WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GENERAL HAIG'S SUMMARY,

SERIES OF STRONG POSITIONS WON

ENEMY GIVEN NO REST. AVIATION SUPREMACY.

Received Oct. CO, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 20. General Sir Douglas Haig, in summing up operations since bis last summary, says: In the area between Thiepval and Le Sars we gradually won a series of strong positions. Fighting lias been heavy and prolonged. The enemy resisted stubbornly until surrounded at one place after another, and large numbers were taken prisoner. We had to repel repeated counter-attacks, and generally these were stopped by our artillery and machine-guns, but where the enemy traversed our barrage to reach our line- thrown back by infantry and rifle fire with heavy losses. Once or twice they gained a foothold in a trench, but then were promptly driven out with the bayonet.

The number of prisoners captured since the beginning of July totals 28,918. One of our divisions which had pre. viouslj had many days' hard fighting captured in .action on October 7th. eight officers and 474 men.

• A captured document from German headquarters, acknowledging the superiority of the British airmen, suggests methods of reorganisation whereby it is hoped to be possible for at least some hours to contest the enemy's supremacy in the air.

Assisted by aeroplanes, our artillery established and maintained a clear superiority over the enemy. It supported the infantry, and disorganised arrangements behind the enemy's front lines, and also hindered the arrival of reserves and supplies. The artillery allows no rest day or night, and materially assists in wearing down the enemy's morale vital to success in battle, as the infantry have shown that they wanted endurance and devotion. t

Captured documents bear clear testimony to the effect of our continuous artillery fire, the dash and discipline of mu infantry attacks, and the quality of our men. .

A SLIGHT ADVANCE. General Haig's latest communique sayst There has been heavy rain all the morning. We slightly advanced our lino at the Butte-de-Warlcucourt, and our barrage stopped a counter-attack.

KEY OF POSITION OBTAINED. CAMBRAI PLACJ COMMANDED. London, Oct. 19. The village of Sailly-Saillisel forms the key to the position, being on the crest of the ridge dominating the wood of St. Pierre Vaast. Very heavy fighting for the village has been continuous since Sunday evening. Sailly-Saillisel is the last natural stronghold on the edge of the plain stretching north-east to Cambrai.

Everything possible vjas done to elaborate the defence of the village. The Germans crowded in as much garrison as th-i trenches, ruined 'buildings and cellars would hold.

OFFENSIVE PROGRESSING, BIG GUNS CREEPING UPReceived Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. The comparative lull on the Somme continues, but nevertheless the offensive is progressing the whole time, as the big guns are slowly creeping nearer the German positions. It takes immense labor to construct the roads and railway tracks whereby the guns are being brought up. The capture 'of Sailly-Saillisel was most important, as the Germans had installed numerous machine-guns, -which greatly hampered the British advance on Le Transloy.

FRENCH PROGRESS ■ CONTINUED. FUTILE AND COSTLY COUNTERATTACKS.

Received Oct.' 20, 9.40 p.m. Paris, Oct. 20,

A communique says: Our artillery repulsed waves of the enemy leaving their trenches in a vain attempt to counterattack on our lines northward and eastward of Sailly-Saillisel, The enemy's losses were serious. We progressed afresh between Biaclies and Maisonette. London, Oct. 19.

General Haig reports: Our raiders entered trenches at Loos and south of Arras during rain. A French communique states: We have, organised Sailly-Saillisel adjacent to the conquered positions, and made new progress 'between La Maissonette and Biaches. We repulsed an attempt on our trenches north-east of Luneville.

A MANIFEST UNTRUTH. .London, Oct. 19. ■A. German communique says: The English made an unavailing attempt for several hours to break through between Le Sars and Morval. The English secured unimportant gains north of Eaucourt I'Abbaye and Gueudecourt, and the French at .Sailly and between Biaches and La Maisonnette. OPHRESSING THE BELGIANS Amsterdam, Oct. 19. Csneval von Biasing has announced that all unemployed Belgians dependent on charitable relief are liable to com- . pulsory wor'.c, with the alternative of three years' imprisonment. The Belgians are indignant, and interpret the announcement as a prelude to wholesale deportations. The attempted enforcement of the rule at Ghent caused riots,