WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. "THE BIGGEST, GRANDEST, MOST INTENSE." GERMAN LINE TORN TO PIECES. Times Service, -.reived August 24, 5.30 p.m. London, August 25. A correspondent at iieadqaurters describes the British bombardment at south Tbiepval as the biggest, grandest and most intense of the war. . Countless guns were concentrated on a few acres, and shells burst with the most wonderful accuracy, tearing the German line into chaos. When the British attacked it seemed impossible they could win across the blasted area, Tart they crossed with i.small losses because the Germans were unable to oppose them after the whirlwind of artillery had reached the German position*Amid dense clouds of smoke fumes such of the enemy who were not bayonetted or shot scampered to our lines, with hands up, staggering, stumblingami falling in their anxiety to escape from the shell-ridden Jiell. The guns still bombarded uninterruptedly over the attacking troops on to the German second line. When our troops attacked the second line the guns [Shelled the rear linos and supporting trendies. Clouds of smoke, descended and blotted out the horrible yet glorious scene. It was a most important operation and immensely successful. A strong German corner salient, including the Leipsiz redoubt, i s .now part of our general position. Our losse were incredibly small, being under one hundred, whilst the enemy's were ten-fold.

ONWARD, EVER ONWARD! PROGRESS SLOW BUT STEADY, Received August 25, 8.25 p.m London, August 25. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wa advanced 300 yards southward of Thipval, capturing 400 yards of trenches and many prisoners. Bombing attacks on our trenches northward of Bazentin-le-Petit were easily repulsed. THE LEIPSIO REDOUBT, 'BRITISH PLUCK PREVAILS

A STIRRING STORY, < Received August 25, 5.15 p.m. London, August 24. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes that the successful advance south of the Leipsts redoubt was due mainly to the gallant work of the territorials attacking the maze of trenches on Friday, which thev carried. The assault has linked up the redoubt itself, allowing thorn a closer grip on the throat of the Thiepval garrison. It was a grim bit of work quickly done. There were few casualties. A large group of Germans tried to escape and plunged straight into the heavy fire of our guns and disappeared. Our bombardment also caught the enemy during the relief, thus capturing a double garrison in the trench. An ex-waiter of the Savoy Hotel, London, captured, declared he was thoroughly sick of the war. They had just came from Verdun, which was heaven compared to the Picardy battlefield, THRILLING EPISODE, One of the most thrilling episodes of the attack was when the Warwicks were blocked at the stream by enemy machine-gun fire. The men lay down and held on until our own gun s got to work. Suddenly the deadly squirt ceased, and a white flag appeared. Two | hundred and forty-two Germans emerged from the bomb-proof hiding places, and surrendered. GREAT BOMBING CONFLICT. At other points the Germans defended themselves till death. Others came from the dug-outs in swarms, and a great bombing conflict ended only when the last German was dead. Meanwhile in the centre the English, Scots, and Australians were fighting for the German switch line beyond Bazentin-le-Petit.

AUSTRALIANS 'GAIN GROUND On Tuesday, the Australians gained a little more ground, pushing out the line north-east of Monquct farm. The enemy counter-attacks broke down with great bloodshed. The position gives a vantage point from whence we can observe the enemy movements down the slope. We can now rake him, and also give direct jbservation to our gunfire. EFFECTIVE ARTILLERY FIRE. One of the immediate effects of occupying Poziere s ridge was seen yesterday, when the artillery registered 25 direct hit s on tlie enemy batteries. Our gunners are punishing the enemy frightfully, sweeping the ground above Thiepval, Oourceletto and Martinpuieh. A letter, written by a German officer, shows German life below the Pozieres ridge. It says: "We lie in the shell holes with the English four hundred metres away. Hundreds of dead bodies make the air terrible, the flies being in thousands. We get nothing to eat or drink. The ceaseless roar of guns is driving us mad." AROUND VERDUN. HURLING THE HUNS BACK. Received August 25, 5.30 p.m Paris, August 24. A communique reports: We carried a single rush position at Maurepas held bv the enemy and the trenches in. the vicinity, We advanced 200 metres, along a two kilometres front,, from the railway northward of the village to Hillock 12 south-eastward. Several grenade attacks in our new Thiaumont-Fleury front were smashed by our fire. We slightly progressed beyond the footpath eastward of Fleury,

THE NEXT PUSH. THIEPVAL THE SPRINGBOARD. GERMAN DEFENCES PULVERISED. Received August 25, 8.30 p.m. Paris, August 24. The British bombardment at the Thiepval sector increases. Tons of metal are showering on the German defences. recent British gains have made a orescent-shaped front at Thiepval, giving an excellent springboard for eventual assault. The Germans are continuously strengthening their defences, but the English guns demolish them with equal rapidity. There has been almost uninterrupted shelling of the enemy positions and other points on the Sonmio front during the three days. Two Bavarian regiments that carried out the recent attack south of Thiepval arrived the previous day from Verdun, Though they gained a temporary footing, the British re-action cut them to pieces and hurled the siiattered remnants back to tile original positions. FRENCH CONTROL GERMAN ATTACKS. Paris, August 24. A communique states: Our fire proj vented the Germans, .south-east of Sbyecjim Wooll, having the trenches. We ! easily renuigtd many coups-de main at Tahuve. '.'he Germans violently boinbarded our conquered finund at l\»f* and the Thiaumont work. A GERMAN REPORT, London, August 24. A German communique says: British attacks against the projecting angle near Thiepval and Pozieres. also at Guillernont, were defeated. HUN TACTICS. Paris, August 24. The Journal des Debats states that the Germans have decided to place prominent Belgians in Zeppelin hangars i for protection against the air raids of j the Allies.