TIE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1917, Page 2

TIE WESTERN FRONT.

HAIG’S REPORT. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ABSOLUTION & REUTER.] LONDON December 7. General Haig reports infantry action on Cambrai front last night was confined rtio patrol encounters. There is increased hostile artillery fire astride of Searpe river. HAIG’S REPORT. (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON December 9. General Haig reports local fighting eastward of Boursies. On the remainder of the front there were no infantry actions. There was hostile artillerying on our positions in the neighbourhood of Fresquieres, Monchy Le Preux and Passchendaele sector. We downed two enemy aeroplanes and four of ours are missing. FRENCH REPORT. LONDON December 9. A French communique reports a big German raid at Beaumont completely failed. Seven were killed and twenty injured in the air raid on Calais on the night of the sth. 'BRITISH OPERATIONS. LONDON December 8. ’ Marshal Haig reports: The enemy artillery fc akifcivje at lyiglit in the neighbourhood of Flesquiere.s. Noithward of the Meinn road we were successful in local operations at dawn. A" hostile raid wa R repulsed northeast of Yores. Aeroplahes Ivombed hostile billets throughout Thursday. A particularly succer ful raid was launched against Valenciennes railway, station and sidings, and fires started. Every opportuity was taken in machine gunning the infantry trenches, and there wits much fighting wherein eight hostile planes were downed. AROUND BOURLON., A STRONG POSITION. (United Service Telegrams.) LONDON December 7. 'JTlie British are firmly entrenched in positions defending (the Hiindonburg line.

The British to-day repulsed every attempt to'retake it. Tjho Germans attacked stubbornly from Orival Wood towards Flesquiere.s but were driven off with considerable ■loslsos. 'Hie elnemy relormed behind the wood for a second try: but the British artillery practically wiped them It is estimated that some two thousand were killed at this spot. Machine guns broke the attempted enemy attack at La Vucquerie . The 'British .retirement completely puzzled the enemy who, hours alter Anneux was exacuated, laid down a terrific bombardment/ and then attacked the empty village and garrison. At /Bourlun village owing to the

necessity for constantly wearing gas masks, we 'were obliged to leave the wood in order to eat comfortably. It was difficult to dig when each spadeful of porous ground liberated a dose oi gas, wherewith It was saturated. Obviously, it was advisable to advance or retire and it was folly to remain. The bridges at Mareoing and also a,Notd Canal, were blown up before the retirement. Gun s and amimmitional were safely hauled back. There were practically no casualties during the withdrawal. " When the enemy discovered the movement we kept jn close touch, and are now contacting along a large part of the new front. Twenty-five German divisions have been identified in this fighting .since General IByng’s smash. Their. losse s are the heaviest.

GERMAN SLAUGHTER

near ORIVAL WOOD

rAUSTRALIAN <fc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

LONDON December 8:

.Mr Philip Gibbs reports: Wo hold strong defensive positions southward of Bourlon Wood and westward of Gonnelieu, and Viller* Guislan, with the Hindenburg lines of the old Hindenburg front and support- lines behind us. The enemy on Thursday j afternoon were still in, doubt regarding our new line. His patrols were so strongly resisted by our outpost* that he was compelled to send up reinforcements of infantry, "which reconnoitred in force in the direction of Orivol Wood, a small copse south-east vtfard of Gaincourt. Our guns opened fire with such intensity that the German dead are roughly estimated at two thousand. Similarly, three battalions advanced to attack at Grain court wore utterly shattered and dispersed. We abandoned Anneux at the same time as Bourlon Wood, with only one casualty. While evacu.ating Bourlon Wood the men were glad- to get away, as the wood was so. thoroughly gassed that they were often compelled to work, fight and sleep in ga s masks. They dared not remove the masks to drink or eat. A WARNING NOTE. (United Service Toleg. nms.) PARIS, Dee. 7. “Le Matin” < states that the withdrawal at Catiihrai was due to the warning of n formidable concentration behind Camhrai of no fewt-f that fifteen divisions, probably from Russia, ' and another heavy concentration proceeding behind Rheims. j