WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

P _ HUN BARBARITY. BRITISH OFFICER TORTURED. J (P.euter Service.) j London, July 13. Hoiul'itiarlors tells the story of the shamefi'l conduct of Germans on the Soir.me. When a wounded English officer was brought to a Herman trench the uopular ilea was to dispatch him forthwith, hut ultimately the suggestion of two officers was adopted. The helpless officer was hoisted and tied to the parapet. amidst jeers, and informed, "Xow see what your cursed bombardment is like." The Germans descended to a dugout, where the correspondent believed they were bombed to extinction by the 'British infantry, who stormed the place and rescued the Britisli officer. GENERAL HAIG'S REPORT. Wellington, July 14. The High Commissioner reports under date London, July 13 (3.45 p.m.):— General Haig reports heavy artillery fighting at various points, withput change of situation. West of Wytschaete and southwards of La Bassee Canal attempted enemy raids svere stopped. Despite unfavorable weather, our aeroplanes are constantly working. Hostile machines over the German lilies have been driven off. One of our machines is missing.

OVERSEAS FORCES. FORM WAVE OF ATTACK. London, July 13. The Daily News, describing the fightino- at Mametz, Contalmaison and Ovillers, says the overseas troops engaged formed the wave of the, attack on tlie most formidable section of the whole German front. GERMAN REPORT, London. July 13. A Gorman communique says:— • North of the Somme the English succeeded in faking Contalmaison. South ot the Somnie the French did not meet success. Attacks on both sides of Barleux and west of Estrees were driven back wilii sanguinary losses. The artillery was active east of the Meuse, and infantry positions won were consolidated. General Bothmer, by an encircling counter-attack, north of Olesiza and north-west qf Buczacz, drove back the Russians. : ~ BATTLE OF THE WOODS. AND ITS RESULTS. A KIOHT OF HORROR. PUFCEI'.ES CAPTURE OF CONTALMAISON. lUcsivi-d July 14, 2.50 p.m. London, July 13. Mr. Philip Gibbs says that the battle cf tl e woods raged round Contalmaison, tl-.o fliit-f characteristic of which was our determined effort to take hold of the copses and small forests octween the first and recond German lines. Our suceF-i at Contalmaison Was largely due to progress made in the attacks on the woods to the right and left, nicknamed the Bailiff Wood and Pearl Abbey. The four attacking columns stumbled over bags, rifles, bombs, and machine guns, which '.vere covered by the maddy slime. Both luck and weather were agiinst these gallant battalions. Despite the enfilading machine-gun fire from Bailiff and MaiTidx Woods, they penetrated deeply into Contalmaison, but were compelled to withdraw until a suplementary attack gave them the opportunity to complete the occupation. Mametz Wood becamo a plaee of terror on Monday, the Germans crouching on gnarled roots with bomb* and inj.ehine-guns, while our guns were progressively liarrugiitg. Waves of high explosives ,mv< ■ forward, the infantry following in sr , sharp rushes. In their eagerness to ad,,nice they went too far. The horrible chatter of the machine-guns throughout the darkness made the night one that our men may we'l look bai.k upon throughout a lifetime, with wonderment that they lived to see the dawn. A general says the infnntiy, at daybreak, went across magnificently, und within two hours occupied the whole of Contalmaison, and in their fitvee hatred, by hand fighting, killed two hundred Germans who refused to surrender.

AN APPRECIABLE ADVANCE. GERMANS PRESSED. ARTILLERY captured. Received July 14, G.S p.m. London, July 13. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: By sharp infantry fighting we appreciably advanced at various points. The artillery on both sides lias been active. We not only maintained our pressure on tlie enemy, but appreciably advanced. We captured some howitzers in one sector, which will be used against the enemy later. GERMAN MESSAGE TO AMERICA. I'IEKCENESS AND BITTERNESS INCREASING. ALLIES DRIVING FORWARD. Received July 14, 8.25 p.m. Berlin, July 1 (• Dr. Jlaxosborn, of the Vossiche Zeitung, in a special cable to the New York Times, says that the fierceness and bitterness is increasing, and has a counterpart only in the horrors of Verdun. Thi* England cannot be reproached for holding back men: they are driving forward in vast and continuous masses and ever fresh waves. The French soutli of tlie Somme are attempting an almost continuous chain of drives, but tlie enemy found our infantry ims'hakea'Ble. The Allies' charges liave still great power and tenacity.