IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE, ACTIVITY OF AIRCRAFT. Received Oct. 3, 2.30 p.m. London, Oct. 2. Sir John French reports:— There were several German attacks on Wednesday, north-west of Hullueh, and severe fighting was in progress all day. We maintained all our portion, except on the extreme left, where the Germans gained 150 yards of trenches. We have firmly consolidated our position, and hostile counter-attacks have now weakened. The Germans iired a mine on Wednesday afternoon near Hooge, gaining a footing on our front line southward of Menin road, but by counter-attacks on Thursday we recovered all except a small portion of the trench. -*

The situation on the British front on Friday was unchanged. Our aircraft last week were very active. There were seventeen air combats, in only one of which a British machine was worsted. We brought down a Taubc inside our lines on Thursday. Our airmen attacked and damaged the main railway lines at fifteen places, partially wrecked five, probably six, trains, and set on fire the locomotive sheds at Valenciennes. The raid has caused considerable interference witli railway organisation.

PROGRESS CONTINUES. STUBBORN FIGHTING. Received Oct. 3, 2.40 p.m. Paris, Oct. 2. Despite a heavy German bombardment, the French have made perceptible progress on the heights of La Folie. A communique states tli&t a coup de main between Auberive and Epine de Vedeprange has enabled us to capture more machine guns and a number of prisoners. A violent bombardment in the Argonne, north of La Houyette, was effectively stopped by our bomb throwers. The enemy shelled Verdun at long range, which our artillery countered. We cannonaded trains at'the Vigneuilles and Le Shatto Chatel stations, causing two violent explosions. Our dirigibles on Thursday night bombarded the junction of Amagne-Lyguy and the stations of Attigny and Voiiziers. The aircraft returned safely, ARRIVAL OF PRISONERS. Received Oct. 3, 2.40 p.m. London, Oct. 2. A large number of Germans who were captured in the recent offensive have arrived, SCOTS TO THE RESCUE. THE FuE RUN LIKE HARES. Received Oct. 3, 3.30 p.m. Paris, Oct. 2. Le Petit Parisian, describing the British advance, says the sight of a human wave rolling up the summit of a little hill like a wind-swept sea was a .marvellous spectacle. The English behind the hillock debouched on Loos, which was defended by a formidable line of trenches. They were exposed to a terrific fire, and seemed to hesitate. For a moment the position became difficult to hold, until the Scottish regiments executed a rapid turning movement. The Scottish reached a German trench which they occupied and opened an enfilading fire: Then the dance of death began for the, Germans, who fell like Hies, abandoned their trenches, and ran towards Loos like hares.