WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

500 YARDS OF TRENCHES TAKEN 10SITI0N AT THIEPVAL IMPROVED. Deceived October 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 3d. General Sir Douglas Tlaijr reports: Wo have occupied five Imndred yards of Ircnche? c,i (ward ol f,es Itoiici'? after heavy fighting round the Stiilf redoubt. We ulso captured an important section of the Hessian trench, whence we were forced out, but rc-cipttired it again later. We have: improved our position in the I'liicpval aica.

JOFFRE CONGRATULATES HAIG. GUAIMX'I EE OF FINAL VICTOJIY. VERY SEVERE FIGHTING. Received October 1, 5.5 p.iir London. Sept. "0. General JolTre sent a message to General Sir Douglas Haig congratulatinf, lii"i on the brillmit succi-r;se: o f the British on the loth and 10th. He said it was a sure gu.r-a':loc of the fm.il v.ctory over ihe enemy, whose physical and iriiial forces were already severely iiiaken. lienors' Sir Doujias Hei!ir his beaten die the enemy coiu:ler-attae<s in t' <: ooiphbourliood of the Stull' relonbr, and the Hessian trench. Yesterday's fight- :■ <t on thic sector was very severe The divisions of the new army l::;s shewn pii at endurance and resolution.

FRONT LINE GOSSIP. CORRESPONDENTS MAKE NiiWS. ASHMEAD BARTLETT RE-APPEARS', Received October 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 30. The lull on thp Anglo-French fronts Ins afforded opportunity to correspondents to make a general survey of the battle. Mr. Ashmead Bartlctt, of the Daily Telegraph, visiting the French front, states that the guns only ceased tire when seeking fresh objectives. Theiiv piles of shells never seem to diminish, whereas the Germans have to save ammunition. The French command of the air is so complete that it is no longer necessary to conceal the guns. German artillery are now fighting in almost total l.iinduess since they lost the high ground near Peroune. Many nigh explosives fail in the Somme river throwing up mountains of mud, when the Germans are replying barrages against AngloFrench assaults. Mr. Philip Gibbs, on the British front, insists on the importance of the continuance of fine, weather. The mist prevents aviators mak'ng reports on the r.ni my, and enable mass troops to counter-attack. Since our capture of the lk'ge the Germans are unable to move infantry, guns, or transport during daylight. The Germans at Anere and the Somme now know the torture of living always under great guns. Otiior correspondent? state that the prisoners in the liiiti.-h front during Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday totalled six thousand. The tally is still incomplete. We are pushing forward north si Tiers, and clearing the enemy out of the most formidable positions, including the sunken roads and trenches which, in the earlier stage of the battle would have cost a long delay and nvjny lives. Muf. the enemy's resistance seems to have lost its strength, for we have taken mile? of trenches at an incomprehensibly little cost.' RAD WEATHER CAUSES DELAY. Received October 1, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 30. A communique states: Tilings are comparatively quiet. Bad Heather impeded operations. SUCCESSFUL RAID BY TERRITORIALS. Received October 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 30. A Territorial battalion made a successful raid south of Neville St. Vaast, onteling tiie benches and taking prisoners. GRENADE ATTACK. AT RANCOURT. Received October .1, 5.5 p.m. P.iris. Sept. 30. A communique states: We made a gienade attack north of Kaueourt and at Rancourt. Bad'weather continue?. Our aeroplanes bombed Prileap.

WHAT THE GERMANS SA2 Received October 1, 3.5 p.m. London, Sept. HO. A German communique states that .liter variable hard fighting between Aiicre and Courcelctte the British attacks were repulsed. THIEPVAL AXD COSIBLE& billies Service. London, Sept. 20. A correspondent with headquarters reports that captured oilieers freely confess that they believed Thiepval hnpregnable. It was stoutly defended by veteran Wurtcmburgor*. Amsterdam, September 2!), German war correspondents are now admitting the fall of Com bios. The Kolnischc Zeitung says that Thiepval was voluntarily evacuated. FURTHER IROGREBS HADE London, September 20. Sir Douglas llaig reports':—This morning wo captured a strongly defended farm south-west of Le Saw. The night was quiet on tin; greater part of the front. The 'lermans heavily shelled the positions wo captured northwards of Thiepval. Our aeroplanes northward of Ypres and south-east of Bapaume observed a, huge explosion like an ammunition dump blown up. The smoke ascended 90(H) teet. A French .communique says:—We niado further progress between Ercgicourt and Morval. A German communique says:—The Somme battle has slackened. A strong English attack between the Ancre and Oourceletto was repulsed.