THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 December 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

I Austral. tt-N Zt*a:us<l Cable Sorvico) A FIIE.NOH VICTORY. Paris, Dec. 1(5. A communique status:— After several day* artillery preparatiun, we attacked the enemy this morning north of Douauniont between the Meuse and the Woevre, the front exceeding 10 kilometres. The enemy's front was eviryuhe: e pierce.! to a depth of three kilometres ■We captured be-ides numerous treat' es and vi lagers, Vaclicrauvilliand .1 i>:: ii vesnoiit Fa rim an 1 Cliambr;'tt:\s Work.-i, Haudi au.'i;ont and 13 o-s-nvaux. We have not counted all the prisoners, but 7o(H), incliulin,«r 200 officers, have already passed the collecting stations. We tjook or destroyed .■micrmis guns, including heavy field pieces and trench guns, besides a great quantity of material. Notwithstanding unfavourable weather tho air service brilliantly participated. The success was complete, the troops displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight. The communique adds: The four French divisions which yesterday attacked between the Mouse and the Woevre defeated five German divisions of which all regiments were in action, prisoners being taken from every one. The enemy did not counter-attack during the night. In tho attack on the VacherauvilleBeaumont road, the French contingents suddenly surged up behind tho Germans, causing a jjanic. They abandoned everything. The attackers from Poivre Hill assisted in the rout. Half an hour from the commencement of the attack the French wore on top. Tho village of Louvemont was speedily captured, the Gefinans surrendering along the whole lino. Our victorious troops pushed on to Chainbrettes Farm, south-west of the horn of Boisdesfowes. Our artillery fire had completely destroyed Haudraniont defences, so they were unable to assist the enemy who fell back in disorder, leaving the whole wood in French hands. General Mangin, having gained his objective, dispatched search parties in all directions who destroyed numerous guns. Tho positions captured yesterday were those taken by the Germans on February 23. London, Dec. 17. A French communique states: — Following up our successes on tho right bank of the Meuse we progressed in Cauriercs Wood and captured the village of Besonvaux. A violent German attack at Peppervillei was decisively repulsed. We maintained the ■whole of the i)ew front. Prisoners continue to arrive. Sry far they exceed 9000, including 250 ' officers. Eighty-one guns were captured or destroyed. A GERMAN REPORT. I>ondon, Dec. 16. A German evening communique states : — A strong French attack east of the Meuse, since the forenoon gained advantages in the direction of Louvemont and vHnudramout. Fighting continues. Our Dobrudja army is pursuing the enemy in, who as a result of our rapid advance in Great Wallachia, evacuated positions yesternight. SIR DOUG-LAS lIAIG'.S REPORT. London, Dec. 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — An enemy atack on Lesbocufs wascrushed. •We raided trenches southward cf Armentieres and eastward of Vierstrnat. A powerful raiding party endeavoured to enter our line southward of St. Eloi. A few reaching our tren- * dies were immediately rejected. The enemy losses were sevore. We bombarded trenches northward ot 1 Huluch and eastward of Neuvo Clhappelle;