WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

DESPERATE FIGHTING REPORTED FRENCH SEVERELY PUNISH THE GERMANS. LONDON, July 16. French communique.—After bombardment, the enemy made a series of coup de mains between the Somme and the Aisne. An attempt south-east of Sain Quen tin and west of Allevant failed. An attack by several detachments on our small posts south of Corbeny were completely repulsed. We progressed south of Tilles. After a very violent bombardment in the region of Mont Haut and Teton, large forces attacked the position we captured on the 14th, The enemy were in greatly superior numbers. Their efforts at Teton were unsuccessful and they suffered very heavy losses. They were unable to break our lines. There was obstinate fighting all night at Mont Haut. The enemy at first succeeded in retakTng the greater part of the captured ground, but were driven back by our brilliant counter-attacks. Only some portions of trenches remain in their hands.

GERMANS COMPLETELY. DEFEATED. FRENCH VICTORY IN CHAMPAGNE. LONDON, July 17. French communique.—The Champagne fighting which began during the night at Mont Haut, ended in the complete defeat of the Germans, who, despite violent efforts, were unable to recapture the ground won by us on the 14th. These attacks were murderous for the enemy, who launched three waves of assault. Our fire mowed down two, while one penetrated our lines after a fierce conflict until daylight. Our troops annihilated detachments and regained possession of all the ground won. Sixteen hundred shells were thrown into Rheims, where artillery fire is lively. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, July 16. Wireless German official. —The English thrice unsuccessfully attempted to recapture the positions lost at Lombartzyde. There was strong artillery fire on the coast, also from the Yser to the Lys and from La Bassee Canal to the south bank of the Scarpe. The French failed to recapture positions lost southward of Courlesson. They also fruitlessly attacked southward of La Bovielle Farm, north-east of Sillery. Our trench in' the west of Champagne remained in the enemy's hands after a night of fighting.

We failed to maintain trenches recaptured at Hockberg, but reached our old lines, after bitter fighting, at Pocklberg. There was lively artillery fire on » the west bank of the Meuse between the Meuse and the Moselle. There was lively fighting on the Riga front. Southward of Dundburg, Bulgarians repulsed a Russian surprise attack on the Danube delta. BRITISH LINcT ADVANCED. LONDON, July 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided eastward of Vermelles. ' We slightly advanced our line north-eastward of Messines. Hostile artillery fire has increased southwards of Lens and in the neighbourhood of Armentieres. GERMANS THROWN BACK IN DISORDER. ALL CAPTURED GROUND RETAINED. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON July 17. French official report: In the Champagne there has been a new serious attack at Teton. The waves of assault were broken up by fire. The enemy retired in disorder to their trenches, leaving a number of dead. We maintained Saturday's gains intact on the left bank of the Meuse. All positions captured by the Germans on June 28-29 were recaptured. Counting of prisoners not yet finished. ENCOUNTER OF RAIDING PARTIES. Received 10 a.m. LONDON, July 17. General Haig reports: We gained ground slightly northwards of Warneton. One of our raiding parties at Nieupo.rt sector encountered a large enemy party and by sharp fighting drove them to their Tines, followed them up and bombed their trenches.