WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE IRISH CHARGE. A WILD, IRRESISTIBLE ASSAULT. Received Sept. 11, 7.30 p.m. London, Sept. 10. Mh. Tliilip Gibbs slates that. the Irish troops charge through Guillemont was nne of tlie most astonishing feats of tho uar. "It was a Mild irresistible assault like a human avalanche," said an English rifleman supporting the Irish right. They stormed the Germans' first, second, and third lines, as if possessed. If there was any fault it was that they progressed too fast, and took no time to safeguard the ground gained, consequently the Germans, climbing the dug-outs, began sniping from one ofi the underground chambers Twenty Germans quietly surrendered and saluted the officer, offering a gold watch to the English corporal. Most of the opposition was encountered between two sunken roads ENGLISH ENVELOPING MOVEMENT The English enveloping movement faced a fusilade of rifle fire and bombs from the Germans emerging from their dug-outs, also macliine-gnn fire from | Giiichy and Falfemont Farm, but they J advanced ap though they were manoeuv- j ring, the wounded men crawling into shell holes and shouting: "Go on boys!" The Germans ran and ours followed. A German officer surrendered and said: "If we run like that you will be in Berlin before we are in England." BROKEN SPIRITED PRISONERS. The six hundred prisoners; taken were ;n a pitiful cond|tioni, broken-spirted and trembling with fear. One officer was proudly indifferent to his fate and contrasted with others who clung to the necks of our officers begging for mercy. Out of a garrison of two thousand, hardly one escaped. A WEEK'S FIGHTING. , CAPTURED GROUND RETAINED. FURTHER SUCCESSES. London, Sept. 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We retain all the ground gained on Saturday. We further extended our gains and easily stopped a counter-attack north-east of Pozieres. The week of fighting inflicted severe defeats and 'heavy losses. We took the Strongly defended localities' of Falfeinont Farm, Leuzo Wood, Guillemont and, Ginchy, despite the utmost efforts to retain them. The spirit and dash of our troops in the severe fighting, in face of frequent determined counterattacks arid constant intense artillery fire, was magnificent. The fine work of the Irish from Connaught, Leinster and Munister has already been mentioned in connection with Guillemont. In the continued attack on Ginchy the Rifle Regiments, also the 'Warwickshire:;, Kents, Devonshire.-:, Gloucestershires, Surreys, Corn walls, Welsh and Scottish were also engaged, and in all the week* fighting have done splendid work.

BRITISH CAIN 6000 YARDS. FRENCH HOLD IMPORTANT RAILWAY. . DEFEXOE OF COMBLES, London, Sept. 10. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: During the past week heavy fighting has advanced our line on a front of 0000 yards to a depth varying from 300 to 3COO yards. The spirit- and dash of our troops is magniliceiit. Paris, Sept. 10. South-west of -Clifliilnes the French hold 2Va miles jf the railwaj from -Roye towards Peronnc, which is the enemy's principal line of communication behind tho Somme front. The French are in;tensely bombarding the huge depots of munitions and war material at Ghaulnes station. It is stated that strong f!erman reinforcements have arrived at (Jumbles to defend it against the British at all costs. The Kaiser is believed to be on the snot. I , « OFFICIAL REPORTS,

ENEMY TRENCHES ENTERED. GREAT AERIAL WORK.Received Sept. 11, 7.32 p.m. London. Sept. 10. General Sir , Douglas Haig reports: The enemy, at mid-day, counterattacked north of Ginchy, but were repulsed. There have been many aerial combats. We destroyed three German machines, and brought down others damaged. We entered the enemy trenches at Relive Chapelle and inflicted severe casualties. Paris, Sept. 10. A communique states that the Germans south of the Somme twice attacked south-west of Berny, but met with a complete cheek. Aeroplanes over the enemy lines bad forty combats. On Saturday, the German air fleet sustained considerable losses, five machines being wrecked. Our air squadron dropped 480 bombs on railway stations and depots at Chavmy, and eighteen aeroplar.es dropped numerous .shells on the military establishments at Ham, south of Peronne. Many tires were seen. ! ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. Reuter Service Received Sept. 11, 5.30 p.m. , Paris, Sept. 10. A communique states that the enemy's counter-attacks at different points between Belloy-en-Santerre and Barleaux gained a. footing in one of our new trenches, which we quickly regained. Attacks elsewhere were refiulsed with heavy louses.

BLESSING THE AIR. A NOVEL CEREMONY Received Sept. 11, 5.50 p.m. I'aris, Sept. 10. The ceremony of "blessing the air" was carried out for the first time on the French-Atlantic coast. The idea of the ceremony was the placing of aviators lii.di'r the Virgin's protection. From n point dominating the sea the air was blessed over land and sea. A GEIiMAX REi'Oß^ London, Sept. 10. ' A German conynuniqne says: The English assault on a 15 kilometre front between Thiopval and Comhles hroke down. The French were repulsed with heavy loss in the Barleux-IJelloy sector. There was fresh ■ lighting southward ot Thiaumont Work and eastward of Fleury, \\ e drove the enemy out after he had penetrated our positions. In the air combats of the last few days the enemy has lost nine machines, AIR RAID OX AMMUNITION 'DIIJIP.. London, Sept. 10. Official: Naval aeroplanes on Saturday afternoon\ bombed the railway siding and ammunition dump at LitiliterveWe. They returned safely. THE FRENCH BUDGET. London, Sept. 10. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that SI. Kibot will piesent the budget on Tuesday. His speech will be a dizzy dance of millions. It is difficult to know where the money ?ames from. While impoverishing the world, it demonstrates the immensity of the accumulated wealth. There will be a mew loan at the beginning of October ait 5 per cent.; the amount will be unlimited. The issue price is not stated. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. The High Commissioner reports from London, under date Sept. 11, 1.5 a.m.: The French official report says that south of the Somme the Germans twice attacked cur trenches south and ive-:t of Berny. The attempts were completely stopped. Our artillery is active on the whole of the Somme front. On Saturday n.ight an air squadron dropped 480 'bombs on the enemy stations and depots in the region of Chauny. On the same nigiht eighteen oi our aviators dropped numerous bombs on military establishments in the Hani region, southwards of Peronne. The British official report says that enemy counter-attacks north of Giucliy have been repulsed. Last night our troops entered tihe trenches south of Neuve Chapellc, inflicting severe casualties