WESTERN FRONT.

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

WESTERN FRONT.

TENACIOUS ANZACS. -• ________ STICK TO' LAST OF BARRAGE. 1 LONDON, Sept 23. Gilmour, the Australian and New Zealand Press Association correspondent in France, writes: —“The Australian front lines followed the barrage more closely in some places' than discretion would have prompted j with the result that many Germans were caught in their dug-outs. The tenacity with which the Anzacs clung to the tail of the barrage also resulted in almost totally stifling the German ma-chine-guns. A young lieutenant on the fringe of a terrific barrage, with shells bursting around him, dashed forward to a fortified post where the Germans were waiting to receive the attacking force with a machine-gun. The lieutenant stretched his arm into the look-out hole, and fired a few shots with his revolver. The Germans inside were either killed or scuttled for safety. The performance was repeated with equal success next at the concreted blockhouse.” Mr Gilmour mentions the excellent work of the artillery in smashing the troops assembling for counter-at-tacks. The precision of the British attack surpassed anything previously done. GERMAN ATTACK FAILS.

LONDON, Sept 23. A French communique states: “After a violent bombardment the Germans again attacked in the region of Maisons de Champagne, but were broken before they reached our lines. Eleven German , aeroplanes were destroyed yesterday.” BRITISH GUNS WORK HAVOC. LONDON, September 24. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: After our men carried their everybody was convinced that the enemy s losses were heavy, especially in the counter-attacks, which were continued on ’ Saturday, and Sunday with even more disastrous results. 'A German

re giment was carried in buses at mid-day on Saturday to a point behind the lines for the purpose of a new assault on our positions in Polygon Wood. When the regiment took to the road, our artillery caught and dispersed them. Some companies worked their way forward and became lost in the chaos of shell-craters. Instead of battalions and companies, they were transformed into a collection of ter-ror-stricken individual soldiers without the guidance of commanders. Another column, marching along the Menin Road, and; belonging to the Sixteenth'Bavarian Division, had been hastily sent without maps, or knowledge of the ground, and without definite instructions. A British aeroplane dropped bombs at the head of the column. The explosion attracted the attention of more of our night who, flying low, dropped bombs all down the column. This counter-at-tack never reached our lines. No counter-attacks reached our positions near Polycone Ridge, which is the ground the enemy most wants. The nearest approach was on Saturday afternoon, when some Australians saw the glint of bayonets in the little wood on the opposite spur. For a minute or two they saw the movement of the men. Then a fury of shells fell into the wood and filled it with flame and smoke.

BRITISH EXTEND GAINS. PRISONERS NOW TOTAL 3243. LONDON, September 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We completely repulsed storm troops northeast of Langemarck. English rifle regiments then attacked and captured, after sharp fighting, a further portion of the defence in this neighbourhood. A number of prisoners were taken. The organisation of the newly-cap-tured positions on the rest of the battle front is proceeding. We repulsed an attack eastward of

Villert. We have taken 3243 - prisoners, including 80 officers, on the Ypres battle front since the commencement of the attack on the 20th. Our aeroplane yesterday dropped bombs on billets, hutments and aerodromes. Three tons were dropped at night-time, oit the Roulers-Menin and Wcrvicg railway stations. The enemy dropped a few bombs at midday, but did little damage. We brought down nine machines. Two of ours are missing. ' FRENCH REPORT VIOLENT ARTILLERY STRUGGLE. LONDON, September 23. A French communique says: The artillery struggle wag somewhat violent in the region of Hurtebisc and on the left bank of the Meuse, north of Hill 304.

IMPORTANCE OF BRITISH NEW POSITIONS. DRY FEET FOR THE WINTER. ' GERMAN YOUTHS UNABLE TO STAND THEIR GROUND. Received 9.45. PARIS, Sept 24. Marcel Hutin, the expert French military scribe, says the positions the British captured are so important that the enemy is incessantly attacabut the attempts, with powerful contingents hate been sensationally defeated. The positions occupied by the British are such that they can, if need be, wait till the coming spring, and pass the winter without having their feet in water, which will be the lot of the Germans in the positions t which they have been forced to retire. It is significant that the 18-year-old Germans are unable to stand thei. ground, whilst the officers, instead of being with the men kept to the rear. This accounts for the few officers taken prisoners. Private pdvices from Havre staff that Antwerp is crowded with troops billeted on the inhabitants.

OSTEND BOMBARDED. LONDON, Septemebr 23. Wireless German official. — 'An English monitor bombarded Ostend. It struck the Cathedral and killed seven people and wounded twenty-four. Belgian coastal batteries drove the monitor off.

GERMAN RAIDERS REPULSED. Received 8.50. LONDON, September 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We drove out raiders from our trenches near Laasseville. The enemy’s artillery is active on both banks of the Scarpe southward of Lens and north-east of Ypres.