WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

, A TURNING MOVEMENT. FRENCH XEARIXG MAUREPAS. VILLAGERS PROTECTING TREXCHE< Received August IS, 9.5 p.m. London, August IS. The Times' correspondent at Pari: states that one object of Tlnirsdav\ French operations was to cut throiigl Guillemont ami the Manrepas road, ii order to enable the British to tun Guillemont from the south and enabh the French to encircle Maurepas fron the north. The preliminary bombard ment began on Sunday, the Germain fiercely replying. The French were equally suecessfu smith of Maurepos, and are steadily near ing the village. The forest in the centre of the Maure pas plateau, south of the Sommi-, pre se-its difficulties. South of the Belloj plateau, as far as Chauines, are return hi ted defences of the main position, i The villagers at Carbonnel, on tin Paris-Bethune road, are protecting tin trenches carried by the troops. DETERMINED ENEMY ATTACKS. SIX TIMES REPULSED. VERY HEAVY LOSSES IXFLICTED. Reuter Service. Received August IS, 9 p.m. London. August 18. General Sir Douglas Haig reports thai the enemy made most determined counter-attacks with large forces on a broad front last right. Six times tlu German infantry advanced, but were compelled to withdraw after suffering the heaviest losses, our guns doing great execution. The enemy in no case succeeded in entering our lines. The enemy's counterattack to-day, from Martinpuieh, was repulsed. SIX WEEKS RAIDING. BOMBARDMENTS AND GAS ATTACKS BOTH SIDES SUFFER. ENEMY HAS THE WORST OF IT. Received Augus't IS, 9.10 p.m. London, August 17. Mr. Tihilip Gibbs states that while Pieardy is absorbing attention, our northern line is not having a quiet time, During the last six weeks there has hardly been a single night without raiding a flairs. Round Ypres. Ilohenzollern, Givenchy, and Xeuve Chapelle been brief but bloody visits towards the enemy. The artillery on both sides has been accelerated at some parts, especially those opposing in the ]<emmel district, which is held by the Canadians The enemy seems to have withdrawn the heavy guns and replaced them with quick-firing mortars, whii-h hammered our trenches with llory rage, but oui mortars, which were heavier, imniediatelj retaliated. The enemy's longe-rangt guns also sliciled the villages far behind our lines, killing civilians. The enemy must have suffered heavily in this northern sector. Oui artillery daily keeps a steady and continuous fire, smashing the entanglements and laying the parapets flat. It has been six weeks of bombardment, raids, and poison gas attacks. The enemy had the worst of it, though it has been pretty bad for us, too. The Australians and Canadians share in the raids with the Britishers. AIR RAID ON ST. QUE^IN. DISASTROUS EFFECTS. FRENCH MUNITIONS OUTPUT. Received August 18, 11.50 p.m. Paris, August IS. A German prisoner gives details of the British aeroplane raid on Saint Quentin at the end of July. While two battalions were awaiting entrainment, the aviators' bombs fell on an ammunition shed causing a terrible explosion. Sixty wagons, which were lying at the station, became ignited and also exploded, destroying the soldiers' train. The battalions became panic stricken and lied, 180 being killed and wounded. The French shell output is eighty times greater than at the beginning of the war, whije the rifles have increased 2!I0 times, machine-guns 136, and guns 90 times. GERMAN REPORT. London, August 17. A German communique says: Aftei strong English attacks from Ovillers and Pozieres to west of Fouveaux Wood had been repulsed, the French attacked fron Guillemont to the iSomme and were also repulsed. Portions of the encmj west of the Fouveaux Wood and south of Maurepas, but were driven out witl: heavy losses. XJie French obtained £ foothold in our first line lor 500 metre; at Belloy. An' enemy attack at Chapitre Wooc w'as suppressed. Ferce Russian night attacks were repulsed west of Zalscze. The enemy ad vances north of the Dniester were fruitless. The Bulgarians drove back the enemj at- Dologcle. NAVALS REINFORCE GERMAN <" TROOPS. Received August IS, 9.10 p.m. London, August 18. The Morning Post states that the pri sonera taken during the Somme fighting include some naval men who participat ed in the Jutland, battle. They \ver< westward as a naval brigade.

, GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. BRITISH OFFENSIVE WELCOMED. London, August. 17. Forty troop trains 'are reported t< have passed Cologne for the Soman front. Washington, August. IG. The New York Times' Berlin corre spomleut, who interviewed the Gcrmai commander-in-chief m the Somme, repre seuts him as saying: "I hope the Brit ish offensive will continue. I have sever al hamlets which ] will gladly saeriiici i for the loss of 20,000 British each." The Times says there is reason to be lieve this mysterious German commander in-chief on the Somme is Mackensen. : BRITISH CAPTURE MORE TRENCHES Received August 18, 7.20 p.m. London, August 17. General Sir Douglas Ilaig reports: Northwards of Bazentin we captured 10C jards of trenches. AN ATTACK SUPPRESSED. London, August 17, Sir Dougins Haig reports: We stopped the enemy attack east of Mouquet Far;,:! We exploded a mine east of Vimy and occupied the crater, REPARATION FOR BRUTALITIES, IParis, August 17. The press has approved Mr. Asquitli's proposal that the Allies demand reparation for German brutalities. SUPERIORITY OF FRENCH ARTILLERY, « Paris, August 17. The Petit Parisien says that the French successes on the Somme on Wednesday were not a surprise to the Germans. who were fully aware that an attack was imminent after the two days' bombardment, but the German artillery was no match for the French. The French losses were not heavy. The Germans still hold Guillemont and a, portion of Maurepas, thanks to the proximity of Combles, which is a veritable fortress.