WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH SHATTER COUNTER- ' ASSAULTS.

LONDON, July 18

A French communique says: After a violent bombardment the Germans made several counter-attacks on the position we captured yesterday, from Avocourt Wood to the far slopes on the west of Hill 304. All were shattered with sanguinary losses, without regaining the least portion of the conquered ground. French communique.—We repulsed a German attack west of Cerny sugar factory.

The French attacked on a five kilometre front between Avocourt Wood and wesetward of Mort Homme. After bitter fighting they penetrated the south-eastern corner of Malanoourt Wood, astride the Malancourt-Esnes road. AN IMPORTANT GAIN. PARIS, July 18. Semi-official — Yesterday’s advance on the left of the Meuse is of considerable importance. It releases Hill 304, which the enemy have been closely pressing. It has also done much to clear the approaches to Verdun. BRITISH AND FRENCH REPORTS The High Commissioner reports.— LONDON, July 19. General Haig reports: At Monc-hy le-Preux we re-established advanced posts from which we were compelled to fall back from enemy attack on the 11th. French official: Southwards of St. Quentin yesterday, at seven o’clock, after a violent bombardment, the Germans attacked the crest at Mouli-de-Tousvants ,and the enemy were able to get a foofing'in the first line of the trenches, but were ejected from the greater part by counter-attacks. At Avocourt Wood the Germans counteivatjtackefl our new positions, but were checked before reaching our lines.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, July 18. Admiralty wireless.—A German official report says there is‘ lively -artillerying on the coast from the Yser to the Lys, frdm La Bassee Canal to Logos, and on both banks of the Scarpe.

We repulsed English advances between and Warneton, and drove back an English attack on the Arras-Cambrai road, except at a narrow point westward of Bois de Uvert RAIDING OPERATIONS. Received 11.10. LONDON, July 10. General Haig reports: We established advance posts eastward of MonchyLe Preux,' lost on July 10. We repulsed raiders westward of Cherisy and eastward of Oostaverne. Wo successfully raided east and north of Ypres. There are reciprocal artillery activities near Lombaertdyde. GENERAL CABLES THE WORLD’S MEAT SUPPLY. POST WAR FAMINE INEVITABLE Received 8.45. LONDON, July 19. In the House of Lords, Lord Harcourt said while acting as President of the Board of Trade he acquired information causing the greatest anxiety regarding the meat supply. After the war there would be a world scarcity of meat—almost a world famine. Germany, Belgium, and Holland were fac'dd with a post-war difficulty of eight million head of "cattle; Denmark, Austria, Serbia and Roumania with another eight million. Europe, hard, therefore to seek to import sixteen to twenty million head. Britain produces only sixty per cent of meat consumed. He himself was so impressed by the seriousness that last year he sought to arrange a scheme for securing a supply of chilled meat ample for Britain for several years after the war. Lord Harcourt inquired of the progress since Lord Hylton replied that the Government was alive to this importance, but were unable to supply details or information.

MR. ASQUITH’S SON,

A GALLANT SOLDIER. LONDON, July IS. Amongst the last honours, Arthur Asquith, son of the ex-Prcmicr, receives a bar to his Military Cross and D. 5.0.. for conspicuous gallantry, determination and contempt for danger in attacking and clearing a village. Ho personally captured ten of the enemy.