WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GERMANS UNDISMAYED. REORGANISING DEFENCES. STRENUOUS ACTIVITY ™ THE REAR. "1 • . Received Nov. 12, 5.5 p.m'. °" London, Nov. 11. The Morning Post's correspondent with the British Army says that if tlie optimists who preach about Germany's imminent collapse had an aeroplane vision of ■••■!.-_ they would moderate their prophecies. The Germans arc undismayed by theii four months' defeats, and are laboring calmly and methodically to strengthen their grip upon France. The recent call to arms of Germar people is already having its effoct in the field. Germans ask for nothing better than to be let alone during the winter months, in order 'to reorganise their defences. More large guns have already been concentrated on the Somme, and the supply of munitions lias increased. Accelerated fighting and scouting aeroplanes are being manufactured in large numbers, so they are endeavoring to recover air supremacy. Since the enemy was driven out of Flers and Gueudecourt, they have built up a strong position with everdeepening dug-outs, .plentiful communications, three-deep rows of wire and other entanglements and pitfalls. These arc jot yet comparable with the massive fortress-like works in the original triple line, nevertheless they form a strong bulwark for shielding Bapaume Further back, the entire countryside is in the hands of the engineers, who are sowing machine-guns with a liberal hand, and transforming fields, hamlets, and woods into the foundations of a new battlefield. Miniature tramlines and light railways are ?.picading. Part of the muddled confusion in the German lines following tlie first attacks in July was d\ie to the lack of adequate communications, making it impossible to supply ammunition rapidly. The German commanders are not going to risk a similar predicament. " y ! A BRITISH ADVANCE «' ' Received Nov. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 11. General Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Last night the eastern position in the Regina trench, a continuation of tlie trench captured on October 21, was captured. We secured a thousand yards of front, despite a barrage. GERMAN FEAR OF DEFEAT. ALLIES MUST NOT SLACKEN. Received Nov. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. il. Mr. Gibbon, writing in the Daily Chronicle, states that among the German armies on the West front dejection and fear of defeat is growing, but there has never been a moment when It would be more dangerous to relax vigilance and effort. A distinguished officer, whose duty it is to gauge the enemy strength, says they are preparing to put forth every ounce of strength. If we beat them they will be finished. Our only risk in the forthcoming crisis will be in over-esti-mating what we are already doing. We cannot afford to slacken our efforts for an instant. ,•, *, OFFICIAL REPORTS. GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY, FRENCH CAPTURE TRENCHES. '•' Received Nov. 12, 5.5 p.m. v r 1 -' i London Nov. 11. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that there is no change in the battle-front. There -was great aerial activity on Thursday. Owing to the improved weather, many raids, were carried out on the enemy's communications, billets, and stores. Air fighting was continuous. Thirty of our machines gave tattle to between thirty and forty of, the enemy's. The latter machines were broken up and dispersed, and six fell, 'being uncontrollable, and nine others were brought down, damaged, while three were destroyed. Seven of our machines are missing. Paris, Nov. 11. Official.—North of the Somme we 'captured several elements of enemy trenches, north-east of Les Boeufs and Saillissel. A German counter-attack in the latter region was easily repulsed. South of tlie Somme the bombardment was continued intermittently, being violent in the Pressoir and Ablaincourt sectors. On the right of the Mouse there was great reciprocal artillery work everywhere between the Haudraiimont quarries and Damloup, but quiet elsewhere. GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY ' Received Nov. 12, 11.5 p.m. London, Nov. 12. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday our aircraft successfully bombed enemy, hutments and aerodromes at headquarters, also stations ».nd trains. Two trains were hit, and a third was set on fire. A number of explosions followed. In the ■course of numerous air fights three enemy machines were destroyed, and a fourth was brought down in our lines. Many others weio brought down, damaged One of our machines is missing. 'Paris ,Nov. 12. Seventeen British, aeroplanes on Friday dropped two torn- of projectiles on the steel works at Focklinger, northwest of Sarrbruck, and felled three enemy machines ir air tights. During a raid tlie following riiglit eight French aeroplanes dropped 2 1 /, tons of projectiles on the same works. Several fires were observed. All tlie machines returned safely. French squadrons on Friday night rained projectiles on the stations at Ham, St. Quentin, Tergnicr, Nesle, the aerodrome at Diewze, blast furnaces at Romsliach and Hagondange, and the nir-sheds at Frescaty, causing explosions and (ires. German aeroplanes on Friday night bombarded several 'French towns, including Nancy and Hudeville, doing no damage, the bombs falling in the open. The town of Amiens was several times bombarded on the same night, nine civilians being killed and 26 injured.

THE BELGIAN DEPORTEES.

' iUSE AGAINST SOLDIERS. I ! Arr.„tordain, Nov. 10, Later messages state that 22,000 Ant- ■ worpers of from 18 to 30 yi-ars of age deported to Germany. Without any luggage, they were hustled into cattle trucks, seventy in each, irrespective of whether married or unmarried, well-to-do or laborers. Practically every family in Antwerp is affected. Women were seen in flu streets weeping like children, and reviling any German soldier they met. Wives and children were often left without means. Similar scents were enacted at Ghent, When meu were thrust into cattle waggons women stormed the Central Station and attacked the German guards with kitchen knives, sticks, stones, and i pieces of iron. Sixty soldiers were wounded. Hundreds of Belgians have tried to escape to Holland and many have been shot by the Gciman guards :>r killed by the electric fences. Thirty corpses were found on a fence near Putte. Received Nov. 12, 5.5 .p.m. Amsterdam, Nov, 11. The deportees from Ghent rose up aaginst the soldiers, who charged repeatedly, Idling (SO and wounding hundreds before the deportees were rounded lip and marched like prisoners, with a guard of bayonets. There was a serious revolt at Brussels on Thursday, when the authorities commenced deporting men to Germany. When the first batch assembled at the station, a soldier insisted a Belgian, and a general fight ensued, the Germans firing into the mob. Thirty Germans were killed or wounded, and many Belgians were shot. FRENCH WAR LOAN Paris, Nov. 10. The war loan realised £45.',000,000, whereof £150.000,000 was subscribed in gold by three million subscribers.