THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1917, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT.

GALLANT CANADIANS. A TERRIFic _ CONFLICT. [“Reuter’s” telegram.] LONDON August 22. Headquarters reports: The CanaJd ians around Lens launched another attack converging on the western environment of the town at 4.30 in the morning. Dawn broke with a thick haze. When the infantry went over tho top they saw masses of shadowy grey figures advancing. Tho Germans had planned an attack at the identical moment of ours. Probably one of the most desperate hand-to-hand conflicts during the war ensued. An eye-wit-ness says that the Germans fought like cornered rats and the struggle took place in the shell-torn, wire encumbered No Man’s Land. Bomb and Bayonet were the principal weapons and gradually the Canadians beat back tne Huns fifteen minutes after the first clash, the enemy making a last stand on the parapet of the trench. They then Retreated as rapidly as possible into the ruins of Lens. • Almost immediately furious machine gunning started in the north ern part. The Canadian attack had made good progress in the centre, the southern positions more fiercely insisted.

FRENCH OPERATIONS.

rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON August S 3. A French communique states: Severe enemy, attempts to recapture new positions on the right bank of the Meuse were broken with great loss without anywhere reaching our lines The attacks with liquid fire in the Courieres Wood merely increased tne enemy losses. Since the twenueui we have taken prisoner 6116 unwounded men including 154 officers also 600 wounded. We have captured impoirant booty. One of three tunnels we captured at Mort Homme we took prisoner the whole of the regimental staff tho corps commanded officers and engineers. ,

ATTACK ON LENS. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON August 23. Reuter’s Headquarters’ corespondent says that a ferocious battle continued throughout yesterday round Lens, the ' Canadians holding their gains on tho western fringe of the city but north of tho railway the situation was not clear owing to the sway of the great fight. The German artillery fire was the heaviest yet experienced- The First Prussian Guards reserve divison were the latest troops thrown ip to try and relieve the situation. It was mainly a soldiers battle and methods of frightfulriess were impossible owing to endangering one’s own people equally with the adversary. A few prisoners were taken. It looks as if the Huns realise that they must retake Hill 70 or quit Lens.

A GRELAT' BATTLE

BRITISH ADVANCE TWO AND A 'HALF MILES.

STUBBORN FIGHTING

rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIONJ

[Beoeived this dev at J 2.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 23. General Haig reports successful operations eastward and) north-eastward of Ypres, for a series of strong points and fortified farms astride of the YpresMeniu road, between tho Ypres-Rou-lers railway and Langemarcke. There was bitter fighting at all points

The enemy repeatedly counter-attach-ed but our artillery and machine-gun fire inflicted heavy losses. The struggle was fiercest for the high ground in the neighbourhood of Ypres-Menin road, where we advanced to a depth of five hundred yards, on a front of a mile,and captured an important observation position also western portion of Inverness Copse. Our line further north advanced a maximum depth ol over half a mile on a front of 2$ miles. . Owing to the nature of tho fighting, the prisones taken were an unusually small proportion of the enemy’s total losses. Since tho 25th. they total 1378 at Lens. > There was fierce air fighting. We brought down twelve i and drove five aeroplanes. Twelve of ours are missing.

FRENCH OPERATIONS.

BITTER FIGHTING. I

(Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON August 23.

A French oommunique says the artillery duel was somewhat violent in the regions of Brave and Oerny. Batteries in the Champagne destroyed more enemy gas reservoirs. On the Verdun front the enemy attacked in the courso of the day with artillery, especially on the left bank of the Meuse, but they did not attempt to attack our new positions. Six enemy aeroplanes were destroyed in air fights and, five others fell damaged. * A GREAT STRUGGLE. CANADIAN’S TIGHT ’ CORNER. (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) j LONDON, Aug. 23. Mr. Phillip Gibbs states there was | severe fighting eastward of 9t. Julien extending southward acrosß Zonnebeko, beyond Feraenborg redoubt, while our right again penetrated Glencorso copse, where the enemy w;ib defending strongly. The Canadian# are still heavily engaged at Lons, checking violent counterattacks of which there havo been at least twenty. Never have the Canadians been so hard pressed by the who is regardless of losses, for the ground they hold. The enemy has massed many new troops and guns for the deionce of Lens, but the Canadians won’t lose their grip, till they have strangled it.

FRENCH CAPTURES. 6,116 PRISONERS TAKEN. WELLINGTON, This Day. The High Commissioner reports from London, under date of Aug. 23rd at 3 p.m. French official reports state since Monday 6116 unwounded prisoners have been taken, including 174 officers. There are also 600 wounded in our ambulance. New prisoners taken yesterday, are not yet counted. *