IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

BEFORE SUNRISE. •THE SLAUGHTER AT HOOGE. VIVID ACCOSTS. ' Re eived August 12, 9.40 p.m. London, August 12. • Mr. Hiilip Gibbs. the correspondent of the Daiiy Chronicle, says that the Oerman» hasve not yet made a serious coun-ter-attack at Hooge. Our artillery destroyed ten machine-guns during the {rfel'tninarj' bombardment. In spite of the destructive effect or" our shell fire, the <!erm;ui- »ln. -urvivtd the ordeal fought (!jr-"-"'d'v. There was some hand to hard fighting literally, for some of our 'o'.diers u=ed their fists to give the V-kx-W-out. When daylight came many C.en:>.i;i dead lay among the wreckage of the trenches and dug-outs. The Cerman batteries were prodigal in their expenditure of shells, hut we managed to straighten our line and consolidate without serous loss. Hooge is likely to become prominent in despatches, for it is a point where there has been continual nagging on both sides, and Hooge is not what soldiers call a health re- ' 6ort. Reuters a count says that after our initial charge there was some hot bayonet work in the trenches. The scene at dayPght was weird; dim forms swaying al>out, slabbing, shouting and swearing; fleeing Orfans and pursuing Tommies., amidst an incessant din. Our bursting shells which pitched in the enemy's reserve trenches prevented him bringing up his reinforcements. The c-ries of the wounded and the moans of the dying were awful, but as the sun rose the fighting died down. SOME LIVELY WORK. FRENCH REPORT. Received August 12. 9.30 p.m. Paris, August 12. Ofticial: The bombardment in the Argonnc has redoubled in intensity. There U a large use of asphyxiating shells. A violent Gcrninn attack followed at dawn, and at least three German regiments advanced on our positions at Jlinarvillc Road, Vienne le Chateau, and Souyctte ravines, and on the Bouyette ravine. The Germans in the centre of this sector penetrated our position. but were driven out by a counter-at-tack; retnininj; a part of the first line of treitehes. We made prisoner a number of Wurtemburgers. Further east, towards Fontaine an Acharmese. the enemy launched an attaolc, which was completely repulsed