WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

BATTLE OF THE ANCRE,

ITS Ois.i'ECT ACHIEVED. yALUE OF AIR WORK. LARGE HAUL OF PRISONERS. Received Nov. 13. C.50 p.m. Paris, Nov. K. The newspapers applaud the British success at the Ancre, which is deemed the more remarkable as the weather was not perfect. The assault commenced in a thick fog. ,r, ho preliminary efforts to reduce the salient north-west of Thiepval included an immense number of aerial reconnaisances. General Sir Douglas Haig thus ascertained the exact nature of the obstacles which the enemy had accumulated. The explosion of many mines enabled the seizure of important points d'appui of the German first line. Tlfc battle, owing to the fog, necessitated in. finite precautions. Troops advancing without the aid of the jairmen were obliged to exercise every care lest they should be mistaken for tho enemy. The haul of prisoners was the largest since tin. advance on the Somme began. General Sir Douglas Ilaig's push was based on the desire to remove the. awkward angle line before resuming the grand attack on Bapaume.

ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED. PRISONERS OVER 5000. Received Nov. 15, 10.55 p.m. ' London, Nov. 13. Ceneral Sir Douglas Haig reports: We captured Beaueourt-sur-Ancre. The prisoners number considerably over 5000 and more are arriving. Wo made a successful local advance eastward of the Butte de Warleneourt. All our objectives have been gained. Paris, Nov. 15. Official: North of the Somme the enemy artillery, whereto ours vigorously replied, violently bombarded the region of Rcssoire and the sector branches of La Maisonette. In tlic Argotine we occupied the crater made by a German mine. On the Verdun froqt there was an intermittent cannonading action in the region of Douaumont and Vaux.

A FORMIDABLE TANGLE

MOST DIFFICULT SO FAR ENCOUNTERED.

THE BRITISH IRRESISTIBLE. Received Nov. 15, 11.45 p.m. London, Nov. 15. Mr. Gibbon, telegraphing on Monday, stated that the British objectives in the present attack included a formidable tangle of trenches and communications on both flanks of Beaumont Hamel, the most complicated and elaborate yet constructed on-this front. The village and line has generally been subjected in days past to short bursts of intense fire from heavy guns, especially the strong points of the salient. Yesterday's shelling was serious, precise, and calculated, searching the whole line. Finally, this morning before daylight, the barrage was begun. The attack began shortly after si:; Beaumont Hamel, in the centre, was carried almost in a sin'gle rush, the troops plugging across the village to the sloping ground beyond to a road winding towards the Anere. The land northward rises in a broad swell towards Serre. Thither the troops carried all the positions until oil the well advanced slopes tliey dug in successfully. The attack at these points met with the success of surprise. Wounded men state that the first trench was weakly held. The attackers encountered strong forces, however, in the fourth trench, where the enemy, escaping from the advanced positions through the tangle of intricate communications, gathered, and brisk fighting ensued.

Nothing remained of Beaumont Haire.l, which was levelled like Poaierra. Of the dozen villages over whieli the tidal wave of battle rolled there was not even a house, not a sign indeed where tliov stood, but thirty feet below ground a new village had been vreated. A labyrinth of great dugouts had been lavishly excavated and finished with typical German thoroughness. I The position south of the Ancrc was [carried with equal success. The new line traverses the outskirts of Beaucourt. . _

: AMERICAN EULOGY. •New York. Nov, 14. The British Anoro successes are en' thusiastically commented upon. The New York Times military expert says that they prove that the Germans have insufficient reserves to protect Hie entire line, making surprise attacks in unexpected places successful, and creating the possibility of a general advance on the German front.

GERMANS ADMIT REVERSES. Received Nov. 15, !).i) p.m. London, Nov. 14. A German communique admits that the British captured Beaumont Hamel and St. Pierre Divion, with lateral connecting lines, and adds that the stubborn defence caused no important losses, but a later admission says they were almost unprecedented. FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCE. London, Nov, 14. General Sir Douglas Haig says:—We stormed Beaumont Hamel and reached the outskirts of Beaumont-sur-Ancr-\ There are over 4000 prisoners. The fighting continues. TNEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. ' London, Nov. 14. A Paris communique says: There has been lively artillery work at I'ressoir. An enemy' attack west of Auberive. in the Champagne, has been .rcDulsod, It has been calm elsewhere.