WESTERN ATTACK

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK

AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE. FIGHTING MOST DESPERATE FURIOUS COUNTER-ATTACKS. Received Nov. 0, 10 p.m. Paris, November 6. A Paris communique states:—North of the Somme we made a series of appreciable advances from the south of Lo Transloy to the south of St. Pierre Vaast Wood. We pushed our lines between Les Bouefs and Sailly-Saillicwl svcral hundred metres in the direction if l.e Transloy. We captured a trench east of Sailly Sailliesel, and conquered most o p the village of Sailliesel, and the south thereof. We attacked St. Pierre Vaast Wood on three sides, and made an important advance, capturing successively three trenches defending the northern horn of the wood, and the whole line of hostile positions on the south-western outskirts. Tlie fighting was most desperate in this -sector. Furious German counterattacks wore brilliantly foiled. Wo tcok many prisoners. The artillery duel continued h the Douaumont region. We have occupied the whole of the village of Vaux. BAPAUME-PERONNE LINE. REMOVING REMAINING OBSTACLES. ; i IMPORTANT POSITIONS SEIZED. Received Nov. C, 11.40 p.m. < '. London, Nov. 0 Newspapers point out that the gains mentioned in General Sir lfcujjlas Uaitfs. despatch are important. The portion seized was % last of the high ground before bu} curie is reached. The French advances should render the Si. iPierre Vaast Wood untenable by the Germans. CONSTANT RAIN. [ INTERFERES WITH GENERAL ADVANCE. .Received Nov. C, 10 p.m. \ London, Nor. 6. Constant rainstorms continue to delay the grand olfeaive operations. J.'right and dry spells intervene, bui they are insufficient for the shell-churned, waterlogged ground to become firm wiough for a general advance. German dtscrters unanimously testify to the horrible discomforts under which the enemy is laboring. "' General Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We attacked several points, and made some progress. We cleared a pocket of Germans to the extreme right, and progressed in the centre oii a front of over lOOf) yards, securing high ground in the neighbourhood of Butte and Dj Warlcneourt. The weather continues stormy. ENTHUSIASM OVER VICTORY. ' SPLENDID ARTILLERY WORK. Paris, Nov. 5. There is enthusiasm over the capture of Vaux. The victory is due to the splendid heavy artillery. It is the first time the Germans have evacuated a position without it being attacked by infantry. The Parisians, bracket Colonel Mnngin with Major Raynel, who surrendered in June when not a single cartridge was left in the fort. The front is now similar to what it was on February 3, before the great German advance. London, Nov. 5. A French communique states:—Eastward of Fort Vaux we extended our progress, occupying during the night Damloup village. North of the, Somme the enemy did not attempt to renew his attacks on our trenches in the wood of St. Pierre Vaast. There was an intermittent artillery duel during the night.