WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

FRENCH SUCCESSES. enemy resisting DL>r;::;.v::::.v Paris, November 12. A communique states that the French in the afternoon, north of the Somme, recaptured most of the village of Saillisel. They occupy the north-eastern and south-eastern, outskirts. The enemy is still resisting desperately in the eastern part.

A German attack'south of iVc-soir, south of the Somme, was repulsed with bombs. A furious artillery duel continues in the Ablair.court and Gomiceourt districts. London, Nov. 12. A French communique says: North of the Sonant; we progressed north of Saillisel and in the eastern portions of the village. The enemy violently bombarded the whole district south of the Somme. An attack south-east of Berny was biolcen. We captured a trer.:h opposite Armantourt.

THE BATTLE FOR SAILLISEL A DESPERATE AFFAIIt. Received Nov. 13, 10.15 p.m. Paris, Nov. 13. The 'battle for_Saillisel was resumed on Saturday afternoon. After artillery preparations, which swept away the new enemy works, the French detaefy ments assaulted the ruins of the village. Desperate fighting ensued, the enemy offering a most vigorous resistance. Nevertheless, the fiery dash of the French crumpled two Bavarian battalions, and retook the greater part of the village.. Tho- houses were carried one by one, each harboring one or more machine-guns. At 4 o'clock the .vhole of the central part of the village was in our hands. The battle continued during the ivhole evening, and the greater part of the night. t A document found on a staff officer sliowed that the German command ordered Saillisel to be held at all costs. Received Nov. 13, 0.55 p.m. London, Nov. 13. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: — The enemy's artillery was active at Los Boeufs and Eaucourt l'Abbaye. 'We twice discharged gas north of Ancre. A Paris communique states:—North of the S'ouime we ■completed the conquest of Saillisel, and counted many German dead. The usual artillerying oceurred elsewhere. ..

CAPTURE OF REGINA, \ j QUE ARTILLERY'S WONDERFUL ' , PRECISION i Received Nov. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 12. Mr. Gibbon says the capture of the, fUgina trench was a minor operation, but it was necessary for various reasons, particularly because it was regular hot-bed for snipers. A staff officer declares that the barrage preceding the attack was the best we have ever put over. The precision wherewith we went ahead of the infantry was wonderful. The artillery officers speak of it in delighted tones. The infantry's task was heavy, but it might have been worse. The remnants of the garrison surrendered in true Hun fashion the moment our bojnbers commenced to drive trenchwise. A noteworthy feature of the enemy's defence was the variety of the machineguns, which included Russian Maxims and Austrian guns captured by the Russians and retaken by the Germans.

FORT DOUAUMONT. ITS CONDITION DESCRIBED '' London, Nov. 12. A correspondent with French Headqua) tars, after-a. visit to Fort Douauuiont, says that owing to a big explosion in the magazine the Germans abandoned it hurriedly. They undoubtedly intended to return, but the French fore stalled them. The German stories of destruction fire inventions. Excepting a large hole in t}ie roof, th.a fort is undamaged. Besides much stores them are two 7;Vs and a/heavy gun, which were 1 left when the French evacuated it. There also remain sixty Germans, who were asphyxiated months ago. By the cxplo sion they remain immured in the inner wall like faithless nuns. Paris, Nov. 11

The lOin. howitzers, which sot fire to Fort Donaumont with four rhell?, representing lewt. of melinite, and also drove out the Germans from Fort Vans, occupied a year in construction. BRITISH USE GAS. London, Nov. 12. Sir Douglas Ha'ig reports: Last night we successfully released gas southward: of Ypres. GERMAN TYRANNY -• Paris, Nov. 12. The Germans have ordered the arrest and imprisonment in reprisal camp; ■ 200 prominent men and women of tho cceiipied territories, including a Lillo deputy and notables from Roubaix, Valenciennes and Douai. No reason has been given.