SEVERE LOCAL FIGHTING IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 147, 11 March 1918, Page 5

SEVERE LOCAL FIGHTING IN THE WEST

ATTACKS ON THE BRITISH AND BELGIAN FRONTS TABLES TURNED ON THE ENEMY By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, March 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After artillery action tho enemy, in a fog, raided out advanced posts north-west of La. Bassee and entered one. We repulsed the raiders. The enemy artillery is active at Cambrai, Vermelles, 'Armentieres, and Ypres. The enemy's artillery is aotivo in the Scarpe Valley and at Ribecourt. There is much reciprocal artillery firing between the Menin Road and the Forest of Houthulst. Tho weather was fine for aviation, and great mutual activity is being displayed. Our airmen dropped over four hundred bombs on billets ana railway sidings. Despite mist, our night-fliers bombed an aerodrome at Metz. All returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. HEAVY LOCAL ATTACKS . TABLES TURNED ON THE ENEMY. '".'"'■ '"■" ' (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. Sir Douglas Haig leports: "Before dawn the enemy delivered a strong local attack on a mile, of front south of Houthulst Forest. Tho attack mostly broke under our firo. On our left, however, the attack, which was most determined, and was supported by flame-throwers, compelled somo of our advanced posts to fall back a short distanco on five hundred yards of front. After severe fighting tho Yorkshires counter-attacked later with complete success, driving the enemy back three hundred yards beyond our former lino, inflicting heavy losses, and re-establishing our position. Our casualties w-'re light. "The Sussex troops successfully raided the_ enemy's linos eastward of Laventie, taking prisoners. There is enemy artillery activity at Flesquieres, Givenchy, Neuve Chapello, Armentieres, and Ypres. "The Commander-in-Chief congratulated the First Brigade of the Flying Corps for its splendid success in bringing down eighteen aeroplanes in one day. In spite of the hazo we dropped tlireo and a half tons of bombs on various targets, including one ton on the onemy's aerodrome at St. Quentin. Our night-fliers dropped five tons on the enemy's railway stations at Cambrai and Cusigny, and on billets and batteries."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Reuter. Tho High Commissioner reports:— ; London, March 9, 12.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Eastward of Ypres, southwards of the Menin Road, and northwards of Polderboek yesterday evening the enemy vigorously attaoked, but was unsuccessful, except at Polderhoek, from which place-we were ejected after a night's heavy fighting." HEAVY FIGHT AT POLDERHOEK BRITISH FIERCELY ATTACKED. (Rec. March 11, 0.50 a.m.) . . . London, March 10, Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Tho enemy attacked last evening under cover of a heavy bombardment, on a front - of nearly a mile, from southward of the Menin road to northward of Polderhoek Chateau. Despite his intense artillery fire and determined attack we repulsed him at-all points, except in the neighbourhood of Poldorhoek, where the enemy ontered some advanced posts on a front of two hundred yards. We recaptured tho wholo of the positions .after all-night severe fighting. We drove off the enemy's raiders east of Neuve Chapelle. The Portuguese captured several prisoners in a successful raid in this neighbourhood. Tho West Kents made a successful raid south of Fleunbaix, and took a number of prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . ■ ■/ Later. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"The King's Royal Rifles broke the main force of last evening's attack in the neighbourhood of Polderhoek. The enemy's losses were severe. Tho short section of trench which remained in his hands was recaptured, despite strong resistance, by the Royal Fusiliers. A few prisoners were captured. "The Portuguese troops penetrated to the enemy's second line trenches in the Neuve Chapelle raid, reported this morning, driving out the garrison with heavy loss, bombing or blowing up a number of occupied dug-outs, and bringing in prisoners. The Portuguese casualties were light. "We raided the enemy's trenches' north of the Bapaumo-Cambrai Road. The Londoners raided in the neighbourhood .of Oppy, killing several and taking a few prisoners. There has been increased activity by the hostile artillery north or La Bassee Canal. ■ "There was great aerial activity yesterday. We dropped over four hundred bombs oh the enemy's dumps and sidings at Menin, Busigny, Guise, and east of St. Quentin. We brought down thirteen of the enemy's planes and drove down ten.- Three of ours are missing. _ Dospite the mist, our night-fliers dropped bombs on dumps and railway sidings at Fresnoy and north-ea:st of St. Quentin. All returned". Wo dropped a ton of bombs at midday to-day with good results on barracks, railway sidings, and factories at Mainz. A large fire was started. All the machines returned."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SERIOUS FIGHTING AT YPRES AND DIXMUDE (R«c. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) , London, March 9. There has been serious fighting at Ypres and Dixmudo. A German attack on a mile of front was repulsed.—Renter. PRODIGIOUS ENEMY ACTIVITY REPORTED. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, March 9. The "Petit Journal's" correspondent on the British front reports that prodigious enemy activity prevails. There is a marked enemy reinforcement of artillery along the whole front, coinciding with violent bombardments between Lens and Flesquieres. The Germans in tho St. Quentin region aro significantly constructing supplementary bridges over tho canals.—Aus.-N.Z. Oable Assn. SHARP ATTACK ON THE BELGIANS ENEMY GALLANTLY REPULSED. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 0. A Belgian official communique states: "An enemy attack was delivered north of Nieuport on Friday undor cover of a most violent bombardment. mu - - t4 »-'» fojlad. and we took prisoners. A counter-attack by our dis-

mounted cavalry on Wednesday against the Prussian shock troops, who gained a footing in our advanced [posts south of Stuyenskerko, was most successful. Wo took prisoners, nine machine-guns, much material, and rcoccupied all our posts."—Aus.-N.Z. Calhlo Assn.-Rcuter. (Rao. March 11, 0.25 a.m.) London, March 10. A Belgian official communique states: "Two Belgian raids were made in the region of Nieuport. Wo killed many and brought hack prisoners. We captured a Gorman outpost. The enemy's raiding outburst last week resulted in a. recrudescence of artillery firing'along the whole front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eenter. TRIBUTES' Bl r CORRESPONDENTS. ' (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March P. Correspondents pay a trisbute to the Belgians' fine stand at Stnyenskerke. The weather had dried the flooded ground and so enabled the Germans to attack on a fairly wide front. The Belgians' rifle and machine-gun fire beat off the southern portion of the attack, but the German storm troops in the north rushed seven advanced posts, which made a semi-circle round the bridgehead. A desperate fight ensued. A Belgian officer and nine men with one machine-gun. held on for an hour and repelled repeated assaults by three hundred of tue enemy with twolve machine-guns. Luckily, a Belgian patrol, returning from another encounter, heard the firing and rushed to reinforce the gallant defenders, quickly turning the tables. Assuming the offensive, the Belgians attacked and recaptured one of the lost posts, securing prisoners and one of the machine-guns. Meanwhile a larger counter-attack was begun by the dismounted cavalry, and this completely reestablished the line.—Aus.-NiZ. Gable Assn. ACTIVITY'ON THE FRENCH FRONT (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. A French official communique states: "There is fairly great enemy artillery activity in the La Pompelle region and Avocourt (on the Mouse). A strong enemy Taid at Moncel was repulsed with serious losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. March 10, 11.25 p.m.) London, March 10. A German official report states:—"A hostile infantry attack followed a violent artillery duel on the BandonviUers sector. The engagement has not yet terminated."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE AMERICAN FRONT HORRIBLE ATROCITIES BY THE GERMANS. New York, March 8. The "New- York World" interviewed returned wounded soldiers, iyho stated that twelve Americans were taken prisoner, and next morning their bodies were found in front of the trenches with arms and legs amputated and eyes gouged out.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SPANISH SUPPLIES FOR AMERICAN TROOPS. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) Washington March 8. A commercial agreement between America and Spain has been signed, by which Spain agrees to send supplies needed by General Pershing's Army, thus relieving the shipping situation.—Reuter. AUSTRIANS FOR THE WEST (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, March 8. The Prussian Minister for War announced in the Reichstag that Austrian troops had been sent to France. Ho refused to give the number.— Reuter.