WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

TRENCHES BOMBARDED. SNEMY COMIIUNICATOINS BOMBED. " LIVELY ARTILLERY DUEL. Received Nov. 18, 8.50 p.m. London, Nov. 18. • General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Prisoners captured since November 13 total GlftO. We heavily bombarded the trench lines in the neighborhood of Loos and Hulluck. Aeroplanes bombed two important junctions on enemy lines of communication. Five enemy machines were brought down. A Paris communique states:—There is nothing to report on the whole front, excepting a lively artillery duel in the Sttillisel region, north of the Somir.e. COUNCIL OF NATIONAI DEFENCE. MEMBERS ENTERTAINED. Received Nov. 18, 5.5 pm. Paris, Nov 1". Official.—(President Poineaire entertained at luncheon Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd George, General Sir Douglas Haig, General Robertson, General Jofl're, General Ca.stlenau, and Allied Ambassadors, and members of the Council of National Defence.

ALLIES' REPLY TO GERMAN LEVY. COUNTER MEASURES OON- . " SIDERED. r ~ < Received Nov. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 18. All the Allies were represented at the Paris War Council. The Daily Press of Paris says the Allies have not lost time in replying to the German levy en masse. The War Council, is considering military and economic counter-measures. \ GERMAN TYRANNY IN ; ' BELGIUM. ' "i { I -v \ , AN EDITOR IMPRISONED. WORKERS DEPORTED IN CATTLE--V . TRUCKS. . ■ 'Received Nov. 19, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. IS. The Germans captured one of the editors of the Libre Belgique newspaper, secretly published at Brussels, and sentenced him to ten years. As illustrating the falseness of Germany's contention as to deporting unemployed Belgians only, soldiers suddenly surrounded Damager'a paper mills at Willebroick, crowded the entire staff into 250 cattle-trucks, and transported them to Germany. A similar incident occurred at the potteries at Boon, but a number of the workmen escaped to Holland. Inspired German newspapers state that the deportations were tranquil and orderly, the Belgians being gratified at their good, food and prospects of earning money.

GERMAN SOLDIERS. ! ' GREAT FALLING-OFF IXi * • QU^JTY. NO RESERVES AT EAPAUJIE. Received Nov. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 18. La Petit Parisier> states that a German staff officer, who was captured at Beaumont Harael, said that the present German soldiers were in no way comparable to von Itluck's or von Billow's in 1014, which were the finest troops, but they melted under Franco-British gun-fire. So few remain that they can only be used to stiffen the young recruits. The old men of the latter are dummies, 'having no heart to fight, and they never lose an opportunity of surrendering. If the Allies pierce the German lines, Bapaume must fall, as there are no available reserves there. BRITISH POSITION ADVANCED. Received Nov. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 18. General Sir Douglas Haig roportts:— Our position has been advanced northeast of Beaumont Hamel, north of Beaucourt. The enemy heavily shelled Beaumont Hamel and Hebutern. We raided a redoubt north of Ypres. 1 BAD WEATHER PREVAILS. Received Nov. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 18. A Paris communique states:—Bad weather is interfering with the Somme operations. ,1 BRITISH FRONT EXTENDED. London, November 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—As a result of Thursday's operations we extended the front from Beaucourt eastward along the north bank of tlie Ancre. A strong counter-attack in the afternoon forced us to relinquish part of the ground gained eastward of the Butte de Warlencourt. There was heavy hostile night shelling at Bealucourt and Beaumont Hamel, \\\ twice successfully raided trenches north-east of Wulverghem, taking prisoners and inflicting considerable losses. FIFTY-FOUR AIR FIGHTS. Paris, November 17. A communique states that there is relative calm along the whole front. There have been fifty-four air fights in the Amiens region. French aeroplanes dropped over a ton of bombs on the railway station and works at Echsuralzette, Luxembourg, and the aerodrome at Terouier.

OUTSKIRTS OF GRANDCOURT REACHED. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED. AVIATION ACTIVITY. i London, Nov. 19. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Despite storms, we have advanced the front in the north and south of Anere, chielly in the south, where we have readied the outskirts of (irandcourt. Eight enemy aeroplanes have been brought down. Paris, Nov. 19. A communique states: —The German attack east of Berney, south of the Somme, was repulsed. Our air squadron dropped bombs on German aerodromes at Golancourt and Grisolles. * GERMAN BRUTALITY, LEADS TO A RlOx SIXTEEN CIVILIANS KILLED. Received Nov. 20, 12.40 a.m. Amsterdam Nov. 11. While the Germans were marching 900 civilians to the station at Turcoing, a soldier struck one for not walking fast enough. A riot followed, and the Germang used their rifles freely, sixteen civilians being killed and wounded. Two Germans were stoned to death. VIOLENT ATTACK REPULSED. Paris, November 17. M. Marcel Hutin, in the Echo de Paris, says that after a bombardment of extraordinary intensity 35,000 Germans, with asphyxiating gas and tear shells, attacked the French positions at Pressoir and Ablaincourt on Wednesday. Despite the use of flame throwers the enemy was unable to debouch. Machine-guns and 75's mowed them down. The attack was most violent at Pressoir, where a tenfold numerous enemy forced the French to retire a little, but an obstinate .resistance enabled the sending up of relief, which drove the enemy out of the village. BELGIAN APPEAL TO AMERICA. Washington, November 17. The Belgian Minister has appealed to t'lie State Department for active intervention in regard to the deportation of Belgians. * -