IN THE WEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1917, Page 1

IN THE WEST.

British Attacks. (Australian & N Z, Cable Association LONDON, Jan. 12. Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig r< ports: We captured three-quarters c a mile of trenches north-east of Bear inont Hamel The counter-attack w« smashed ■We were also successful i raids eastward of Annentiores an north-east of Ypres to the neighhom hood of Grandccourt. LONDON, Jan. 12. Mr. Phillip Gibbs states that vostcr day’s attack was followed by a cover bombardment. Our casualties wer slight. The attack was made I tfor daylight. Seventy-live per cent, . f tin prisoners are Bavarians and tlio re maimler Prussians. 'Hie •enemy’s bar rage was erratic. Our now positions form the top of a ridge. There is rea son to believe that these locau opera tions are the part of a methodical plai preluding vastly more important opera tions. LONDON, Jan. 13. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: VTc entered dio enemy trenches at> two points northward of Arras, and took prisoners.

A Successful AttackSubstanthl Results. LONDON, Jan. 13. Mr Phillip Gibbs says the success at North Beaumont Hamel is a continuation of a series of small encounters for the past ttn days. They are not big fights, but are important locally and show clearly the character of winter warfare, the spirit of our men and the effect of our definite deadly policy in hammering the enemy with increasing high explosives and not giving them a rest. The enemy made the first move on January 2nd, leading up to recent events, and seized a small past in front of Scire. We decided to take two points and link them as a protective barrier.

Our raiding parties on January stli captured the posts. The Germans counter-attacked, and in the first effort the remainder crawled back. The »ocoud attempt was blocked as soon as it started.

Then the fighting grew grimmer and grimmer and the area widened until we were bombarding on a two miles’ front. ‘British detachments on Jan. 10th, following ' up the barrage, penetrated enemy dugouts and gave the enemy the choice of death or capture. All siu - - rendered, including several officers.

The prisoners were wet, miserable and nerve-broken. < An attack was made on Jan. lltli in greater strength on a misty morning over a snow covered quagmire. Wc wore too quick for the enemy and pierced their dugouts before their machine guns could be brought out. 1 We gave the enemy the same choice. Some of the officers tried to rally their men, but the resisters were all killed. An important feature of these local encounters is the spirit of the British troops, which is unweakened and as grim as ever, despite the hardships and foul weather.

Behind them the massed guns pursue their destructive work all day and ali night incessantly.