UN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1915, Page 5

UN THE WEST.

BATTLE OF TAHURE. AN IMPORTANT POSITION. Keeeiveri Oct. ?, 8.55 p.m. London, Oct. 7. The Daily Chronich states that the capture of Tahure and the hill immediately north of it, called the Butte of flahure, is an important development. It also states that the- plateau of Massiges is completely capturedy and SouTain and Perthes cleared of the enemy. ! On the west the Germans still h. I Auberive, but have loit Matiques Farm. On the east they presumably hold the hills south of Dormoise valley. The capture of threatens them on both sides. The French took the village with compa-atiw ease before nightfall. They crossed the Donnoise, and the men clambered up the sharp slope despite a brisk fire, and finally established themselves on the summit t bree hundred feet high. The Butte of Tahure commands the valleys and lower hills for some distance on either side Whether the artillery commands the P&lanc>urt-£hallenge railway is not clear, as a wooded hillside ig between, but it is certain that the railway is threatened, and also three tunnels. GREAT WORK OF "THE NAUGHTY BOYS."

Receied Oct; 8, 11.20 p.m. Paris, Oct. 8. .Ae famous African Dattalion known is ''The Naughty Boys," which is composed of ex-prisoners, led the assault at Tabure. They sprang forward a few seconds after the artillery ceased, found the barbed entanglements broken down, and met a cruel rifle and machine-gun fire. , Despite their losses they never faltered, and when once at grips with the foe they speedily finished off an entire German battalion. "The Naughty Boys" are mentioned in the orders of the day. Thousands of the enemy were buried in the ruins of the village and the trenches. The majority of the prisoners state that they were in abject terror, and many went mad with relief when captured. Some were found chained to tbe broken machine-guns in the galleries. The French pushed their infantry attacks on both sides of the German position until they commanded Tahure and the Butte de Tahure on three sides. The artillery were able to pave the way for the final itsaults, and there are now only the lower hills and some wooded country between the Butte de Tahure and the coveted supply railway. CAUGHT LIKE RATS IN A TRAP. General von . Heringen immediately Tealised the seriousness of the disaster, and initiated a series of furious onslaughts, carried out in massed formation. The3e broke before the withering French artillery and machine-gun fire, as did furious counter-attacks on Navarin farm. The desperate struggle for the German second line proves that the Germans cannot be driven out of France at a single stroke Nevertheless, though it is a slow business extracting the Germans from their bombproof shelters, which are sometimes thirty feet deep, the very perfection of their trenches »ften turns to the disadvantage of the defenders. Many were caught like rats in a trap, the dash of the French infantry being so impetuous that the Germans had no time to get out of their dugouts.

GENERAI JOFFRE'S PLANS. Received Oct. S, 11.53 p.m. London, Oct. 8. The public are now realising that General Joffre does ret inttud a general assault, but instird is attacking at selected points, which wil ; disorganise the enemy's line and finely result in a strategic piercv;.' General Joffre has brought up many batteries of new and heavy artillerj, and lias accumulated many millions c! shell.; All transport nas been speedou up :r. order to ensure sufficient amnv.nition. Finally, the armies destined for the attack have been cured of trench ftaleness by leave and steady drillin?.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. The High Commissioner reports under date London, Oct. 7, 5.15 p.m.:— A violent en'.my bombardment took place in the course of the night along the whole front. North of Lescarpe, four successive counter attacks against positions reeecly captured by the French were completely repulsed. In the Champagne, thr Germans, at the end of a day of obstinate counter attacks against position* they had just lost, north of Tahuie were everywhere repulsed. Enemy losses were very heavy. As Eperges, th? French exploded two mines, seriously damaging enemy works. In Lorraine, a strong enemy reeonnoiseance tried to reach the French trenches at Atbienville, tut wa? stopped by wire entanglements, and repulsed by * curtain of shell! and infantry fir*.

A KICK-OFF. BATTLEFIELD HEROES. Received. Oct. 3, 10.10 p.m. London, Oct. 8. Mr. Perry, a Free Church chaplain, writes that eve r y man was a hero in the battle on September 25th. One officer had a football upon which the names of the-platoon wele written. Getting on. top of a parapet he kicked off, crying "Follow up, lads.'' The officer was immediately shot down, tut the men won the position.