ON THE WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2972, 9 January 1917, Page 5

ON THE WEST FRONT

BOMBING ENCOUNTERS ON THE MEUSE London, January 7. A French communique states: —There have been bombing encounters on the west bauk of tho Mouse. Our artillery frequently bombarded the northern slopes'of Hill 286, and the German defences near the Mort Homme. An enemy coup de main easb of the Meuse failed completely. Attempted enemy attacks oa tho Vosges were stopped by our fire. One of our aeroplane squadrons bombarded the aerodromes at Haucourt and Matigny, the railway station at Arcegny, and enemy cantonments at the Liancourt Wood, and depots at Attiche.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu-tor. BRITISH ATTACK London, January 7. 'A German official report states: — An English attack south-west of. Arras broke under our gunfire. The weather restricted the fighting.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ATTACK ON BEAUMONT HAMEL (Roc. January S, 5.50 p.m.) London, January 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We completely repulsed an attack at Beaumont Hamel, and successfully raided trendies south of Armentieres, and defeated two attempts to enter our trenches at Wytschaete and north of Ypres. A French communique saye:—There was a lively artillery struggle m the Meriport Bains sectors.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. NEW WAU~WEAPONS London, January 7. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent at Amsterdam states that the "Reinische Westfaelische Zeitung" boasts that tho German warlike forces include inventions not yet shown in their full development. It says: "Bnglaud aud France have long since converted a chivalrous struggle into a butchery by frajic-tireurs and nettoyeurs. It is their will that tho merciless destruction shall continue. Let us use our new sharp weapons."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. TROOPS iFFINE FETTLE London, January 7. Lord Northcliffe, interviewed by 'tho "Sunday Times" after his visit to the Western front, said that never wero the British troops so assured of victory, and never were the German prisoners so gloomy. He saw the British. Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand, and part of tho French front. The whole of the British and Dominion troops wore in better fottlo than,in tho preceding winters. The health of the army wss never bettor. The average illness, including colds and influence, was much less than at Home. It had been exactly three per thousand during the whole winter. Lord Nortbcliffe was convinced that the war would bo decided on the West front, and was more confident than ever that the Allies would achieve victory. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.