WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

TOWARDS PERONNE. [VIGOROUS FRENCH OFFENSIVE. FIRST LINE OF TRENCHES TAKEN. OVER, 1500 PRISONERS CAPTURED. Received Sept. 13, 10.30 p.m. Paris, Sept. 13. _ A communique states a vigorous offensive was made, over a six kilometre front in the area southward of Combles to the river. The attack was very rapid. The whole of the first line of trenches were captured. Owing to the splendid dash of the troops further gains were made towards Peronne. Upwards of fifteen hundred men and inany officers were captured. QUICK WORK. A SPLENDID DASH,, Received Sept. 13, 11.25 p.m. Paris, Sept. 13. A communique reports: The first line southward of Combles A'as captured within half an hour, and pushing eastward with the same vigor the infantry successively carried Hill 145, Marrieres wood, as well as the whole system of trenches protecting the road from Bcthune to Peronne, and established a line parallel thereto from the southern outskirts of Rancourt to southward of Bouehavesnes. We also carried out lines further south to Hill 71, westward of Feullaucourt. A SEA OF BRITISH RESERVES. FRENCH SUCCESSES. REVELATIONS OF BATTLE OF THE MARNE. London, Sept. 12. Correspondents at the British front speak of the swelling sea of reserves, about which there is an air of mystery, but they openly hint that the Germans, who are everywhere outfought, cannot much longer resist the deluge of steel. The French officially report that on the south of the Somme they repulsed an enemy attack east of Belioy-en-Santerre. They occupied a German trench south of Berny cemetery. The usual cannonade took place elsewhere. 'Paris, Sept. 12. A correspondent, conducted by staff officers to the battle of the Marne, [earned interesting facts, clearing up many mysteries regarding General von Kluck's famous retreat. Au officer detailed all the moves, showing that the retirement was not an accident, but the consequence of General Joffre's carefully planned tactics. The battle front extended from Paris to Verdun, and a million and a quarter men were engaged on both sides. As the fierce struggle swayed the fortunes were bo delicately balanced that Gmeral Gallieni's 8000 men sent from iParis in taxicabs assured the success of Joffre's plans and wrecked the Germans' strategy. SIGNS OF ANOTHER ADVANCE. Paris, September 12. The Petit Parisien states that the cannonade continues to rage in Picardy, and is especially violent from Barleux to Chaulnes. It is of the same character and intensity as preceded the advance on September 3> AMMUNITION DEPOTS SHELLED. London, September 12. Sir Douglas Haig says:—Our heavy artillery on Monday evening caused two large conflagrations in the ammunition depots at Grandcour, There is hostile artillery activity between Delville Wood and Mouquet Farm. AN ARTILLERY INFERNO. New York, Sept. 12. The Associated iPress's correspondent with the German armies cables that the Allies' artillery preceding the latest attacks on the Somme shook the windows at Cambrai (20 miles distant). A realisation of what this inferno means may be gathered from the fact that troops going for the first time are prepared to hold out for a week without communication, .chile carrier pigeons have replaced telephones from the front to the rear, owing to the lines being regularly smashed. AMMUNITION STORES FIRED Received Sept, 13, 10.20 p.m. London, Sept. 13. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: The situation is unchanged. Our artillery destroyed some gunpits and fired an ammunition store.