WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

CONSOLIDATING GAINS. SIXTEEN FUTILE ATTACKS, GERMANS HIDING THE TRUTH. CASUALTY LISTS REFLECT LOSSES. London, August 2. The Allies are largely occupied in consolidating their gains. The intense heat is not interfering with the methodical progress of .Sir Douglas Haig's forces and plans. Since Sunday the Germans have made in attacks on the French between Hem Wood and the Sonime, but without result. The renewal of the useless attacks at Verdun reveal the poverty of'the German military schemes. Their chief endeavor seems to he to keep the truth from their own people. The Prrssian official lists are beginning to reflect the losses on the Sonime. Whereas the previous ten lists contained 27,07'5 names, the latest eight lists contain 42,4(15, being higher than the worst weeks at Verdun. The General Staff arc making most desperate efforts to keep up the reinforcements, German convalescents being sent to the front immeditaely they are regarded as fit. These unhappy men are placed in the front line directly they return in order to conserve the unwounded men. THE GERMAN THIRD LINE. HILATEE BELLOC'S VIEWS. London, August 2. Mr. Hilaire Belloc writes:—The great point of interest now is the fate of the German third line trench system, which has been cut below the summit of the plateau in order that it can only be icached by indirect high-angled fire. The line runs through Mnrtinpuicb straight to Flors, about a mile in advance of the present British line. When the offensive began it consisted of a single continuous trench, but the enemy had a month in which to increase the fortifications. I REMARKABLE REPORT. GERMAN SNEERS AND ARGUMENTS. London, August 3. A Berlin communique states: —Since the beginning of the Anglo-French offensive on the Somme, which the English call "the great sweep," a month has passed. It is true the Allies have obtained a curve on the German front line for 2S kilometres, with an average depth of four kilometres, hut after their experiences on July 1!). 22, 24 and 30, they do not assert that the German line was then shaken at any point. The achievement cost the English 2:10,0(10 men. There is no reliable basis for estimating the French losses, but the total Anglo[•rencii losses must be 350.000. On the wing . the enemy made slow progress. We have had ample time to construct, behind the present lines, positions identical with those we have lost. PROGRESS CONTINUES. GERMANS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. ; ; Received July 4, 8.15 p.m. ! London, August 3. Geneva! Sir Douglas Haig reports: We gained ground by bombing northwards !of Bazeniin-le-Petit. A G?rman attack at F.elvillc Wood was repulsed with heavy losses. Our artillery forced the garrison from a strong point between Fozieros and Thiepval. Our guns also caused a big explosion at Coureelette. '.here was artillery activity elsewhere. FLEURY OCCUPIED, '.OS? GROUND REGAINED, I Received August 4, 8.10 p.m. i Paris, August 3. A communique slates: By successive . attacks we captured all the trenches be- ■ tween south-east of Thiaumont and I Vill 320 and have completely occupied , Floury,, prisonering CSO, making 175(1 [ here •since Tuesday. We also regained ljost of the ground lost at Che.uois. ANZAC OFFICERS. [ A MARK FOR GERMAN SNIPERS. 1 AUSTRALIANS NOT FAVORED OR FEARED BY BAVARIANS. Received August 4, 10.30 p.m. Rotterdam, August 4. i The Buhner Tapleblatt's correspondent admits that sharpshooters have been ' specially placed in the breastworks tc lick off Anzae officers, end adds, "We won't sir; anything against the Austral avians. They are strong fellows, but . \e don't liki their faces or eyes. Thej 0 nre not the kind of people who appea tc us. They may he good nmrksmer and fearful fighters, but not a single , !'ir :.rian fears them.'' '! ARTILLERY DUEL ON BELGIAN c - FRONT-. ,1 r , London, August 3. The' Havre's Agency publishes a Bel . gian communique which states that the i. artillery duel continues on the Belgiai . front, especially north of Dixinude, FRENCH REACH FLEURY. j , Paris, August 3. t A communique says: We substantially progressed southward of Floury, reiicbinj , he outskirts of the village.

MORE GERMAN TYRANNY. l j BELGIANS COERCED. RUSSIAN PRISONERS FORCED TO CONSTRUCT TRENCHES. Received August 4, G p.ni^ London, Ausust 3. The Telegraaf states that the Germans are starving the Belgian workmen who refuse to work on the railways and that thousands of Russian prisoners who have been brought into the Sonime region are being forced to construct trenches there. ' I THE GERMAN SLAVE RAID. x'ELLOW BOOK DISCLOSURES. A TERRIBLE RECORD. Times Service. Roc ived August 4, S.lO p.m. . London, August 3. | The Yellow Book issued relative to the f slave raid in the the north of France j d'scloses that the German authorities in ( April issued an appeal for agricultural labor, but the meagre response resulted , in an order for wholesale deportation, excepting young children, mothers and dd men. An hour and a half's warning ■ was given, and a clerical and civil protest was disregarded. A bishop went to the general in command, who told him to be quiet and get out. The laboring classes mostly suffered, from twenty to thirty per cent, of the women being taken. Some of the parents lost their reason when they saw their daughters taken by vote. German officers aelmitted that nothing ' could cleanse the German flag, from this" latest foul stain. I The splendid spirit of the victims I was the outstanding feature. They ' defiantly shouted "Vive la France," and ' s.-ng the "Marseillaise." The deportees are employed in digging roads, mending trenches, and in making munitions. The worst feature is that women are employed as cooks for the German troops, and as servants to the e.flicers. Other deportees are working ; on the railways, at factories and mines '• f-'.r inhuman hours. Tiny are not paid, ,1 and are liable to flogging. Some were < sent to the mines and factories in Phinelanel and Westphalia, while a large num- ' ber of the civilians who were interned ' s'nee the outbreak of the wat are work- ' ing immediately behind the German '■ I ne s in France. GERMAN VERSION OF EVENTS. London, August 3. A German communique says: Between the Anere and the Soinme our curtain of fire checked the enemy. Heavy English attacks broke down astride the Albert-'. Bapanme road ami cast of Irenes. r The French made seven attack? between Maurepas and the Sommc, out. 1 only succeeeled in penetrating Monaen farm. The French advance was repulsed at Barleux and Estrees. ; The enemy on the right of the Mcuse . got a footing on Pepper Ridge and the front trenches south-west of Flcury. The I enemy was heavily repulsed at ThiauI mont and south-east of Floury i