WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ANOTHER . .VERDUN. ATTACKS AT CAMBRAI. HECATOMBS OF GERMAN DEAD PARIS, December 4. M. Marcel Hutin, writes in the “Matin” that Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria is apparently repeating against the British the methods employed by the Crown Prince at Verdun, with the same result —fearful hecatombs of dead —in order to gain a few'- inches Of ground. Mass attacks continue, and will continue so long as it pleases the German staff to throw into the furnace fresh divisions from reserve or drawn from cleaner sectors.

MOST CRITICAL MOMENT PAST. HINDENBURG NOT SATISFIED. LONDON, December 4. The United Press correspondent writes: I believe the most critical moment on the Cambrai battlefield is past, but I do not think .will allow mJTtters to stand where they are now. Severe fighting is most probably ahead. Hindenburg will undoubtedly fling more men over the barricade of German corpses strewn around the Cambrai bulge, Thus far the attempt to flatten out General Byng ’s jump towards Cambrai has been a total failure. Prisoners declare that Uhlans are held in readiness to exploit the hoped for break-through. Reinforcements continue to arrive. Artillery is indrajasi f ’ng. This 4? 'hfeing fetched from other parts. It was in Flanders on Sunday at the time of the local advance in the region of Passchendaele. The enemy counter-bar-rage was five minutes late. It was much lighter than the previous fighting in this area. Obviously the British guns have knocked out the Prussian guns, or the "latter have been withdrawn. The situation to-day apparently is that Prince Rupprecht’s sword arm is actuated by Hindenburg. The latter will wage battle as Ing as he can find troops to respond. Every British officer and Tommy is most confident that Prince Rupprecht will be unable to make much headway regardless of the amount of strength he develops. Despite the advantages of fighting out from a chain of fortresses, with undisturbed roads and railways, against the British, who are fighting in the open and behind whom lies the devastated Somme battleground, roadless and without railways save for the soldierbuilt routes, the Huns’ human avalanches have been checked, and if Prince Rupprecht x 3Gr sists in fighting he may find that the bulge which he is prodding is a hornet’s nest.

GERMAN CLAIM SUCCESSES. LONDON, December 4. Admiralty wireless i German official: We threw back the English in many waves northward of Gholuvelt. Violent fighting occurred between Marcoing and the Peronne-Cambrai road. We stormed La Vacqucrie and repulsed counter-attacks. LONDON, December 5.” Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artillery broke up concentrations eastward of Gouzeaueourt and in the neighbourhood of Moevres before an attack could develop. The enemy artillery is active in the neighbourhood of La Voequerie, There has been considerable hostile artillery fire northward of Armentieres south-east of Ypres, and in the Passchcndacle sector.

CRITICAL STAGE OF THE WAR. WORLD’S SALVATION AT STAKE. Received 8.35. LONDON, Dec 5. The “Times” says the war has reached a stage when no man or woman is justified in remaining in occupation not essential to the war. Unless the whole adult population enters into the struggle for national existence those who have died for the Empire have diedly vainly. Never has the world’s salvation been more dependent on the fortitude, resolution and sacrifices of Britain and the overseas dominions. The Daily Mail urges the immediate raising of the military age and the substitution of elders, trades and widespread exemptions.

BRITISH AND FRENCH. , LONDON, December 5. Further particulars of the interview with Hindcnburg show that the latter said the British and French are brave The French -are {the clevlerest The strength of the British lies in their numerical superiority in artillery. There are able men amongst French generals. The British have learned warfare entirely different from the European, and trench warfare is no school in which a groat general can deypjop.

GERMANS’ TREMENDOUS* ONSLAUGHT. BRITISH FIGHTING MAGNIFICENTLY. LONDON, December 5. Mr, Gibbs writes: Throughout Monday the enemy continued his thrusts between Marcoing and La Yacquerie, He flung at least six divisions on a narrow front, not counting the cost, never weakening the pressure;, even when they made no advance. We thus forced -upon the enemy a battle more decisive than any preceding, in view of Germanys weakening man power. The Germans seem to be forcing decisive fighting in open country, possibly for political reasons. Prisoners state that they had been promised peace if they won this battle. The struggle is as fierce as the second battle of Ypres. The enemy have the offensive,

are forcing the pace, and are fighting ‘ ‘ all out. ’ ’ Our men yield ground only after butchery of the Germans. The most desperate resistance was where a body of Britishers were temporarily cut off or outnumbered, I talked to wounded Guardsmen lying in trucks on the railways, tarpaulins and blankets being their only protection against the frosty blasts. They told how they fought through houses, over broken walls, in dark cellars. In such fighting some bodies .of troops are necessarily cut off, and must fight to the last to enable others to fall back safely.

THE GERMANS’ CUNNING PLAN HUNS DREADFULLY PUNISHED. BRITISH GET A BREATHING SPELL. Received 8.35. LONDON, Dec 5. Mr Philip Gibbs, continuing his narrative, states that a German battalion at La Vacquerie advanced in dense order without any attempt at concealment. Their ranks withered under our steady fire. We countered repeated attacks westward from Gonnelieu, and the artillery put out of action many guns in Banteaux ravine, where there was a large concentration of German artillery. Some Britishers, who were cut off and prisonered in Friday’s fighting, -have come back. They have been hiding in the enemy’s lines. In one case a party escaped from the German barbed wire enclosure, swam the Canal, and regained their comrades. .It is too soon to claim decisive results, but the anxiety of our defence has lifted perceptibly. To-day the British commanders are breathing more easily. The Germans have struck their heaviest blows and the menace of German success seems to have passed. The enemy’s plan, which was well thought out, was cunning in bringing’ up troops secretly and not launching the attack until our morning patrols had gone their rounds and reported all quiet. But after the first surprise the enemy was punished in a dreadful manner. The grim valour of our men has now broken the assault.