WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRANCE STANDS FIRM. A FOUL GERMAN PROPAGANDA. PARIS, July 23. The Senate unanimously voted confidence in the Government, and expressed the hope that the Government will suppress all propaganda which is against discipline and the security of the nation. M. Clemenceau denounced the pacifists.

M. Ribot declared that knowing the Parliament vfas behind him he could govern more strongly. Germany needed peace, and meant to secure it in any way. France was in the presence of a campaign of treachery and the police must redouble their vigilance. The foul German propaganda must be suppressed. If France wished for peace through war-weariness, she was no longer worthy to be called France. There must be no blind optimism, and no excessive uneasiness. France was not conquerable. TREMENDOUS FIGHTING. French communique: The bombardment of our position in the Hur-teboise-Craonne region continued violently, especially on the California Plateau,

Eight hundred and fifty shells were thrown into Rheims to-day. In the Champagne a German attack i north-west of Mont Cornillet was completely repulsed. Our batteries were active against organisations in the Moronvillers region. Long-range German guns fired a hundred shells north of Nancy, but there were no casualties. We made reprisals by effective fire on works in the Chateau lines. SOMME AND MEUSE INTENSITY • RIVALLED. LONDON, July 24. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says the battle of the three- plateaux continued throughout yesterday ,the intensity equalling the Somme and Meuse fighting. The German bombardment lasted six hours, and was unprecedentedly severe. Then came waves of Guards and storming troops, with reckless daring. They were repeatedly dirven back, but eventually gained only part of the first line trenches, on the northern edge of the California Plateau. It is difficult to understand the enemy’s efforts to regain the CHemin-des-Dames line. Nearly forty serious assaults have been delivered since Hay 4th. The ftysfefy is probably'due to the failure of the submarines’ endeavour to force peace before the Arheflcans arrive.

FIGHTING NEAR LENS. A BRITISH SUCCESS. LONDON, July 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: This morning a raid southward of Avion (south of Lens) penetrated the enemy’s positions on a front of six hundred yards, and to a depth of three hundred yards We inflicted heavy casualties and did much damage. (UUqcffitf.and ;f uIPR

We successfully raided a strongly hold farm eastward of Gosttavernc.

W T e repulsed an enemy attack northwestward of Chcrisy. There was aerial fighting all day yesterday. Visibility was excellent. Our aeroplanes successfully co-operatcd with the artillery, and dropped three tong of bombs on aeroplanes,, ammunition dumps and railway sidings, with good results. We brought down fourteen machines, including a raider from England. Nine of ours are missing. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. Wireless German official. —There was an artillery battle all night in Flanders. Air squadrons unsuccessfully attacked our balloons. We downed eight aeroplanes. The enemy vigorously attacked between Avion and Mercourt. Wc equalised the enemy’s success. \ We attacked the northern slope of Wintci'berg and carried several lines of trenches on a front of a kilometre. An air squadron bombed Harwich with visibly good effect. All returned. GERMANS LARGELY REINFORCED Received 9.10. PARIS, July 24. M. Marcel Hutin states that the German batteries from the coast to the Scarpe have been largely reinforced, also the aerial squadrons. Prince Rupprecht’s reserve divisions Rave been doubled, and the reserve troops in the Lille region .have been increased.

ARTILLERY BATTLE IN FLANDERS. BLOCKING BRITISH PLANES. Received 11.55. PARIS, July 24. A tremendous artillery battle continues on the Flanders front. The Germans are employing vertical barb wire, forming a wall of steel three hundred metres high against the Allies’ observation planes. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. Received 11.55. LONDON. July 24. General Haig reports:—We successfully raided westward of Havricourt, eastward of Yermelles, and westward of Hollebeke.