WESTERN FRONT

Taihape Daily Times, 6 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT

A SUCCESSFUL FRENCH ATTACK. 1066 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received 9.25 a.m. LONDON, July 4. A French, communique reports: Between the Oise and the Aisne we at 730 last evening attacked west of Antreches on a front of two kilometres and advanced about eight hundred metres. A now attack was launched later in the same region between Antreches and Moulin, south of Tovent at the moment when the enemy was preparing to counter- attack us. We were enabled to gain still further ground. Our total advance extends over a front of five kilometres to a depth of twelve hundred metres at some points. We took 1066 unwounded prisoners* GERMANY'S AERIAL LOSSES. LONDON, July 5. ' Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters reports that no fewer than fourteen leading German airmen, wlio were credited with a total of 363 victories, have been killed or captured recently. 'They include' Richtofen and ‘ Lieuts. Mueller and Voil Bulow. German aerial bombing organisations also lost heavily, including Captain Kieine, commander of the .so-called England squadron.

A VLAUABLE ADVANCE

LONDON, July 4. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the 4th, states: The? morning’s operation at Tillers Bretonncaux was carried out by Australians, assisted by tanks, with the object of remedying an awkward indentation in the line north-east of Tillers Bretonncaux, resultnig from ' the German drive in March last, the filling up of which will carry our front in a direct line through Hamel to the Somme. In addition to Hamel village, wo ca,ptttired two small woods to the southward, and pressed up to the high ground South-east of the village, aligning our new front with trenches fronting Tillers Bretonncaux, and puling a new four miles of front on practically a level stretch of ground falling steeply to the river at the northeastward end. It is a very great improvement on the old line. At the same time an advance was made*on the north side of the river between the Somme and the Ancre, thus completing an improvement of our line for nearly five miles. AMERICA'S GREAT PART. WASHINGTON, July 4. General Pershing’s communique states that practically an entire Ger. man regiment was annihilated when Taux was captured. The German counter attack which followed was repulsed. COUNTER ATTACK REPULSED. Received 11.40 a.m. LONDON, July 5. The High Commissioner reports: Sir Douglas Haig reports that on the Somme in yesterday’s operations we took over 1300 prisoners, a German field gun, 100 machine guns, and a number of trench mortars eastward of Hamel. The counter attack was easily repulsed - last night. ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS f OTEE 1000 PRISONERS TAKEN. * Received 10.35 a m. London’ July 5. v Haig reports, that this south of the Somme a com-

pletely successful operation was carried out by the Australians, assisted by some detachments of Americans, Supported by tanks. Our objectives were taken and held. Wo gained possession of the woods of Vaire and Hamil and the village of Hamil. In conjunction with this operation the Australians attacked Yille-sur-An£re, and completely succeeded. Our lines were advanced for five hundred yards on a twelve hundred yards front. ''captured ,iu these operations exceed one thousand. Many machine guns and other material were also secured. AVIATION EFFORT. Received 10.35 a,m. LONDON, July 5 Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report says the weather is cloudy and the enemy’s .activity was slight during thp day. Last night we' dropped 16 tons of bombs On the railway junction at Lille, Courtrai and elsewhere. All machines, returned. ' ’ ’ | THE BATTLE BEFORE .AMIENS GERMANS TERRIFIED. Received 10 44 a.m. LONDON, July 5. The United Press correspondent says ’the battle at daybreak eastward of Amiens is destined to occupy a special place in history. Not only have we signally defeated the enemy, but taken fifteen hundred prisoners and reached all our objectives with exceedingly few losses to the attackers. Absolutely no artillery fire proceeded the attack, but two minutes before the troops went over the British guns began. 1 the bombardment of German front ' and support linos. When the smoke screen ; covered the battle front from Ancre L to Luce, suddenly' in centre -a' large [ number of tanks', which had been ;sc-. ■ cretly brought up, , emerged from the smoke, the enemy was so i that he scarcely fought, many holding ; up their hands and beginning to sur- . render. Behind the tanks came the Australians, moving towards Hamel Village, Vaire, Wood, and Hamel Wood. In a short time every objective was gained, and the village, woods, and trenches |peyond fell into the Allied hands. Three German divisions lost heavily. Local operations between the Somme and the Ancre kept the enemy guessing, and enabled us to improve the situation. Prisoners admit they were totally surprised and spent the night in cellars and.; dugouts dodging the British bombs from aeroplanes, which circled all night over them, dropping scores of twenty-five pound bombs on Hamel.