WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

TERRIFIC BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. TERRIBLE CARNAGE. LONDON, June 3. Mr. Gibbs writes: Ou Sunday afternoon there was enormous shellfire in various sectors of the front, the massed guns of both sides bursting into a fury of high explosives, particularly about Bullecourt and the broken Hindenbung line along the Cojeul Valley as far as the Ypres salient. While the bombard ment was proceeding there was little infantry fighting, except for bodysnatching raids and machine-gun crabbing. The prisoners were brought in in small batches, but will make up big numbers for the month’s bag. They are mostly men broken in nerve, who speak of the horror of our bombaidmcnt, which extends ten miles deep to the German billets, makes hell of their rail heads, blows up ammunition dumps, and buries many Germans in their dugouts.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT FIERCE FIGHTING. LONDON, June 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports fierce fighting all day with varying fortunes southward of the Souchez River. The enemy lost heavily by our first attack, but a number of violent counter-attacks with considerable forces wore made and we were unable to maintain the progress made. In the morning we raided eastward of Laventie and southward of Wyschaetc. We brought down ten aeroplanes. Four of ours arc missing. GERMANS RESENTFUL AT THEIR DEFEAT, BRITISH PROXIMITY TO QUEANT. GIVING ENEMY MUCH CONCERN. DESPERATE FIGHTS IN NO MAN’S LAND. Received 9.30 am. . .

LONDON, June 4. Correspondents at Headquarters state the Germans are resentful at their defeat at Bnllceonrt, and are pouring a heavy weight qf metal into the ruined village, ferociously bombarding the position which the Australians captured in the Hindenburg line east of B'ulleconrt. Guns of all calibres were busy all night long on Saturday and Sunday, but failed to shako onr hold at any point. The presence of our troops in the Hindenburg line in such close proximity to tiio important Qucant switch function is giving the enemy much concern. Contiriuous raids have forded the Germans to attempt counter-attacks. In a number of cases British and German raiding parties, stealing out at night time meet unexpectedly in No Man’s Land,, and desperate, silent, hand-to-hand encounters took place, the Gormans usually being routed, leaving dead and prisoners behind.

CANADIANS’ BRILLIANT ADVANCE.

LONDON, June 3

Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters gives details of a brilliant little advance on the Souchez River, referred to by Sir Douglas Haig. Canadians stormed and occupied the electric power station and brickstacks between Avion and Dead Let le Aurontenc, crossed the river and established a post on the north bank. They took prisoners. These gains nob the enemy of several strong machine-gun positions. The fight still continues. There is groat reciprocal artillery fire and airmen are very busy.

GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL,

PARIS, June 3

A Srcnch communique reports: Tho enemy maintained a violent bombardment of tho Craonne region all night, after which three attacks on the California Plateau were made, but were all repulsed with important losses to the enemy, especially on the eastern portiou of the California Plateau, where the storming troops, scattered by our fire, left a number of bodies in front of our trenches. Many prisoners were takfcm. "Various Vnemy attempts .nt coups de main in the Champagne and Vosges failed.

THE GERMAN STORY. LONDON, June 3. A Gorman official message savsr Wo repulsed English attacks near Loos, at Souchcz Brook, and northeastward of Monchy. Fighting continues south-west of Lens. We repulsed French reconnoitring parties on the right bank of the Meuse Fno-Hsh aviators on Thursday night bombed a camp at Eta pin and killed French prisoners and wounded 91. Our air squadrons disastrously bombed the Aisne front positions. The East front is unchanged. We repulsed Roumanian advances between tho Susita and Putna valleys. The Bulgars heavily repulsed attacks westward of the Vardar. The enemy lost ten aeroplanes on the West front.

SIXTEEN VAING-ERM AN ATTACKS BY SPECIALLY TRAINED TROOPS Received 10.20 a.ra. LONDON, June 4. The Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspon dent states the Germans have made sixteen vain attempts since the 20th to recapture Moronvillers Range The only result has been the addition of thous ands of Germans killed and wounded Specially- selected battalions of infantry, who had undergone intensive training rehearsals, attacked nn the 30th. The first two lines advancing fell almost to a man before half-way. across the open.. Some succeeding waves secured ■ possession of a portion of the French trenches, but were driven out by counter-attacks. The French infantry got in with the bayonet and killed every man. t n ■ ■ r " ; o .itw nj .>„> ■:

A FRENCH REPORT,

ENEMY ATTACKS SMASHED,

LONDON, June 4

A French communique states: Units belonging to two German divisions participated in attacks at Vauclerc and California Plateau. The Germans at Yauclcrc assaulted in dense waves, ometimes shoulder to shoulder. Their first attack was smashed, and they retired in disorder, but in the second, which was accompanied by liquid fire, they momentarily entered our advanced trenches, but were immediately ejected. We maintained our positions entirely.