WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

ON THE VERDUN FRONT. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. . SPLENDID PROGRESS. Wellington, Last Night. The High Cowmisisoner reports: ' London, Oct. 25, 12.5 a.m. A French oflicial nfessage says: On the Verdun front, after an intense artillery preparation, an attack on the right tiank of the Meuse was launched at noon, on a front of seven kilometres. The enemy line was burst in everywhere, to a depth in the centre reaching three kilometres. The village and tort of Douaumont were captured. On the left wing we, passing by Thiaumont farm, captured the Haudromont quarries, which we are consolidating along the road from Bras to Douaumont. On the right of the fort our line passed north of Caillette Wood, along the boundary west of the VauxFumm wood, continuing north of Chenois wood and Daniloup battery. Prisoners taken number 3500, including one hundred officers. Our losses were slight. GERMAN LINE SMASHED. IMPORTANT CAPTURES BY FRENCH • Received Oct. 25, 8.50 p.m. Paris, Oct 24. A communique says: Attacking on a seven kilometre front on the right bank of the Meuse, we smashed the enemy's whole line for a depth of three kilometres, captured the Douaumont fort and village, and the Haudfomont quarries. 3500 prisoners have already been counted, including one hundred officers. A FURTHER ADVANCE NEW POSITION GAINED. Received Oct. 25, 10 p.m. Paris, Oct. 25. A communique says: Our .troops, advancing beyond Thiaumont Work farm, seized the quarries and established themselves along the Bras-Douaumont Road. Our line on the right of the fort passes northward of Cailllette Wood, and follows the .western fringe of Vaux village and the eastern outskirts of Fumin Wood, continuing northward to Crois Wood and Damioup battery, The material captured has not yet been catalogued. Our looses were slight.'' BRITISH GAINS SECURED. ENEMY'S FALSE REPORTS. London. Oct. 24. Sir Douglas Haig says: We secured yesterday's gains at Gncudecourt and Lcs Boeufs. Concerning the enemy's claim that we lost heavily in the Saturday gains it is noteworthy that we took 1000 prisoners and had only 1200 casualties. A German communique says.- French and British attempts to break through were defeated, with heavy loss, north of the Sommc, and the dead are lying in heaps west of Le Transloy. The French advance in the Ablaincourt-Chaulnos sector, also- one near Verdun, were stopped. HEAVY SHELLING.' . ENEMY RAIDERS EJECTED. | Received Oct. 25, 8.50 p.m, London, Oct. 24. General Si>- Douglas Haig reports: There was heavy mutual shelling on Tuesday, southwards of Armentieres A strong enemy party raided the trenches eastward of Loos, apparently for the purpose of de»tioy*ng the mine shafts, but they were immediately ejected^ KAISER AT BAPAUME GREAT OFFENSIVE PREPARING. Received Oct. 25, 9 p.m. ' Paris, Oct. 25. Le Libertc reports that the Kaiser is at Rapaume, supervising preparations for a great counter offensive, for which German reinforcements of men and artillery have arrived. ARTILLERY AND AVIATION WORK,. Received Oct. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 24. A French communique says that there is lively artillerying and aviation work on the rest of the front.