THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1917, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT.

(Pot Press Association. —Copyright.) GALLANT FRENCH SUCCESS. THE AVOCOURT ADVANCE. PARIS, July 20. Details of the tlirilling French success shows that since the 28th when the Geri.»ins, after viole.nt. artiflerying with 500 guns, secured the foremost French positions between Avocourt Wood and Hill 304, with its supporting positions] to the southward , that they commanded | tho salient at the intermediate saddle called Cold Pommeriex, which over- j looked all the French organisations and threatened to outflank Hill 304, the French determined to win it hack, and prepared a plan of assault. I A continuous bombardment caused j heavy losses to tho Teqth German reserve holding Coldo Pomeriex some of its company’s lost fifty per ce.nt. of j their effectiveness and others were re-. duced to fifty or sixty bayonets, Rein-' forcemeats brought their numbers to seventy-five bayonets, but a f©w days shelling again brought them down to fifty, consequently the division was j withdrawn, and replaced by the Twenty j ninth from Tauhere, Champagne. The j latter wero placed in the front line, be- 1 tween Avocourt Wood and Hill 304. j Tlie 48th Division, just withdrawn from tli# Russian front, somewhat demoral-’ ised, were entrusted with the second j position behind tlie 29th. The trans-, ferenco was in full swing when the French attack opened, and prisoners were taken from all three divisions, a clear proof of the enemy’s disorganisation- * The French advanced magnificently on al| miles front. They were ordered to capture the saddle crest, and reached the third trench before the enemy realised that the first wa 8 taken. The victors swept over the crest and 800 yards beyond heir objectives, firmly establishing themselves on the roeeding slope. j The countor-attaek, twelve hours later was slow and hesitating, and was foredoomed to failure. - •

HAIG’S REPORT. j , ’ ENEMY ACTIVE. ] rAUSTRALIAN &, N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & MUTTER.] (Received this dav at 12.30 a.m.) j LONDON, July 21. General Haig reports groat aatiivty of enemy’s artillery in Lombardzyde sector. Our aeroplanes successfully bombed four aerodromes, and an important rail junction where a largo explosion was caused. ' , HAIG’S OPERATIONS. LONDON, July 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: ,We raided last night at Greenland Hill northwards of Rooux. The garrison hurriedly withdrew on our approach. We also successfully raided south-westward <.u La Basse and. southward ot Ai.ientieres. The German positions were entered on a wide front. Wo repulsed raiders northward of Havrincourt Wood and southwrad of Armeutieres. MORE BRITISH RAIDS. LONDON, July 21. Sir Douglats Haig reports: We successfully raided at Gavrelle and northward of Ypres. Tlie enemy artillery is native north-westward of St. Quentin and south-westward of Lons. ' APPROACHING LENS. [ AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CAIILE ASSOCIATION ■ VANCOUVER, July 21. The Canadian troops have establish-ed-themselves in a new post 1500 yards from the heart of Lens. There is every evidence that, the Runs will hold the city until their losses are un-. endurable. HEAVY GERMAN ATTACKS. REPULSED BY THE FRENCH. LONDON, July si; A French communique states: Enemy attacks or attempted attacks i»ilowed very violent bombardments .at many points in the sectors of Corny, Hurtcbiso, Graonne, and on the road , north of Bray ©n Laonnais, the ; amirere fire and vigilance of our .troops causod his plans to fail; An enemy | attack carried out with force south- . west of Ceriiv twioo penetrated our advanced trenches on a front of 250 metres. On each occasion we ously counter-attacked and cu«upi«»i,t»iy drbpe out the enemy. W© ,broke bP» v with heavy losses, a powerful enemy conoentraltion for sattacks between Hurtohise and the Californio Plateau. W© recaptured trench elements in the region ,of Moulin-sous-Tedisent. Tlie artillery duel is fairly lively north of the Aisne. j