WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACK ALL POSITIONS HELD HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES PARIS, August 10. A French communique says:—We continue tto progress in Belgium. We occupied last night several farms east of Bixschoote and west of Langemarck. A German attack on a front of a kilometre at Fayet, in the region of St Quentin was broken by a fire and repulsed with loss, except in the centre, where some enemy fractions obtained a footing in a small area of our advanced elements. There was a recrudescence of bombardment at night in the whole region south of Allemone and Filian. North of the Aisne the enemy made a violent attack, which was repulsed with the heaviest losses.

North of the Aisne the enemy at dawn violently attacked from Pantheon Farm to Chevrigny Ridge. Three battalions, supported by storming troops, attempted to assault our lines at various times, but our accurate fire stopped the assailants on most fronts, inflicting the heaviest losses. Enemy elements which penetrated our trenches were killed or taken prisoners after ffiand to hand fighting, wherein our troops showed admirable dash. We held all positions. Other German attempts, notably south of Ailles, southeast of Chevreux, in the region of Vauquois and towards Avocourt Wood and northwest of Flirey, also failed under our fire with appreciable losses to the enemy.

THE BRITISH ADVANCE PRISONERS AND MACHINE GUNS CAPTURED. GERMAN FRONT SYSTEM OCCUPIED. LONDON, August 10. The High ommissioner’s report confirms the report given above, and adds that severe casualites where inflicted on the enemy, while our troops still occupied the German front system. We captured two machine guns and took a number of prisoners.

B'RITISH GUNNERY INCREASING

HAMMERING THE ENEMY. PARIS, August 10. The Petit Parisien’s correspondent states that the number of British guns in Flanders is increasing daily. The British, he states, have recommenced intense and continuous hammering of the German trenches. GERMAN ASSAULTS REPULSED. LONDON, August 11. French communique: North of St. Quentin there was sustained reciprocal artillery fire in the region of Fayet.

In the afternoon we stopped two attacks between Mennenchet Mill and Cepy farm.

An artillery duel continued violently on the Pantehon - Epine de Chevieny front. Prisoners state that the morning’s attacks were prepared with the greatest care, with the object of capturing trenches we carried on July 30 After artillery preparation the enemy attacked tenches east of Maison des Champagne. Our fire broke all assaults. In the centre where our assailants gained a footing, there was a terrific struggle, which ended in our favour, the whole line being restored. On both banks of the Meuse there was voilent artillery action in the region of Hill 204, Mort Homme, and the Beonvaux sector. GERMANS LOSE HEAVILY TN CHAMPAGNE LONDON, August 11.' French communique: North ,of St. Quentin we regained the greater portion of elements in which the enemy gained a footing on the 10th.

In the Champagne, after artillery preparation, the enemy delivered simultaneous attacks east and west of Mount CoruilleL Our fire stopped dead assaulting waves with heavy losses. North of Mount Corr/illet the enemy penetrated our advanced line but a counter attack captured the trench with the exception of fifty metres. There is lively artillery fire in Belgium. A German attack on Faget north of St. uentin, was broken. A German attack on Mouthaut and Mon Blond was repulsed. GERMAN REPORT LONDON, August 11. German official: We captured some French trenches northward of St. Quentin on a front of 1200 metres, counter attacks failed.

FIGHTING IN FLANDERS.

IMPORTANT SUCCESSES ACHIEVED. LONDON, August 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: This morning’s attack eastward of Ypres was on the Ypres-Roulers railway. .On the right heavy fighting occurred "for the high ground astride the Ypres-Menin road. Some progress was made. Fighting continues. In the centre and on the left, overcoming resistance, we gained the whole of our objectives at Westhoek. Westhoek ridge is completely ours. We established ourselves in Glengorse wood and inflicted heavy casualties. There has been great aerial activity. Our rifle and artillery fire beat back six assaults for the possession of important ground captured eastward of Ypres. After fierce fighting all the positions were maintained. We gained ground in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Menin road. W/e raided trencheis southward of Armenticres.

DIFFICULT .FIGHTING REPORTED BRITISH GAIN OBJECTIVES. LONDON, August 11. Mr. Gibbs reports: There was heavy fighting this morning south-east of Westhoek, after night-long artillery fire. The later fighting was more difficult, as the rearward machine-guns took advantage of a check caused to our t roo P s by a wire tangle in the woods We gained the main points attacked on the left, indeed more, for our men impetuously advanced too far and had to be recalled. On our right the fighting was more desperate and less progress was made.

BRITISH PRESSED BACK. GROUND GAINED ELSEWHERE. INTENSE AERIAL FIGHTING. LONDON, August 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enenemy re-attacked this morning our new positions northward of the YpresMenin road and pressed us back slightly. , Wc gained ground on the right hank of the Stenbeck, in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Staden railway. There was intense aerial activity and most severe fighting by large formations all day. We downed sixteen enemy machines. Twelve of ours are missing.

THE GERMAN VERSION.

LONDON, August II

Wireless German official. Yesterday’s strong English attacks on an eight kilometre front between Frezenberg and' Hollebeke first broke our line. A counter-attack ejected the enemy' near Westhoek after a bitter struggle. We downed nineteen aeroplanes on the West front. IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED. LONDON, August 10. The United Press correspondent at headquarters states that the British attacked on a two-mile front at daylight from the Yprcs-Zonncbeke Road, near Frozenberg, to the Ypres-Menin Road, and advanced their line about 500 y'ards. Their object was the high ground at Clencorse Wood, which was occupied despite a stubborn defence. The enemy' artillery was active all night eastward of Steenbcek, also on the coast sector. The sky' is overcast, but our airmen arc active. They' downed seven aeroplanes and 11 others were down uncontrollable and were destroyed.

PARIS, August 10

The Petit Parisien’s correspondent says the number of British guns in Flanders is increasing daily, and they have re-commeneed their intense and continuous hammering of the German trenches. GERMAN CLAIM SUCCESS. LONDON, August .11. After intense drumfire, enemy infantry attacked in wide sectors eastward and south-eastward of Ypres. Deep masses of English attacked from Monchy l e Preaux road as far as the Arras-Cambrai road. We destructively bombarded points of assembly and everywhere repulsed the advancing ■waves with most severe losses. WARRIORS AND CRICKET. UPHOLD THE DOMINIONS. Received 10.5 a.m. LONDON, August 12. In cricket, the public schools versus the Thornchurch, New Zealanders, on Kennington oval, the day closed: 234, New Zealanders, five wickets, 242. Australia versus India, at Lords. India was 57, Australia 105

BRITISH POLITICS CABINET RESIGNATIONS LONDON, August 11. The Press Bureau reports: —Mr. Henderson, Labour Minister, has resigned from the Cabinet and Mr Neville Chamberlain has resigned the Directorship of National Service. Both resignations have been accepted.

INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE

LONDON, August 12. The correspondence Mr Lloyd George and Mr Henderson regarding the latter’s resignation has been published. Mr Henderson, in tendering his resignation, wrote: I share your desire that the war shall be carried to a successful conclusion.

Mr Lloyd George, in reply, intimating that the king had accepted the resignation, says: There are certain facts with which the public should be acquainted in order to form a correct appreciation of the events which have led to this regrettable conclusion. Your colleagues were completely taken by surprise by the attitude' you adopted at the Labour Conference, and was under the impression that you meant to use your influence against meeting enemy representatives at the Stockholm Conference. This was also the impression of your Cabinet colleagues. Surely this was a conclusion upon which you should have informed the Cabinet before entering the Labour. Conference, as you were not a member of the Labour Party only, but a member of the Cabinet, responsible for the war. Nevertheless you did not deem it necessary to inform the Cabinet of your views. Your colleagues and the delegates were accordingly justified in assuming that the advice you gave was not inconsistent with their opinion.

Mr Lloyd George points out that the Government received an important official communication from the Russian Government, stating that although it was not deemed possible to prevent Russian delegates from attending the Stockholm Conference, its decision would be in no' way binding on the action of the Russian Government. A covering letter added: We hasten to lay this information before you, as iti is feared the impression has hitherto prevailed in that Russia ardently desired the Stockholm Conference, and this argument is put forward in order to influence British public opinion in favvour of the Labour and Socialist parties in Britain participating in the conference. Mr Lloyd George adds: I immediately sent this communication to you with a request that you communicate it to the Labour Conference. You omitted to do so, although in the course of your speech ycu made a very casual reference to some modification of the attitude, of the Russian Government. In these circumstances your action does, not appear to have been fair either to the Government or the delegates you were addressing. You left them in ignorance of a vital fact which must necessarily affected their judgment. Mr Henderson’s reply deprecates his attitude at the conference being made the subject of controversy or recrimination. He can only request the public to suspend judgment until they know the facts. If any statement is necessary, it will be made in the proper place—the House of Commons. Even then, his course will be influenced so far as to affect the nation’s interests in the successful prosecution of the war.

SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES PREDICTED LONDON, August 11. Mr Appleton, secretary of the Trades Union Federation, states that Mr Henderson has destroyed the unity of the Allieid democracy, jeopardising the unity of the British movement and has affronted the Dominions and American movements. MR HENDERSON AND CABINET. PUBLICATION OF KERENSKY’S TELEGRAM LONDON, August 12. Mr Henderson, in an interview, said he had no arrangement with his Cabinet colleagues whereby he undertook to convey the latest attitude of the Rusian Government as outlined in Kerensky’s telegram to Mr Lloyd George, and he added that he received no messages from Russia on Friday. He had several placed before him, but not of Friday’s date. WHY HENDERSON RESIGNED FROM WAR CABINET. Received 8.50 LONDON, August 12. Mr Henderson’s letter of resignation to Mr Lloyde George says: “I gathered at my interview that my retention of the Secretaryship of the

Labour Party was no longer compatible with the membership .of the War Cabinet. Recent experiences impressed me with embarrassing complications arising from this duality of office. I wish to express my hope that in a nou-Government capacity I shall be able to render some little asistance in helping to fulfil the Government’s desire to carry the war to a successful conclusion.” 1 . PATRIOTISM IN BRITAIN. .. REVOLUTIONARIES ARE FEW. Received 8.50 LONDON, August 12. A White Paper is issued containing Mr Barnes’ summary of the reports of Commissions on industrial unrest. Mr Barnes says the Commissions found a strong patriotic feeling in employers and employed throughout the country. They were determined to help the State in the present crisis. Revolutionary feeling was mot entertained by the bulk of the men; on the contrary they quite appreciate the national difficulties. CHEMICAL EXPLOSION . \ ■ THIRTEEN FEMALES KILLED LONDON, August 110. A n explosion occurred in a chemical works near Barking. Thirteen bodies, all females, have been recovered.