IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

FINE BRITISH RUSH. CAPTURE CHAIN OF CRATERS. ASSAULT ON VIMY HEIGHTS. NARRATIVE OF DASH AND COURAGE. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Mav 20. Mr. Philip Gibbs, in the Daily Chronicle, gives a vivid account of the storming of the Vimy craters, which are five miles north-east of Arras, where the British recently seized 250 yards of the enemy's forward line. This was the scene of desperate assaults on La Polie farm in 1915, when the French just failed to capture Hossback, dominating the plain. T%e loss of every yard here h important, ihecause it gives a wider field to German observation, and to the lire of their new field and machine-guns. The assault of the Lancashire Fusiliers was so successful that they gained even more than the 250 yards claimed in the official despatch, and they really gained 360 yards.

Tile Lancashires' prime objective was a series of craters forming a formidable outpost, manned by machine-guns. For a fortnight we drove forward elaborate mine galleries and put in huge charges of explosives. One group of mines was exploded under the craters with a terrific roar, burying machine-guns. Then there was a second wild upheaval. Immediately two lieutenants sprang out from their trenches and the Lancashires followed, with working parties carrying sand-bags and entrenching tools. The Germans were thrown into utter confusion, and the explosions killed and mangled many. There were cheer 3 from the attackers, and a flood of scarlet light from the flares flung skywards mingled with the green. rockets which the. Germans sent up a s signals of distress and added to the horror. But it was too late to Btop the atackers. The lieutenants were killed, and non-coms, took over the command. Two hours later the whole chain of craters was held. The screams of the buried and mutilated Germans were so terrible, and affected the British to such an extent, that at the heat of the fight the British cried, "We will cease fire if you will, in order to let you recover your wounded." The cry was repeated and the British were waiting in silenee when the Germans answered with a shower of bombs. Most bitter fighting was continued all night, the imprisoned Germans continuing to scream for help. By daybreak the Lancashires were pioperly dug in and communication trenches were established. Since then there have been most serious counterattacks. .The Germans re-captured at least one crater, but we secured an important apex, which we are determined to hold.

GERMAN ADVANCE FAILS, v TWO FORCES THROWN BACK. FRENCH CAPTURE A FORT. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. London, May 20. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent reports that fifteen thousand Germans on Thursday advanced on a front of a mile and a quarter on 'both sides of Hill 287, and retired only when hundreds had been shot down. Later a fresh fifteen thousand advanced repeatedly and desperately, but they only captured a small field work. When the F'ench captured a fort on the northeastern slope of Hill 304 the first wave was stopped twenty yards from the ,w'ork, the second gained the parapet, and I the third overwhelmed the trenches. The French found 450 dead, and they captured machine-guns, mortars, rifles, and bombs. THE FRENCH FRONT. THE ENEMY THROWN BACK. VIOLENT ATTACK FAILS. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. Paris, May 10. An official communication states that the enemy was thrown back in attempting to penetrate a small salient at St. Hubert, in the Argonne. The Germans renewed a violent attack from Avoconrt •wood and westward of Hill 304, by means of large forces belonging to two newly-arrived divisions, but the attack was frustrated. Nevertheless the enemy carried a small work southward of Hill 287. Several attempts to extend their progress there were stopped. An attempt to recapture the fort taken on Thursday on the north-eastern slope of Hill 304 failed. A French aeroplane brought down a German machine at St. Menehould.

REPORT FROM GERMANY. CLAIMS CAPTURE OF TRENCHES. 'Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, May 19. A German communique says: We captured trenches on "both sides of the Hau-ccurt-Esnes road to a height southward of the Camaro Wood. A French attack on Hill 304 collapsed with considerable lof.ses. Boehlke brought down his sixteenth aeroplane southward of Upont. GERMAN CONCENTRATION. AGAINST BRITISH I.tNE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, May 10. A press message reports large Germnn concentrations on the British front. Twenty thousand fresh troops have been sent to La Besaee. The greatest activity um begun at Xnrtit and Lens,

AIR AND LAND ACTIONS. SUCCESS OF FRENCH AVIATORS. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. HIGH umiiIiSSIONER'S 'REPORT. Wellington, May 20. The High Commisisoiier reports from London, under date May 10, 3.2S p.m.:— In the western Argonne the enemy, following a mine explosion, attempted to penetrate a small salient forming the line near St. Hubert. Our curtain of fire stopped them and threw them 'back into their trenches.

On the left bank of the Meusc yesterday the Germans renewed their attacks in the region of Avocourt Wood and Hill 304. These were extremely violent attacks and were carried out by a large number of effectives, apparently two newly-arrived divisions, but they were uiiable to dislodge the French from Avocourt Wood and the positions west of Hill 304. In the centre, however, the enemy o'btained possession of a small earthwork. South of Ifill 287 several attempts by the enemy to increase progress at this point were arrested by our fire. On the slopes north-east of Hill 304 an enemy attempt to take the small fort captured yesterday completely failed.

On the right hank of the Meusc and in the Woevre there is moderate artillery activity. On Thursday night some enemy aeroplanes dropped three bombs on Gerardmer with insignificant material damage. A German aeroplane was forced to descend yesterday near St. Menehould and three enemy aviators were made prisoner. Sub-Lieutenant Navarre brought down his tenth aeroplane, the' German machine crashing to earth near Bolak, in the Argonne. Wellington, Last Night.

The High Commissioner reports from London under date May 20, 10.5 p.m.:— In Belgium some enemy groups sought to cross the Yser Canal between Steenstaate and Hetsaa, but were stopped by cur infantry and artillery fire. In the Champagne the Germans made a great emission of gas on our front near Sommpy. The attack was arrested by our curtain fire immediately and spoilt the enemy, who were unable to launch the attack they had prepared.

West of the Meuse there was a violent bombardment in the course of the night on our positions Jietween the Avocourt Wood and Mort 'Homme. There was no infantry attack. In the Vosges a coup de main on our small posts at Linge failed. Yesterday evening Sub-Lieutenant Navarre brought down ihis eleventh German aeroplane, the machine falling into our lines at Cattancourt. Two enemy aviators were made prisoners. Another German aeroplane was attacked iby SubLieutenant Nimgsser, and it crashed to the ground in the Forges Wood. This makes the fifth machine downed by this aviator. Three other German machines, which were attacked 'by our aviators, fell vertically in their own lines.

German aeroplanes during the night dropped a number of bombs on Dunkirk. One woman was killed and twenty-seven people were wounded. At Bergue's five were kiled and eleven injured. A French squadron immediately bombarded enemy cantonments at Wyfweg, Zaren and Handzaeme. A Belgian squadron bombarded the centre aerodrome at Chisteles, most of the shells reaching the mark.

FRENCH PENETRATE GERMAN LINES. GERMANS RETREAT IN DISORDER. Received May 21, 11.20 p.m. Paris, May 21. A communique says: A coup de main enabled us to penetrate the enemy's lines north-west of Ville-sur-Tourbe. The occupants of the trench were killed or taken prisoner. The Germans, after an extremely violent bombardment, launched a widespread attack on the whole of the Mort Homme region. They momentarily entered our first line to the eastward, but they were driven out with heavy loss. After a Beries of deadly and fruitless assaults westward and on the northern slopes of Mort Homme the Germans occupied some elements of an advanced trench. Some contingents reached the second line and were caught by a violent fire from our guns. They retreated in disorder, leaving numerous dead. RAID ON BRITISH FAILS.

VIMY CRATER RECAPTURED. Received May 21, 11.20 p.m. London, May 21. Sir 'Douglas Haig reports: The enemy on Friday night raided our line southwest of Loos and entered our first trenches, but they were driven out immediately. The enemy's attempt to rush a post westward of Wieltje was frustrated. The North Lancashire Fusiliers recaptured the crater lost on the Vimy ridge on the ISth. We blew up a mine in the Hulluch sector and occupied the crater.

GERMAN VENTURES FAIL BOMBS ON BELGIAN TOWNS. •REPRISAL Ob' MILITARY VALUE. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. (Paris, May 20. A communique says: The enemy tried to cross the Yser Canal, between Steenstraate and Hetsas, but failed. The Germans, in the Champagne, discharged large gas clouds near the Souain-Sommpy road, but our fire prevented the infantry attacking. Lieut. Navarre downed an aeroplane on Thursday at Chattancourt. He downed another machine yesterday.. SubLieutenant Mungesser has downed his fifth aeroplanes. Artillery downed three machines in the Germna lines. German aeroplanes bombed Dunkirk and Bergues. A woman was killed and twenty-seven people were wounded at Dunkirk, and five were killed and eleven wounded at Bergues. A Franco-Belgian squadron immediately made si reprisal by successfully bombarding German canitnamentt In Flandqifc