WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 27 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

COUNTER-OFFENSIVE TO .RELIEVE THE RUSSIANS.

DISCUSSED AT WAR CO UNCI]

Received 9.45

WASHINGTON, Julv 2(

Diplomatic advices anticipate a sharp joint Allied counter-offensive to relieve the Kussians.lt is believed the Allied War Council at Paris is discussing the question, also whether the Creek army can assist in the offensive.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT. LONDON. July 25. Sir Douglas Haig Teports: Following a heavy bombardment eastward of Monchy le Preux, the enemy, using fiammenwerfer, drove in a few advanced posts -on a front of 250 yards. We stopped raiders northward, of Bullecourt. We raided enemy trenches at a number of points northward of Ypres. The weather is restricting aerial operations. THE PLATEAU STRUGLE. " TREMENDOUS GUN POWER. PARIS, July 25. The narrative of the German assault on Chemin les Dames shows that the artillery was enormously reinforced. Fifty-two guns were counted to the kilometre, while 260 were concentrated before th e attacked sector. For the attack on the wood a»d Hill 304, the Germans had' 500 guns in 1800 metres. The attack was launched at daybreak after ceaseless artillery fire, under which the infantry carried all positions unprotected by accessory defences, but when obstacles were encountered the attack became butchery. The 215th Prussian regiment lost 50 per cent of its effectives.

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. LONDON, July 25. French communique.—There is very lively reciprocal artillery fire, especially on the California casemates, at Moronvillers and on the left of the Meuse. ACCORDING TO FRITZ. BIG GUN BATTLE IN FLANDERS. PARIS, July 2. The artillery battle on the Britis-h front, if the German accounts are to be believed (for Sir Douglas Haig does not mention it), is assuming gigantic proportions, and has reached an unexampled degree of activity. TRENMENDOUS A^TILLERYING* DARING DAYLIGHT RAIDS. Received 11.20. LONDON, July 26. The British jwar correspondents state the artillery battle reaches great intensity in certain sectors, the Germans concentrating their fire about Lombaertzyde, Ypres Zillebeke, Armentieres, Neuve Chapelle, and the suburbs of Lens, using a large number of long range, .high explosive velocity guns, the shell sometimes falling twenty miles behind the lines.

A feature of the recent fighting is the occasional flaring daylight raids, which often are more successful and less costly than night raids. A party of Britishers entered a TTeavily manned trench at Ypres in full daylight, and with little loss brought back over one hundred prisoners. The curtain fire produces such smoke, dust, and confusion that the Germans do not know how to meet the attack. Troops of high quality are needed for such raids. THE HERALD OF GREAT GERMAN ATTACK. GREAT MASSES OF MEN AND GUNS. Received 11.45. "" LONDON, July 26. Mr. P-hilip Gibbssays:—The enemy's gun fire is increasing at various points on our front. The coast sector continues to rival Lens as a stormcentre for German shells. The infantry everywhere is inactive, except unimportant raids" in the neighbourhood of Ypres. The Germans bombarded Nieuport from ten in the evening till five in the morning, with every calibre up to 9.2. The air is vibrating all day and all night with a heavy shock. This great gun flame of war also broke out'eastward of Monday, where the Germans advanced upon opr trenches already~snrashed by concentrated artillery. The Germans attacked with flammenwerfer, which spread a line of scarlet fire before them. Some of our posts were driven in. causing ? retiring oh a small front. The enemy is clearly preparing for desperatf fighting, and has massed great numbers of men and guns.

BRITISH DAMAGE ZEEBRUGGE AND BRUGES. AMSTERDAM, July 25. The English bombed Bruges and Zeebrugge during the past two nights, explosions and fires resulting. Zeebrugge was much damaged. A submarine shed, probably with a submarine, was blown Uf. A naval squadron bombarded the Belgian coast on the night of the 22nd and 23rd along the Zeebrugge-Ostend line. GERMAN REGIMENTS WITHDRAWN. LONDON, July 25. The "Echo Fffif'ge " states that three German regiments have been withdrawn from the front owing to suspected revolutionary spirit. Th e Kaiser, visiting the eastern front, addressed the troops and distributed decorations. DESPERATE GERMAN .ASSAULTS. Eeceived 11.45. LONDON, July 26. French communique: The Germans resumed the attack obstinately last night on a front of three kilometres in the region of Hurtebise to south of Labouelle. Although they threw large forces into the action they were only able to penetrate, after incredible efforts and with the highest losses, some elements of our first line at South Ailles. Our fire smashed repeated assaults at Hurtebise farm and further south. After an intense bombardment the Germans diligently attacked Monthat, in the Champagne. The fight lasted all night, but we prevented the enemy's advance.

GERMANS DRIVEN OUT OF ALL CAPTURTD GROUND.

ANOTHER BLOODY SETBACK FOR THE HUNS. Received 11.20. PARIS, July 26. Mr. Warner Allen states that the success on the eastern extremity of Chemin des Dames is only comparable to the capture of Douamont fort. The French have now regained the whole first line positions lost on Sunday and not a single observation post remains in German hands. Other correspondents state that the Crown Prince has suffered another great reverse within our lost ground, which it has taken the finest German troops fiv e days and nights of intense fighting to secure. The struggle on the California Plateau was long and indecisive. The Germans clung desperately to the slopes until with splendid dash the French routed the German reinforcements. The attacks on Craonne were part of a deliberate attempt to bear down on France, but the hour is coming when, the United States will take the field and secure the triumphs of the cause for which French men died.