WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

NEW ZEALANDERS HOLD ALL

THEIR GAINS.

QUICK SUCCESS DUE TO DASH

AND GALLANTRY.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN . FRANCE, June 22

The New Zealanders have recently been doing considerable advanced patrol work. One officer, accompanied byone man, daringly crossed the River Lys, entering Frelinghcin, and returned with three prisoners. The indications are that the enemy, having recovered from the partial disorganisation into which he was thrown by the Messines defeat, has now settled down on the Warneton line. The moral of his troops shows considerable deterioration as a result of the Messines battle, some of the prisoners lately captured realising that the defeat is inevitable, especially if the submarine menace and a separate peace with Russia fail. There is deterioration of rations in the firing line, and ammunition has to be economised.

In spite of enemy shelling, we have held all our gains, and even extended the field of operations. Meanwhile at times we listen to intense artillery bombardments elsewhere. Messines itself is a veritable enamel house, and during the hot weather had to be put out of bounds Many German" dead lie there, and owing to the enemy shelling it was impossible to bury them. The New Zealanders' quick success in the capture of the town was in large measure due to individual acts of great dash and gallantry, the men advancing even through our own barrage to put machine-guns out of action. There was nothing more splendid than the action of a West Coast miner, a corporal wounded fifteen minutes after the battle began. He fought on for five hours until again wounded, this time severely. Through the smoke and dust of the barrage he saw that one wellplaced enemy, machine-gun threatened to hold up our advance. It. had already Ivillcd a captain and put several men out of action. The corporal with one rifleman, advanced through the barrage and put this and another gun out of action, killing fourteen men of. the two crews. The same corporal was also instrumental in putting out of action one, if not two, other machine guns. Eye-witnesses spoke in terms of glowing praise of his dash and bravery. ANGLO-FRENCH ACHIEVEMENT SIX MONTHS'RECORD ON THE WEST FRONT. LONDON, June 25. Colonel Repingston, reviewing the spring offensive says: In six months of 1917 the Anglo-French armies on the West front have captured 47,000 prisoners, nearly 500 guns, and masses of trench .mortars and machine-guns, and disposed of some 300,000 German fighters. The enemy's reserve on the West front at the.'beginning of April were fifty divisions; two .months later they had decreased to twelve divisions.

ENEMY RAIDS REPULSED,

LONDON, June 24.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy south-cast of Gavrellc and Armentieres.

Enemy artillery has been active near Havrin Court Wood, northward of the Searpe and at Messines.

WITHIN NINE MILES OF OSTEND.

LONDON, June 25. A headquarters correspondent says the British arc at Lonbaortzydc, within nine miles of Ostend.

FIGHTING NEAR OSTEND.

COUNTRY SADLY CHANGED.

Received 5.45 a.m.

LONDON, Juno 25

The Morning Post's correspondent at the British Front states that British troops are now fighting amongst the Dunes below Ostcnd. They have been in lively contact. Avith the enemy recently, particularly during the German raids against the British holding the defence of Lombartzyde. The country is sadly changed; villas and summer hotels on the sea front cafes, market gardens have been wiped out by the merciless shelling. The population living in concreted cellars. The British front is seamed with a network of canals and small Avatcrways. ANOTHER MOVE FORWARD. FIRES IN LENS AND COMINES.

Received 11.48

LONDON, June 25

The United Press correspondent at headquarters says the British have made another move towards Lens last night, taking four hundred yards of front line eastward of Riaumont Wood, and established two advanced posts north-west of Warneton. Fires in the towns of Lens and Comines are plainly visible.

AMERICAN ARMY MEDICALS AT WORK.

Received 9.15 a.m

LONDON, June 25. Headquarters reports that 2000 United States army medicals have taken over six big British base hospitals. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. Received 9.40. LONDON, June 25. A French communique states there is the .liveliest reciprocal artillerying in the sector of Royere and Froidmont Farms, in the direction of Hurteboise, east of Chevreux. FRENCH REGAIN LOST .GROUND. LONDON, June 24. French communique.—By a sharp counter-attack east of Vauvaillion we recaptured the greater part of the salient held by the enemy' northeast of Moisy farm. An artillery duel is active in the Hartobisc sector, left of the Meuse. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. ■DUG-OUTS AND TRENCHES BLOWN UP. Received 9.45.

LONDON, June 25. General Haig reports:—We raided a number of points and successfully entered trenches at Epehy, Bullecourt, Rouex, Loos, and Hooze, killing many. We remained two hours in the trenches eastwards of Vermeiles, blowing up dug-outs and inflicting casualties. We carried out successful minor operations south-westward of Lens, north of Warneton, gaining ground and prisoners.

RUSSIA DUMA TO BE DISSOLVED. Received 9.45 a.m. .: ; , PETROGRAD, June ■ 25. " A number of deserters are. returning daily. Over five . thousand passed through Minsk on the. 23rd. The Newspapers '' Novoya Jisn'' states that the Government has decided to dissolve the Duma after service on Sunday.' .'•';. : \ ■ 'A crowd of anarchists, including many soldiers and sailors invaded the Laitheran Church at Helsingfers. The ringleader. Bolt, made incendiary speeches in Swedish, Finnish, and Russian from the pulpit, singing international songs followed. Finally the Militia dragged out the anarchists, and arrested several, including Bolt, who was sent to a lunatic asylum. The militia were attacked with sticks and stones, three being injured. A PESSIMISTIC DESPATCH.

LONDON, June 24

The "Morning .Post's" Petrograd corresopndent, in a despatch dated 22nd inst., says tilings are steadily going from bad to worse. The Leninites denounce a coalition as useless and demand a wholly Socialist Ministry. To outsiders it seems that the Government, by following the Tolstoyan policy of non-resistance to evil is establishing class warfare throughout Russia. The situation is undoubtedly serious. A Minister correctly describes Russia as "a patient in high fever, and that it depended on the toughness of the country's constitution whether it survived or not. The anarchists who took possession of Durnovo's house continue to refuse to evacuate the villa and threaten to blow it up if the Government attempt to expel them. The marvellous patience of the great mass of the Russian people Avill alone make it possible, for the country to weather the storm. It is noteworthy that despite a universal demand for land nationalisation and tile expropriation of all private lands, the Jews are rapidly buying land throughout Russia. The idea of energetic State interference is coming into the foreground as the only solution of the industrial crisis. AMAZONS LEAVING FOR THE FRONT. LONDON, June 25. The "Morning Post" adds that the first battalion of women soldiers <n)es to the front in a fortnight as an object lesson to peaccmongcrs. Most of the recruits are women and girls of. the educated class.

Amazonian battalions of death issued an appeal to tlie nation recalling that every day the army i s idle costs Eussia five millkra sterling. The appeal describes pacifists as Judases who are selling Eussia to the foe. They will soon learn that it is better to face ten German bayonets than one tigress mother of Eussia, You make war without annexations or contributions, y C t expect tribute from your own native town. Until your bayonets overturn Wilhelm's throne, you are cowards and traitors.

GRAVE DANGER OF FAMINE.

WORKMEN'S EXORBITANT DEMANDS.

Received 9.40 a.m

* LONDON, June 25

The Daily News' Petrograd correspondent states food is costing five times more than during peace time. There are the clearest possible signs of famine later in the year; even more serious is the threat of an almost total stoppage of industry, due to shortage of fuel and material. Yet the workmen continually demand enormous increases in wages. There was grave danger of a big railway strike, which the Government manifesto luckily averted. The Cossack Army is displaying great distrust of the extremists, and desire for stability in the country, This is of great importance, the temporary Government being confident the Cossacks will support the work of creating a strong united State.

RUSSIA'S POSITION

PARIS, June 24

M. Albert Thomas, French Minister for Munitions, interviewed on his return from Russia, states that he is optimistic and confident about Russia. The idea of a separate peace may be completely dismissed. The duality of the Government and the Council of Workmen and Soldiers' Delegates has disappeared. The Coalition Government's authority was increasing daily, especially in connection with the reorganisation of the army, w'aicli had negotiated a serious and critcal period. The necessity for a disciplined army in order to preserve and guarantee liberty was now understood by the masses. There was a widelygrowing belief that military defence would be made more effective by an offensive. He found material and moral reasons for believing that an offensive, although he would not declare the date, would take place. The Roumanian ■■army would do wonders immediately Russia gave the signal."

ANARCHISTS' PLANS FAIL

PETROGRAD, June 24

The Maximalist plans were a complete fiasco. Neither workmen nor soldiers rallied to their call. The military commandant at Petrograd and the president of the Soldiers' and Workmen's Council dissuaded the intending military demonstrators, thus counter-acting the agitation among the factory hands.

GREECE.

VENIZELOS TAKING THE HELM.

ATHENS, June 25.

M. Jounart, accompanied by M. Zaimis went to the Palace and conversed at length with the King. It is reported that the Cabinet has resigned, and that Yenizelos is forming a new Ministry.

IMPORTANT TOWN OCCUPIED. , Received .9.45 a.m. SALONIKA, June 25. The French cavalry occupied the town of Lamia; thus the railway is now opened to Livadia, Thebis and Athens. CONSTANTINE BUYS A CHATEAU. Received 9.40. BERNE, June 25. Coiistantine has purchased the magnificent chateau called Chartreuse, near Thimcastle, which formerly belonged to B'aron von Sedlitz, a German officer.