WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GREAT ARTILLERY DUEL. SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS. • Received 9.15. LONDON, October 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy heavily bombarded this morning positions between Tower Hamlets and Polygon Wood. His infantry attempted to advance, but our artillery broke the attack on the greater part of our front before reaching our lines. Few penetrated our barrage, northward of the Menin Raod our infantry completely repulsed them, and our positions are intact. A great artillery duel is being fought eastward of Ypros. Our aeroplanes dropped eight tons of bombs on Tuesday, hits being observed on three aerodromes in Courtai area and a fourth near Cambrai. We successfully attacked dumps near Douai and sidings at Roulers. The enemy attacked by long distance bpniLing places far cast of our line. BRITISH OFFENSIVE ON A WIDE FRONT. Received 11 a.m. LONDON, October 4. The High Commissioner cables: Sir Douglas Haig reports that eastward of Ypres, at six o ’clock this morning we again attacked on a wide front. Satisfactory 'progress is reported, and a number have already been taken prisoners. WINNING ALL ALONG THE LINE. Received 5.55. NEW YORK, October 4. Sir Douglas Haig has opened an offensive on a wide front, and is winning all along the line. FRENCH REPORT. Received 11.15. LONDON, ( October 4. French communique.—There is artillery activity north of the Aisne and both banks of the Meuse, otherwise it is compartively quiet. FIERCE ARTILLERY DUEL. HOW OUR MEN CARRY ON. Received 10.55. LONDON, October 4. Mr Philip Gibb s -writes that the artilery battle round Ypres continues fierce and far-flung on both sides, the enemy trying to make things as bad as possible for a distance of twelve miles behind the lines in our bach areas—technical terms for villages broken to bits during the last three years—and for camps ) ammunition dumps, duckboard tracks, light railways, and crossroads. It is always astounding to see how little difference this hostile shelling makes in the way our men carry on the war. Rain fell yesterday, and the ground in craterland is already sticky again, with many pools and ponds. Rain clouds are now gathering. AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS. Received 11.15. B'BRNE, October 4. The Provisional Budget laid before the Austrian Chamber of Deputies discloses a slightly improved political situation. The Emperor Carl’s personal aide-de-camp has arrived at the German main bringing Hindenburg the‘Emperor’s autograph letter congratulating him on his birthday. THE GREATEST LIE. MEXICAN NEWSPAPER “SINK'S” 110 BRITISH AND U.S. SHIPS. HUN SUPER-VICTORY. NEW YORK. German propaganda again. The palm for the champion lie of the war must be awarded to La Boletin de la Guerra, a newspaper printed in Mexico City, Mexico. It tells the story of a great naval engagement in the North Se a (which never took place), and the matter has been brought to the attention of the United States Government in the form of a copy of the paper of the date mentioned.

The West Bulletin, which is violently anti-American, issued on June 14 an ‘ 1 extra’ ’ edition containing an alleged report of a great sea battle off Heligoland, in which the British lost no fewer than 74 ships and the United States 26, including two Dreadnoughts, the remnants of the entire British fleet then turning tail, and American regiments at home actually mutinied when the news of the “dis : aster” came through!