WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE HINDENBUEG LINE

HEAVILY REINFORCED.

LONDON, Nov 23,

Additional German artillery ma-chine-guns and aeroplanes have arrived on the scene of the new offensive, and heavy fighting has developed on parts of the new battle-front. Evidently the civilians evacuated Cantaing (three miles south of Cambrai) in the nick of time. German low-fly-ing aeroplanes are busy over the British advanced lines, while heavy machinegun fire opposes the advance in the direction of Crevecoeur, one mile south of Cambrai.

The bulk of the enemy artillery is directed against the British in the region of Cantaing and Bourlon Wood. The British engineers’ work is little short of miraculous.

The “Lokal Anzeiger” says that 150 to 200 tanks were employed in the B'ritish attack. It declares that this abortive offensive will not divert Germany’s attention from Flanders, where the British are certain to renew their efforts to get rid of the dangerous submarine bases.

THE GERMAN STORY. SUCCESSES ON NEW FRONT. LONDON, Nov 23. A wireless German official states: Enemy yesterday repeatedly fruitlessly attacked Moeuvres. We retrieved this slight initial success. Desperate hand-to-hand fighting occurred around Fountain, three miles west of Cambrai. We threw back the enemy } stormed Fountain, and cleared La Folie Wood. English attacks against Rumilly, Banteaux, and Vendhuille, in the St. Quentin collapsed. Fresh fighting has been in progress since the early morning on the southern edge of Moeuvres Fighting between the Brenta and Piave is progressing in our gavour. HINDENBURG’S PLAN. ROME, Nov 23. A Berne message states that Von Hindenburg planned to bring aouut r rapid and total collapse of Italy, intending then to attack France from the south. Starring: HARD FIGHTING BEFORE CAMBRAI. POSITIONS FREQUENTLY CHANGE HANDS. BRITISH ULTIMATELY VICTORIOUS. Received 10.5. LONDON, November 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports that fighting in and about Bourlon Wood continued yesterday night with great reciprocal stubbornness.

Enemy counter-attacks on Friday night forced us back from Bourdon Village which we entered in our first advance, and further eastward a powerful enemy attack pressed us back a short distance on the hill in Bourlon Wood.

Our counter-attacks later in the morning drove the enemy from hill and before midday our line was re established on the northern edge of Bourlon Wood. At dusk the enemy again attacked with strong forces from northeast, forcing us back slightly at the north-eastern corner of the wood.

We again attacked early on the night and re-entered Bourlon Village, capturing it after a fierce struggle.

Parties of the enemy were offering obstinate resistance in strong points, in the village, but we gained possession of the village and practically the whole of Bourlon Wod including all high ground -within, jit. English. Welsh, and Scottish, assisted by dismounted cavalry displayed the utmost courage and tenacity, both in attack and defence.

PRUSSIAN GUARDS CUT UP. GERMANS FIGHT GAMELY. LONDON, November 24. Mr Phillips reports: The counterattack yesterday against Masniercs came from the north-east. When the Prussian Guards were advancing in solid lines, we awaited them. Our massed machine-guns proved better weapons than flesh and blood. The Prussians •were checked, then halted, then broke. None got nearer than a thousand yards. Later, other Guards came on from the Cambrai railway, but they never gained impetus. A third attack at Noyelles, resulted in a bitter close-quarters struggle for two hours. It was equally unsuccessful, though the enemy fought well (and proved that they had not forgotten how to fight in open warfare. Both sides used the bayonet. There were many single combats with fists and broken bricks where men lost their weapons.

OVER 100 GUNS CAPTURED. LONDON, November 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Since the 20th hist., we have captured over 100 guns, including several “ heavies,’ ’ up to 8-inchers. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been fierce fighting in the neighbourhood of Bourlon Wood, the enemy making several determined attempts with fresh troops to regain possession of the high ground. 'A strong attack this .morning us ho give ground slightly in this area. Wo counter-attacked later, and re-estab-lished our former line. Wo improved our positions in the neighbourhood of Banteaux. Says a writer in the "Post”; Jerusalem is almost within the grip of General Allcnby, and the Turks are naturally troubled at seeing this great religious stronghold about to join Bagdad. Their defeat has been so rapid, once it started, that there has been no time for them to rally, It is evident that they depended unduly upon the lines of Gaza Perhaps the failure of General Murray to capture that position, and his successor’s apparent acceptance of a slow trench war, mis’ led the Turkish command into a belief that the British had given up offensive plans on this front. Had Allenby’s (drive boon anticipated, theflank at Bcersheba would never have been left as open as it was to a simple encircling manoeuvre; nor would a capable strategist like Falkenhayn have failed to put strong reserves behind the v Wadi-Ghuzzch. Neither pf these precautions was taken, and the nearest Turkish reserves of importance seem to be at Aleppo—3oo miles away. It is stated that Falkenhayn (who is necessarily anxious as to how far he can rob strength he is reserving for the Mesopotamian adventure) is & sending reserves to southern Palestine. The enemy’s resistance must be expected to increase; but General Allenby may be able to sweep clear a large area of the land west of the Jordan, of Samaria, as well as Judea, before he is held up.

COUNTERS AND RECOUNTERS. DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR BOURLON. the heights "before cambrai. LONDON, Nov 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Following on very desperate attacks on Friday night and Saturday we entirely regained possession of the entire Bourlonvilio Wood. The English, Welsh, and Scottish battalions figured in the operations, displaying great courage and tenacity the cambrai push. GERMANS’ DESPERATE EFFORTS HOSPITAL PATIENTS THROWN INTO FIRING LINE LONDON, Nov 23 Mr Gibbs writes: When we smashed through the Hindenburg line on Tuesday } the German High Command, as soon as they got news of what had happened, hurried reinforcements in omnibuses from camps near Cambrai, They were so hard-pressed that they actually cleared the camp of cripples snd convalescents and hurled patients into the fighting line. It was a brutal, stupid assault. The men were too ill to fight and arc now too ill to Gibbs conversed with one oil a stretcher in the last stages of consumption. He has been sent to an isolation hospital. The reinforcements included the First Guards reserves from Lens. The Germans are rushing all available troops to make a stand round Cambrai.

Our men had no walk-over "after the first surprise. The Germans holding the woods and villages behind the Hindenburg Line fought hard and well. They endeavoured to beat us back with many counter attacks Our gun-fire mowed down a heavy counter-attack north-east of Masnieres, where the Germans advanced as during 1914, in massed formation, the waves appearing shoulder to shoulder. Another similar attack was aliened at Marcoing. The Germans, on meeting the fire, dropped into .trenches and never re-appeared. Noyelles thrice changed hands. There was fierce street house and cellar fighting. German snipers were posted on roofs and in trees. The Northumberland Yeomanry, skirmishing at Crewecourt, discovered a belt of wire. They dismounted, crawled through the wire and captured guns. Troops in the Bullecourt sector captured a great tunnel at Queant •

NEW RECORDS OF TANKS.

LONDON, November 24

Mr. Eobinson writes; During the thrust the infantry put up new records. The Ulsters bombed and cleared out 4000 yards of the Hindenburg trench, which was honeycombed with dug-outs, necessitating much stubborn fighting. West Eiding troops cleared 7000 yards—the longest infantry record for a single push on the Western front. —But did no BombingAdvancing across open country, they took prisoners from six divisions, including some from the Eussian front. An outstanding feature throughout the operations was the success of the tanks. Besides flattening obstacles and clearing trenches and strong-defended villages. They even captured batteries of heavy guns, butting in between the guns and machine-gunning the gunners. Some tanks broke down through mechanical difficulties, and were utilised as stationary strong points, proving - superior to the German pill boxes.

GREAT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY

LONDON, November 24.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: • Aeroplanes co-operated with the infantry, and also attacked German reinforce, ments and transport, and bombed important railway stations where rollingstock was collected and detraining in progress.

Enemy aeroplanes were more active, attacking our bombing Tow-flying machines, We downed six enemy machines Nine of ours are missing. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Operations were continued to-day again«t positions westward of Cambrai, Latest reports show that they are developing satisfactorily.