INTENSE ARTILLERY DUEL IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 9, 5 October 1917, Page 5

INTENSE ARTILLERY DUEL IN THE WEST

. SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE MEUSE DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR HILL 344 London, October 3. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "The artillery battle in Flanders is endless, intense and widespread, upon both sides. The enemy has all his guns at work. Is this the last phase of the war? Does the enemy know he must win or lose? Our men have that hope in their hearts, and fight more grimly and with higher spirit because of it. Our success in the last two battles east of Ypres has deepened the hope. I havo heard the Tommies telling the Australians that they only need to make a grimace at the Hun to make him ''hands-up.' Our battalions are havin» dinners at the Flemish farmhouses to celebrate the victory which put the enemy down and under, and very near to hopelessness."— A us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE FRENCH FRONT GERMAN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE HILL 344. v London, October 3. A French official communique states: "There are fairly violent artillery actions in Belgium and on the Aisne front. The Germans heavily attacked, after a bombardment on the right bank of the Meuse, between Hill 314 and Samogneux. Thev gained a footing at a point north of Hill 344, but were driven from the greater part after violent fighting."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. (Eec. October d, 7.50 p.m.) i London, October 3. A French official communique states: "There is. violent artillery activity on both banks of tho Meuse. Our artillery neutralised an attack which was being prepared east of Reims."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. October 4, 7.50 p.m.) London, October 3A German official report states: "We renulsed an attempt to recapture the ground northward of the Menin-Ypres road. We captured the French trenches to a width of twelve hundred yards on tno northern slope of Hill 344. Night counter-attacks were driven back."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE NAVAL AIR OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS London, October 3. Naval aircraft bombed the lock-gales at Zeebrugge and tho aerodrome, sheds, and machines at St. Denis-Westrem.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. DESTRUCTIVE AIR RAIDS BY THE FRENCH. The High Commissioner reports:— London, October 3, 2.50 p.m. A French official reports states: "Our aviators dropped about seven tons of projectiles on Freibourg railway station. Volklingen, and Hoffenbach factories, Brieulles, Long-wry, Metz, Woippy, Arnaville, Maizeres-les-Metz, Thionvillc, and Sarrelouis. ,