THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1917, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH COMMUNIQUE,

fAUSTRALIAN & N*.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] LONDON, Aug. 26. A French communique says: North of Verdun there is great artillerying, on the right bank of the Meuse and between Samogneux and Chaume AVood. AA’o slightly progressed on the left bank, south of Bethincourt. HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON Augusr 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: ,We captured the cnemy-’k 'positions oil a front of over half a mile eastward oi Hargecourt and penetrated to a depth of halfVa mile, carrying the strong points of Cologne farm, y and Talakof. The enemy in the morning attacked using flammenwerfor, on the YpresMonin road and momentarily reoccupied the north-west corner ol Inverness Copse. Our counter-attack restored the positions. We lightly advanced south-east of St. Julien The enemy recaptured a post southward of (Lonibartzydo. Wo brought down seven enemy aeroplanes.

FRENCH OPERATIONS

Reuter’s Telegrams,

LONDON August 26. A French communique states: On the right bank of the Meuse we successfully attacked between Mermont Farm and Bois le Chane and • captured' all objectives on a five kilometre front to a depth of a kilometre. The whole of the Bois des Fosses and the Bois des Beaumont are in our hands. We have reached the southern outskirts of the village of Beaumont. Our artillery caught and dispersed with heavy losses a violent counterattack debouching. from the Bois aeTa AVavrille. NAVAL RAID. fAUSTRALIAN «fc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION &. REUTER.] f.Received, This Rav at 8.5 Q. a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 27. Tho Admiralty states that the Naval Service carried out araid on Saturday night on St. Denis arid Western Aerodrome, and dropped many bombs. One of our machines is missing. 1 HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON, Aug.. 27. General Haig reports we successfully raided this morning eastward of Costaverne taking prisoners.

\ A’ERDUN OPERATIONS.

LON DON, Aug. 26

Mr AVarner Allen states' that - the Verdun battle reveal.*; material evidence that the enemy forces are becoming inadequate to maintain their existing line. In one tunnel 'at Mort Homme 60() Germans were taken prisoner and one division lost 2500 prisoners. The division must be regarded as wiped out. General Pershing (United States) watched the assault. ' LOSSES OF TANKS. GERMAN CL.VTAI DENIED. - LONDON, Aug. 26. Reuter’s headquarters’ correspondent states that the German claim of the destruction of twenty-one tanks is ridiculous. Only n fraction of this number were knocked out by the tank destroyers known ns anti-tank turrets. Tho success of these might have been greater, but the crews of many were unnerved generally T v the line of advancing tanks, and joined in the general stampede or scuttled hack to their holes.