ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 March 1918, Page 6

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

RAIDS AND ATTACKS.

INTENSITY OF BARRAGES.

LONDON, March 4,

Reuter’s correspondent at the Bri- ’ tish Hoadquartdrs jstates: Between ’ St. Quentin and Polygon Wood there ■ wero six enemy attacks. Particular ■ features of the raids were the intensity of the enemy w barrages; the promptitude and volume of our own artillery in repsonse; the almost exclusive use of the rifle for the repulse of the enemy; and the disinclination of picked German troops to press home an attack. The biggest attack was against the Portuguese front of 3000 yards between La Bassee road and Nanqulssart, where a whole enemy battalion assaulted after a whirlwind bombardment. A fierce band-to-band fight occurred, but a dashing Portuguese counter-attack caught the enemy while still at grips in the trenches. o ATTACK ON AUSTRALIANS. LONDON, March 3. Reuter’s Headquarters correspondent says; A raid upon the Australians, preceded by a terrific bombardment, was brilliantly repulsed. The attackers numbered 200. The principal point of attack was a little post. The garrison made a valiant defence, but the enemy carried the post, and passed on to company headquarters* where a counter-attack organised by the platoon commander scattered the Germans During the raid calls in English were made by the raiders,, for help. One came from the commander, who was found dead when the position was restored. Twenty-five enemy corpses were found hanging in the wire.

BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY,

OSTEND BOMBED,

LONDONN, March 3,

The Admiralty reports that aircraft successfully raided seaplane sheds at Ostend. A number of hits were obtained from an altitude of from; 150 to 300 feet. Three direct hits were also made on an aircraft battery in the vicinity.