HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 8 November 1916, Page 5

HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS IN THE WEST

ENEMY REGAINS A SLIGHT FOOTING GERMANS SUSTAIN SERIOUS LOSSES (By Telegraph—Pxess Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Ca.ble Association. The High Commissioner reports:— , London, November 6, 3.55 p.m. The British official report states:—"During lasfrnigbt, under strong enemy counter-attacks, we relinquished portion of the ground we won in the neighbourhood of Butte-de-Warlenconrt. Eastward, of Lesboeufs we secured yesterday's.gains. We made three successful raids on the enemy's trenches in the'Armentieres-Ypres areas."', . The French official report states:—"North of the bomme we progressed between Lesboeufs and Sailly-Saillisel. _ Yesterday evening and night the enemy violently counter-attacked positions we bad taken from Saillisel as far as St. Pierre-Vaast Wood. All attacks west of the wood were broken by machine-gun and artillery fire, with heavy losses to the enemy. South-west of the'wood the enemy regained part of tho village of Saillisel."

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. - (Aust.—N.Z. Cable Assn. <uid Eeuter.) (Rec. November 7, 8.15 p.m.). ' London, November 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Our front was heavily shelled in the neighbourhood, of Lesboeurs and Le Sars. The consolidation of the ground we occupied on Sunday has been continued. We successfully bombarded tho enemy's trenches south of > Armentieres." ; — :■ 1 ; FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. November 7, 8.45 p.m.) Paris, November 7. A-French, official communique, states-:—"North of the Somme we continued to'make progress in the northern part of St.', Pierre Vaast Wood. Over six hundred prisoners have been taken Tiere'since'yesterday. Reports that the enemy has suffered the heaviest losses during their violent counter-attacks in the wood last night are confirmed. "There is nothing to report from Verdun except a. continued canrtbnade in the Douaumont, Vaux, and Damloup regions." MAGNIFICENT DASH OP WEEK-END BATTLE ■ . ; Australian-New Zraland Cablo Association. (Rec. November 7, 8.15 p.m.) Paris, November 6. The correspondents emphaise tho magnificent dash of the British and French troops on Saturday and Sunday, when General Foch and Sir Douglas Haig took advantage of a spell of fins weather. , The Sritisl in a few momonts carried the heights east of Le Sars and nortlf-east of Gueudecoiirt, while the French carried three lines of trenches in front of the formidable fortified forest of St. Pierre Vaast: Tho Germans counter-attacked all day, with indecisive results, until four o'clock on Sunday morning. German prisoners confirm the statement that the German losses lately have been tremendous, largely due to the bad direction of their artillery, which fell short, pouring tonß of projectiles on their own infantry. THE SITUATION IN RUMANIA, NORTHERN POSITION SATISFACTORY ' WINTER TAKES A HAND ("The Times. (Rec, November 7, 6.15 p.m.) Bucharest, November 6. Mr. Stanley Washburn, writing from the Rumanian Headquarters, eulogises the Rumanians' heroism during the late retreat. _ The fighting raged in the Gyimes Pass and the Trotus Valley for a fortnight, and after many critical-days tho Rumanians took tho enemy on tho flanks, and repulsed them with dreadful losses. The dead were piled eight deep in the_ passes. He regards the northern situation as satisfactory. Providential rains retard the enemy's transport and heavy artillery, and the rivors are raging torrents. Russia is sending all her possible men, and the enemy has lost invaluable time, which has reduced his already narrow margin of campaigning weather, and threatens to make his gains a wasted effort, for what cannot be accomplished this year will probably not he possible next year, when the Rumanian army has been reorganised. RUMANIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (ATist.—N.K. Oablo Assn. jand. Bcutor.) (Rec. Nov. 7, 8.45 p.m.) Bucharest, November 7. A Rumanian official communique states ; —"We repulsed attacks in tho Prahova Valley. The enemy has been reinforced in the Vulkan Pass. We , have stopped tho pursuit. Artillery fighting is proceeding all along the Danube. Our advanced detachments forced the enemy to fall back in the [ Doobrudja. Intho course of his retreat he set fire to four villages." ■ DESPERATE STRUGGLE IN THE PREDEAL PASS RUMANIANS COMPELLED TO FALL BACK A LITTLE. , (Rec. Nov. 7, 8 45 p.m..) London ( November 7. • A Russian official communique states; —"The Rumanians in the Predoal . Pass were eompcllod to fall back a little to the southward, after a. prolonged ' struggle, but on tho Jiul River they pTessod tho enemy hack northwards. Repeated Turkish attempts to attack in the region of Conot wore arrested."

WITH THE ALLIES IN THE BALKANS

INTERMITTENT CANNONADING AND SKIRMISHES. < (Aust.—N.Z. Cable Assn. and Keutcr.) (Rec. November 7, 8.40 p.m.) . , Paris, November 7. A French official communique states:—"There is nothing to report except intermittent cannonading and patrol encounters. British aeroplanes bombed Bondaci." FRENCH MINISTER OP WAR AT SALONIKA. (Renter's Telegram.) (Rec. November 7, 6.15 p.m.) Paris, November G. General Roques, French Minister for War, has arrived at Salonika. • GREEK TREACHERY UNMASKED HOW. GERMAN SUBMARINES WERE REVICTUALLED Austrftlian-Ne<v Zeel&fcd Cable Association. (Rec. November 7, 7.30 p.m.) London, November 6. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at 'Athens reports that the Anglo-French secret agents raided the residence of M. Kalamasiotis. Greek Deputy at tho Piraeus, on. suspicion of being a supply agent for German submarines. The Government has prepared a strong protest against the raid, but the "Patris" to-morrow will publish the seized documents, disproving the Greeks' oft-repeated assurances thaE Greeco is not supplying those submarines. - In one letter M. Kalamasiotis assured Horr Plock, the German Consul, that he (Kalamasiotis)' did not deserve Plock's reproaches. "I am not blameworthy for our failure to Tevictnal _ tho submarines," he said. "Our enemies placed considerable in the way of my Cretan representatives." In other cases, M. Kalamasioiotis, in his letters, informed Plock where the supplies were secreted. Finally, one letter mentions a submarine commander's visit,a dding: "Tho submarine lies in a safe place. M. Plock congratulated us on our devotion." THE ALLIES' DEMAND FOR GREEK WARSHIPS London, November 6. The "Daily Chroniclo's" correspondent at Athens states that the Government has not yet replied to Admiral du Fournet's Note. It is believed that Admiral du Fournet will take the ships, despite King Constantine's refusal. The Venizelists insist that ships shall fly tho Greek flag, and be manned by National marines. . ; It is rumoured that ICing Constantino is not averse to selling the light fleet, owing to the scarcity of money required to pay the officers and officials. (Rec. November 7, 7.30 p.m.) Athena, Novembor 6. The Greek Government's refusal to hand over the light warships is apparently merely for tho sako of appearances.| They are willing to surrender them, but hope to obtain payment for the loan of then), especially in view of tho depleted condition of tho Treasury. FRENCH FLAG HOISTED ON GREEK TOR.PEDO BOATS. (Rec. November 7, 8.15 p.m.) Athens, November fi. The French flag has been hoisted and French crews drafted to the surrendered Greek torpedo boats.