WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

BRITISH POSITION ' CONSOLIDATED. SUBSTANTIAL FRENCH GAINS. HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES London, August 20. Sii Douglas Haig reports: Minor enterprises ure gradually consolidating our position between tiie western autskirts ot Guillemont aiid Giitchy. We made progress south-east of Tliiepval. We bombarded Neuve Chapelle and Boie Grenier. Paris, August 29. A communique states: Our brisk evening operation south east of Tliiaiimont work resulted in substantial gains ol ground. German attacks at Fleiiry and Vaux Fort failed with heavy losses.

REPULSE OF PRUSSIAN GUARDS. A DRAMATIC STORY. AMAZING HEROISM. Received August 30, 5.40 p.m. London, August 29. Mr Philip Gibbs, in the Daily Chronicle, tells a dramatic story covering (he repulse of the Prussian Guards at Tliiepval, The Wiltshires and Worocsters discovered that the Prussians were gathering for a counter-attack. It was necessary t< send runners to the lear to warn the commanders. Several fried, but all died. Finally one, by fheer luck, lost the direction and staggered amid shell, smoke and craters till he found himself on the edge of the Cernian trenches, which was crowded with Prussians, holding fixed bayonets. He turned back, survived the Gorman barrage, and reached our rear lines un ?eattied. He delivered his message, and then heavy batteries, in the officer's words, "were smashing '.he German lines in three shakes." The Prussians were caught in the torin of shells, the trench being filled with mangled bodies. The countef-attacks tVreatfer had no chance.

SMALL GERMAN ATTACKS. THUNDERSTORM HAMPERS OPERATIONS. Received August 30, 8.5 p.m. London, August 30. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that apart from bombing encounters, the only infantry engagement was a small Herman attack on the I'ozieres windmill, vhich our fire quickly dispersed Heavy thunderstorms hampered observation! but the Hermans heavily shelled Loville wood, Pozicres, Authujlle, and Thiepval woods. There were also duels at Quinehy, Givenchy, and Ypres. GENERAL HAIG'S CAPTURES. A GOOD LIST. Received August 30, .740 p.m. v London, August 30. ■ General Sir Douglas Haig has since July i captured 25(ili officers. 15.203 men, and eighty-six guns and 100 machineguns.

THE VALUE OF GERMAN | REPORTS. IMAGINARY victories recounted. TO HEARTEN UP THE PEOPLE. Received August 30, 7.40 p.m. London, August 29. A noteworthy Gorman communique. Issued on the 27-28 th inst., pretends that violent Franco-British attacks were, made and repulsed north of the Somme. It is authoritatively stated that there have been no operations on the Somme front during the pasit three days, except details, all of which succeeded. It i-s, evident that the German tijenoral Staff is anxious to sustain the morale of the people by recounting imaginary victories It also helps to explain why they are unable to aid their allies. CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. A SQUEAL ABOUT BRITISH SHELL?. London, August 28. The Hamburger Nachrichten's account of the British offensive, insists that the terrible results of sulphurous gas shells, •which America, supplied in enormous quantities, proves that the British artillery doesn't know the meaning of economy in ammunition. PUNISHMENT OF WAR PRISONER!?. London. August 29. Through' the mediation of Spain the Franco-German agreement will operate, under which all punishments of war 1» it-oners will be postponed till after tl.e war. ANZACS AT POZIERE? - i "REPULSING AN ATTACK. ; \ AUSTRALIAN INITIATIVE (From Captain C. E. W. Bean)'.. British Headquarters, v France, August 8. The Germans have made two attempts to recapture the trenches on the Pozieres Ridge. . Oh the night after the battle tliey attempted to bear down upon the Australians from the north along tilie old second-line tranches. This attempi /was easily defeated. Vesterday, morn-

iug, just as dawr was breaking', tlie Germans attempted to rash the trenches by attacking across the. open 'in some force. A iiem: bombardment had been kept up for two days. The Gcrm&us, crept up under cover of this, then the bombardment suddenly liftijd and German infantry charged. It was a completely fresl. German regiment which attacked, mid it reached our trendies along, one short sector, which the West Australians Isold. Other-West Australians and Victorians, who were alongside, immediately grasped the position, and the junior officers, acting instantly on their own initiative, completely surrounded the Hermans,, and captured all who had lived to reach the trench. They "caught t'lie remainder who were returning with lire so heavy that the front of tlie ' trejieh is now strewn with (icrman.s. By a curious coincidence the officer who was largely responsible tor this brilliant piece of work was the one wbo'lirst won the Vic-' toria. Cross for an almost precisely similar action in (iallipoli. The party of West Australians held their ground, though completely isolated, and only asked for relief five lioura later, when many were killed or wounded. I do not know if it is realised in Australia what tremendous fighting all' this is. The scries'of battles now being fought by the Australians is tlie bigge:, in which our troops have, evej been engaged. They have fought in a manner beyond nil praise. It is sufficient to say tliat'qt is becoming.recognised by their fellow-soldiers here that the reputation won by oiu troops of the Atizitc corps in (iallipoli was not exaggerated.