WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE FRENCH ATTACK. NEW LINES CONSOLIDATED. LONDON, November 26. A French communique reports: "Great artillery is in progress on the right bank of the Meuse in the region north of Hill 344 where we organised the conquered positions." A THRILLING NARRATIVE. OF THRILLING ADVENTURES. SENSATIONAL CAVALRY EXPLOITS. SOME WONDERFUL ESCAPES. GERMANS COMPLETELY SURPRISED. Received 8.35. LONDON, Nov. 27.

Mr. Phillip Gibbs says there is not the slightest doubt that the Germans will powerfully ajttempt- to regain Bourlon Wood and so prevent us making his railways untenable, affecting him on his' main lines of supply. Our cavalry, after the break through on the first morning of the battle; had a hard time without much luck. Several unfortunate incidents spoiled their hopes of a big drive, notably two, the first was the strong German defence at Flesquineres and the second, was that a Tank unluckily broke the bridge over the Masnieres Canal. A squadron of Canadian cavalry repaired the bridge, rode forward and had some remarkable adventures, because a message ordering their retirement did not reach them. The commander's horse got lamed, but a young lieutenant carried on the squadron, camouflaged'on to the road south-eastward of Rumilly and came up "against a battery of field guns, firing point blank at them. They charged the battery, putting the guns out of action and killing or prisonering the gunners. Darkness saved the- squadron. The lieutenant, speaking German, when challenged, deceived the enemy enabling him to press forwajd, take the Germans by surprise and hack his way through the enemy. A small body of Dragoon Guards took Noyelles and skirted round under rifle and machine-gun fire, then galloped straight through the main street. At three in the afternoonj advancing further, they captured seven German officer's walking' in La Folie Wood. They penetrated the depths of the wood and an officer rode up to where were the German Divisional Headquarters, and poured revolver shots through the windows, then rode back. Mr Gibbs, continuing, states: —Anther squadron took Cantaing at a gallop. One party went direct, two others rode round their flanks and continued towards Fontaine Notre Dame, which was then strongly defended. Other squadrons were riding in the open country, constantly meeting machine gun fire, arid prisonering small bodies before they were converted into a dismounted force, including the Hussars, for an attack on Bourlon Wood.

A Canadian squadron was caught in a tight corner. They were practically surronuded on a sunken road; only five horses remained unhit. .They saw they must cut their way out, therefore, they stampeded riderless horses in the direction of the enemy in order to draw their machine gun fire. The troopers then -hurriedly escaped. They encountered and routed four parties of Germans before they reached safety. TERRIBLE STRUGGLE AT BOURLON. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT I* — STREETS. LONDON, Novcme'ber 26. After again splashing Bourlon village with blood, Prince Ruprecht, regained portion of the village, but General Byng's strategic advance on the Bomion Ridge is in no wise changed. •■The night was. reported quiet after a hand-to-hand struggle in the streets of Bourlon, where the British" stopped the Prussians with the cold steel. The enemy fought well and hurled themselves against the British, who formed half-way across the village, catching them on the bayonets as £h~ey came. German corpses litter the villages and the battlefield. LONDON, Novemeber 26. .Mr. Robinson states that the fighting in Bourlon Wood area was very savage. The country was burned and plundered, churches, "destroyed and every grave violated by barbarians.

GERMANS STILL COUNTERATTACKING Received 10.25 LONDON, November 27 Sir Douglas Haig reports another counter-attack on the north-east corner of Bourlon Wood. The weather is wet and stormy. _. , ; ... *,'." -

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT

LONDON, November 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There have been no further infantry actions on the southern battle-front. We took a few prisoners. There were patrol encounters on the Ypres front, and considerable hostile artillery fire eastward and "north-east-ward of Ypres, particularly at Passchendaele. THE KING'S CONGRATULATIONS. LONDON, November 27. The King telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig: "I congratulate you, General Byng, and the troops on the success ful operations in the neighbourhood of Cambrai. The complete surprise effected by such novel methods of warfare |have been received /vjthj fhff' utmost satisfaction throughout the Empire holding out great hopes for the future. It is gratifying that the tanks, which are a purely British invention, have played such an important part.

TRENCH COMMUNIQUE

LONDON. November 27

A French communique reports fairly heavy artillery actions in Belgium and north of Chemin des Dames. Artillery dispersed enemy assemblages north of the positions captured yesterday on the right bank of the Meuse. The artillery duel in this sector continues most vigorously.

GENEEAL GABLES

ALLIED WAR COUNCIL. I PARIS, November 26. j The War Council at Versailles will dicuss a wide range of subjects, in- , eluding co-operation of the fleets of I the Central and South American coun- : tries with the British and American j navies. I . , _ ! EMPIRE SETTLEMENT. \ .-■,. * '. THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. ' Received 9 a.m. LONDON, November 27. Mr Long presided at gathering where at papers were read in favour of land settlement within the Empire, said he was heartily ii agreement with the proposal, and'the Government was not* wanting in either will or energy to deal with the- question of Empire Settlement. ..-,., -, .-;'.- ; LONDON, November 27. The House of Commons considered the report stage of the Representation of the People Bill, and accepted Dr. Chappie's amendment adopting the West Australian system of counting the alternative vote. The House passed the elausePgranting the proxy vote and passed the soldiers' and sailors' vote. It was agreed to continue the proxy vote after the war.

The House accepted a clause providing that all polls at a general election be held the same day. COVENTRY ENGINEERS FIFTY THOUSAND STRIKEBS N Received 1U.25. LONDON, November 27. Fifty thousand engineers have struck at Coventry in sympathy with earlier strikers, and as a protest against failure to recognise shop stewards. GERMAN" POLITICAL REFORM. NEW REGIME PUBLISHED. Received 10.25. AMSTERDAM, Nov. 27. The long promised Prussian Reform Bills have been published. They establish equal direct suffrage with secret ballot for the Lower House, but the Upper House is strongly conservative, being comprised of representatives of commerce, industry, agriculture, handicrafts, universities, and churches; also of sixty life members and 150 nominees of the Crown. A quorum of 200 is essential TANKS IN LONDON, LONDON, November 26. There were huge crowds at the opening of the Tank War Bond Campaign in Trafalgar Square. Tanks, with guns acock, were converted into a bank for the sale of bonds of war certificates.

THREE AND A-HALF MILES FROM JERUSALEM. LONDON, November 27. Palestine Official.—General Allenby's advanced patrols were pressed back to the southern bank of the Navrauja. Mounteds captured Either Station and Ainkarim, 3| miles westward of Jerusalem. Strong bodies of "Turks are holding high ground westward of Jeru salem, covering the Jerusalem and Sehechem Road to the north.