The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

J FRENCH SUCCESSES. ' JETS OF BURNING LIQUID. Received July 19, 8.5 p.m. Paris, July 19. A communique reports sharp 'actions on the heights of the Mouse. We reeai>tured the trench section which the eneniv occupied on Saturday. Upon the rid '<< of the southern slope of the Souvauk ravine v.e repulsed a fresh German attack, which was accompanied bv jets of burning liquids, and we inflicted very heavy losses, capturing over two hundred prisoners.

/ KITCHENER'S ARMY. A MAGNIFICENT BODY OF MEN. Received July 19, 10 p.m. 1 London, Julv 19. Mr. Phillip Gibbs, writing to the Daily Chronicle from British headquarters, quotes a sergeant-major's opinion of Kitchener's Army in France. Hesavs they are a very cheerful lot of men. When they entered the recruiting ollices some were overtrained, having been working hard for ten months. Now von could not find a better regiment. "You'll find plenty of hotheads, but not cold feet," says the correspondent. Mr, Gibbs adds that the new armv received its baptism of fire by being 1-d into the danger zone by easy sta«os. The regular officers say they have nev-r seen soldiers of finer physique and stouter qualities.

IN THE VOSCES. THE FIGHT FOR HILL 027. T . . . Paris, July R i lute I'tench eye-witness, writing of the fighting in the Vosges. describes the attack on Hill 027. dominating the region I oiitenellc-Luumois. The Germans, by saps and exploding powerful mines, approached to within twenty metres of our position. The hill was then assaulted at a cost of very heavy losses. The Germans succeeded in establishing themselves on the summit on June 22. The Germans endeavored to transform it into an impregnable fortress.

French preparations for its recapture were complete! „n July 3, when three columns, supported by numerous artillery, scaled the height and carried it. In two days' lighting the whole garrison and tw o 'battalions of the sth Bavarian Ersatz Brigade Wiere killed or taken prisoner. Thanks to the rapiditv of our movements, the French losses were barely a quarter those of the Germans. The principal attack against the centre of the hill was successful in less than ten minutes. The chief credit is due to the, artillerv.

The prisoners are all suffering from nenous shock due to the bombardment, and expressed horror at the shelling, in which the exposed German defence was practically wiped out. Though composed of five lines of trenches and dug-outs, extremely deep, and flanking works, we could luive enfiladed the position if we could have got a foothold. The works were protected by trunks of trees, while eoi rugate J iron ami gunshields formed the embrasures.

FIELD-MARSHAL'S REPORT. I*l fK i:\K\l\ Ai.'TIVK. London. July, 18. Sir John l-ioncli rtport>: "Tile situation is unchanged jiuee .Inly !), though considerable activity has been shown liv tne enemy and ourselves springing several mine-. Our front has also" been subjected to a heavy bombardment at ■various place-. Tile enemy, on the 10th, developed a small attack north of Ypre*, and gained a footing in the front line. Our local support immediately recaptured what v;ainst. The enemy, on the I.lth, rushed an advance post on the Ypres-Menin road, but were driven out immediately. Further north, the same night, v.e lost, a trench held 'by one' company, hut bombing parties drove out the Germans and rencctipied it. A feature of the incident was tile German employment of many gas -.hell-. ri:i:\i n nmi lAI, KKI>i>I;V. i'ari-. .lull- is. 1; ' : ' iiei i j!■ f,i i:tr\ act ion ih ' ~ 1 ;I "i r . I i" t b-rnians made a Ve.ih nt 1,, i (lie "111- jncil'l.ll. from the on L!>i h. >,,!!! ■ yf : ;Jrw:ii>-