ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 29 December 1916, Page 5

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE. FOR THE GERMANS. LONDON ,Dec 27. The Paris "Journal's" correspondent supplied the first news of the British extension of front on the Somme. It was a busy Xmas for the Tommies entering the French lines. In the stillness of the cold night, hundreds and hundreds of convoys of food and munitions and material for shelters moved along the roads and thousands and thousands of men, shadowy forms, passed silently and secretly along a thoroughfare within a few yards of the enemy. Our guards on the trenches exercised redoubled vigilance. It was a severe and anxious time, involving the exchange of the -duties of the two allied armies, but it was accomplished with the utmost order and success. The operation was ■completed on Xmas night. Soon the names of celebrated French woods and villages will be again mentioned, with added glory, no longer in French but in British communiques. The extent of the section taken over not yet been disclosed. %- ■- MAKING FOOLS OF THE GERMANS LONDON, Dec 28. The "Journal's" dramatic disclosure caused a sensation in London. It ex--1 plains the prolonged bombardment on the Ypres frcnt, where Pir Douglas Haig persuaded the Germans that an attack was imminent. The enemy were completely duped. While boasting that they had repulsed British attacks south-east of of Ypres, the great transfer was effected without mishap. The extension represents the British troops' Xmas box to their French allies, who have long been hoping that Sir Douglas Haig would be able to increase his responsibility. Whereas the British line in Belgium in November was 94 miles, the French were holding 360 miles. Some of the French regiments are composed of men over 45, who had held the line at Verdun without leave since August 1914, . spending the winter in the trenches. COLONEL REPINGTON'S OPINION. ~, READJUSTMENT OF FORCES f£ ADVOCATED. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec 28. Colonel Repington contends, in order to gain the necessary superiority on the West front in 1917-18 every possible white division from Salonika, Egypt, and Mesopotamia should be withdrawn, native armies from India and Africa replacing the men. Tn Egypt the artillery could be provided by the Dominions, as the preservation of Egypt as a base intact is as much to Australia's as English and Indian interests. Egypt is an ideal offensive base for operations on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, breaking down Turkish military power by combined action of the Allies i n Armenia Mesopotamia, and Egypt, and would be the best means of accomplishing the investment of the Austro-German armies, and checkmating Germany's Eastern movements. FREEMASONS IN THE FIRING LINE. A UNIQUE MEETING. Y » Received 10.55. jfc LONDON, Dec 28. 5p meeting of New Zealand Freemasons serving in France has been held within range of the enemy's guns. Ninety lodges were represented, and sent fraternal greetings to their brethren in .New Zealand.