavily, while the French and British are clearing up the ground of the recent advance. ■' The new method of attack by an overwhelming force over a large' area necessitates the capture of the first-line trenches, then a rush beyond to the system of bloiik-houses and isolated machine-gun pits, which form the''advance works of the second line. . '• ' : AN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. A Berlin communique states: "Five monitors unsuccessfully .bombarded Zeebrugge yesterday, killing three Belgians.' "Our offensive against the British front is progressing. "The French successfully hold a.email portion of a, trench north-west of ' Givenchy. _ ' "We repulsed their, attacks elsewhere, and also repelled attacks at Massiges and Villc-sur-Tourbe. We caught their 'troop concentrations with our .fire, inflicting heavy leases. 1 "Our airship successfully bombed-Chalons station." . . STRENGTHENING THE FORTRESS CITIES. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, October i. The Central News Agenoy's Amsterdam correspondent reports that Ghent, Lice, and Namur are being strongly fortified. Heavy gtuis have been transferred from Lille to Doiku. The Belgian railways have been commandeered for exclusive military use. THE STRATEGY OF OUR OFFENSIVE SERIES OF SHORT, DECISIVE RUSHES. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) • London, October 4. Mi'. Hilaire Bolloe declares that if the present crisis turns in our favour it will decide tlio issue of the'war. Wo must not expect a continued rapid advanco, but rather a series of rushes, ceding in a full retirement of the enemy . or a halt not far from the first, line. The disproportion of German officers to men capturod corroborates the ovidence of a serious dearth of officers.

MOVEMENTS OF GERMAN TROOPS THROUGH KIEL.

("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)

(Roc. October o, 0.0 p.m.)

o j, ' . London, October 4. Copenhagen reports tha.t the caseation of tha German ferries indicates the use of the isri'r-boait lor. .tHe trainßort of Hqwv thruusji tlie Kiel Canal.