WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

BATTLE OF SAILLYSAILLISEL. DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS, lieceived Oct. 23, 5.45 p.m.

London, Oct. 22. Mr. Aslimead Bartlett, describing the rapture of Sail'iy Siillisel, says it is a struggling twin-village of houses in two long rows on each side of the I'erouneHapaume high road, separated for a kilometre by orchards from the second village of Saillisel, which is furtlici eastward and is still uneaptnred.

It rained incessantly throughout the night, the battlefield being a sea of mud. Visibility was extremely ]ow; nevertheless the French infantry leapt the trenches punctually, carried the houses of Sailly-Saillisel, and occupied the elopes north-west and north-east of the village.

The captured country puts a solid wedge' in the front on Saillisel and an immense stretch of works connecting the village with the Bois St. Vaast. The French are now a'bl.e to crush counterattacks through the orchard? from Saillisel.

A SUPERB SPECTACLE,

'I lIUNDER OP ARTILLERY. Received/ Oct. 23, 7 p.m. London, Oct. 23. As the. French infantry charged, the sun shone out, and there was a superb spectacle. The French and English artillery thundered incessantly, in a huge semi-circle of smoke and flume. The aeroplanes never lost a grip of the enemy works. This infuriated the German gunners, who opened up a tremendous barrage, but they seemed totally blinded and continually shifted their aim in. the "hope of finding the lurking place of the French reserves, but without result.

VILLAGE SMASHED TO PULP The Germans anticipated the attack, and brought the 2nd Bavarian Division to the support of the> defenders at Sailly-Saillisel, but the French were able to seize the twin village fifteen minutes after their artillery had smashed it to pulp Tlie infantry had a terrible time in the mud.

DESPERATE GERMAN

COUNTER-ATTACKS. ATTEMPT TO RUSH ALLIES LINE, SISTUOUS LOSSES INFLICTED NEW GRENADE USED,,

E:\EMY ENTER FRENCH TRENCHES.

> Received Oct. 23, 11.55 p.m. Paris, Oct. 23. The enemy is disinclined to allow the Ijrench to hold tb.eir gains at Sailly-Sail-lisel, and the neighbouring heights. Throughout Friday night and Saturday they hurled thousands of shells on the French positions. They came out of the St. Pierre-Vaast Wood trenches, south of Le Mcsnil, and attempted to rush the Allies' line, but they met a fearful fire, and the rush was broken. The Germans thrice returned to the attack, but were driven back, leaving the ground covered with corpses. . The Germans liad some slight successes on the northern edge of Blaise Wood. Here, the attackers were preceded by men wearing asbestos clothes, and who carried n new kind of grenade, which bursts into flames when it strikes the ground. The corps following the asbestos attackers gained a footing in part of the advanced French trenches.

During .these attacks the French successfully counter-attacked over an advanced front beyond the Chaulnes-Ovil-lers railway.

OVER A THOUSAND PRISONERS.

GERMANS OCCUPY CRATER VALUABLE AERO WORT' .Received Oct. 23, C.i Op.m London, Oct. 23. General Sir Douglas Hai£ states oflicially that 101 : 8 prisoners were yesterday captured between the Sehwaben redoubt anil Le Sars. The enemy exploded two mines south of Ypres, in the neighborhood of the Bluff, and occupied the lip of the crater, where they were subjected to continuous bombardment. Aeroplanes valuably located tlio enemy batteries yesterday. We destroyed five enemy machines and damaged four. Three of ours are mising.

THE PENALTY OF RASHNESS

j GERMANS SUFFER SEVERE LOSSES Received Oct. 23, 0.43 p..' Paris, Oct. 22. Official: South of the Somme a fresh enemy attack was made this afternoon against the southern portion of the Chaulnes Wood, but was repulsed with serious losses. The number of prisoners is not yet counted. The morning attack in the same region cost the Germans dearly. We surrounded the enemy, .vho had gained a foothold in our first lines. . The survivors (500) were taken prisoners. An intermittent cannonade is proceeding elsewhere