HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 5

HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FRONT

CHEMIN-DES-DAMES'RIDGE LOST AND RE-WON ENEMY SUSTAINS SEVERE, LOSSES (Rec. July i, 8.15 p.m.) London, July 3. The "Times" correspondent at Paris states: "The violence 'of the enemy's bombardment of the Chemin, des Danies caused the French to retire from the front line trenches. The French . batteries mimediately concentrated tteir fiw.on the line which the enemy, in spito of severo losses, was unable to hold. A splendid counter attack in the evening snjept tho Crown Prince from his costly perch. ThVcTiTansTre now modifying theif method of attack and are endeavouring to flatten the French trenches before attacking them, thus destroying the i P««P«» of shelter against tho Frenoh guns, and involving them in ruinous lossos.-J.ne "Times.". ' ' (Rec. July i, 5.5 p.m.) ■ London, July 3. 'A French official communique states: "During tlio day reciprocal 'artillery firinc has been in progress on the sectors west and east of Cerny. lhere has been no infantry fighting."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. July i, 11.55 p.m.) London, July 3. A French communique slates: "Last evening after a bombardment, tho Germans delivered a series of violent attacks on tho trenches which wo recaptured oboth skies of the Paissy-Ailles Road. After a most, violent all-night struggle, which ended in, the complete defeat of the enemy, we rtam ainedall our positions" The artillery duel ■ increaeed •in intensity at midnight on Kilt JUI ana onle Avocourt Wood sector, after which the Germans early in the morning attacked our front Xng a line of five hundred yards on the southern extremity of the wood Our firo smashed tho aesaulting waves, which wore unable, to reach, our lines."—A'us.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Keuter.

RAIDS ON THE BRITISH FRONT. (Rec. July 1, G. 30 p.m.) ■' , London, July 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We successfully raided tho enemy's trenches westward of Havrincoiirt and northward of Nieuport. We repulsed an attack southward of 'the Cojeul Elver."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. . GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. July i, 11.55 p.m.) : , . London, July 4. 4. German official report states: "Two French attacks south-east of Ceruy broke down."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . GREAT GUNNERY WORK AT LENS ■ CANADIANS ADVANCE THEIR THRUST. ' / London, July 3. Mr Philip Gibbs states that there was great gunnery work at Lens on Sunday The Canadians pushed further through Avion to tho south near Fresnov ami Oppy The Canadians celebrated the Dominion's anniversary by a special shoot at midday when all tho howitzers tired a tremendous salvo into the enemy s lines. The Qermnns were apparently 'annoyed and retaliated with great qunntities of eight-inch shells.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THEIR' TURN TO SUFFER HUNS EXPERIENCE -"WHAT THE BRITISH ENDURED. (Rec. July i, 6.30 p.m.) ' v London, July 3. Reuter's special correspondent on tho British front gives the following extract from a German letter found on Messines Ridge:—"We have been for fourteen days under a hellish fire, day and night. We crouch together in holes awaiting our doom, wearing gas masks, as the British fire gas shells by: the hundredwei"ht and aerial torpedoes. Trench work is impossible with slirapnel firing nil night. So far our division, which is composed of three regiments, has lost 3400 in barely three months. We are quite helpless'against the British. Wβ cannot sit or lie down. Our artillery cannot fire by day, and wo nil hope to 1,0 taken prisoner—otherwise we will all go mad."—Renter. - . '