WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ANZACS IN A DEATH TRAP. LONDON, Oct 15. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: In Friday's battle the Anzac troops on the right flank made good. They reached the edge of a hummock called Crest Farm and killed the garrison, but German machine-gunners and riflemen held another knoll beyond Crest Farm, subjecting the Anzacs to deadly short range fire. Yet the Ansacs would ! have held the ground" Here, if they had been supported on the left, but : other Anzacs were having a bad time in swamps, where they were unable to make much headway owing to deadly fire from the higher ground. Rain fell the whole time, making the ground even worse than before. The

m;st thickened preventing aero

planes from directing the guns, consequently it was decided not to continue the second stage of the attack and to withdraw the Anzacs on the

right and centre. The Germans on Friday afternoon

opened an intense barrage, lasting all night. The German defences were protected by blockhouses and also

machine-guns from the supporting lines were sent to the front. The enemy never massed so many machineguns on this front. Many were posted in trees Never were so many riflemen scattered among shell-craters. The machine-gun fire and rifle fire never ceased for an instant during the attack. Our men floundered in bogs, unable to keep up with the barrage. German snipers and gunners shot with cool aim while our . men struggled forward. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS. LONDON, Oct 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Eastern County troops successfully raided south-eastward of Monchy le Prieux. Friday's prisoners now total :943, including 41 officers. NO REST FOR GERMANS. '=' FIGHTING IN ALL WEATHERS. - Received 8.35. NEW YORK Oct 15. ' Lord Northcliffe, in an interview, said that Haig's smashing blows will continue no matter what the weather. The Germans will not enjoy any rest during the winter. Conditions have changed since Joffre said France needed men. France now has plenty of men to hold her line, but wants America to send a million tons of ammunitions, which she needs badly. Lord Northcliffe said there was no foundation for the report that Kitchener was alive. He added: "The Hampshire was not torpedoed or mined, but struck a"jagged rock when travelling at a speed of IS knots. THE AISNE FRONT. RECIPROCAL ARTLLIERY FIRE. : Received 10.15. LONDON, Oct 15. A French communique states that on the Aisne front reciprocal artillery fire continues in the region of the plateau between Ailles and Craonne, on the right bank of the Meuse. There were violent artillery actions north of Hill 344. German last night, bombarded in the region of Dunkirk, causing several civilian casualties