WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

SAVAGE BAYONET WORK. CAPIV'UED TRENCH GIVEN UP. Received Nov. 21 S p.m. London, Nov. 21. *lr. Gibson, writing from the British headquarter*, savs the attack" on Saturday was started at the Stuff and Regina trciudios, after a bitter, snowy night. Ail the weather conditions were against the attach, but the snow was of some n»:e, the gleam enabling the platoons to keep in touch with one another. The principal success was gained on the light, where a famous formation, who are never lacking where hand-to-hand work has to be done, readied Grandecourt trench. There was savage bayonet fighting before the trench was captured, but the position was too far ahead for the remainder of the British to advance, and the men were ordered to return.

CAPTURED GERMAN ORDERS. BRITISH GUNNERS AND AVIATORS PRAISED. Renter's Service. London, Nov. 20. A correspondent at the British Headquarters says that a fine testimonial to the British gunners at the Anere is contained in a German Headquarters mcssigc found on a German officer: ''You mi'st go short of supplies. We cannot get through the barest necessities." Another German difficulty is lack of knowledge of the opposing fevces. An order found on a captured officer prid: ''You must take prisoners when patrols approach. Do not shoot, but try t.,i capture them. It is clearly to the interest of every regiment to take prisoners. otherwise the higher command will order operations on a large scale with a v!p\v of identifying the regiment opposing: them." Lritish Headquarters says that tlie host index of what the Germans are thinking is found in captured letters and diaries. A Bavarian writes: "The Englis'i aviators and gunners are greatly feared." A soldier of the 06th Infantry writes: ' For a whole week the awful English five has never stopped. It is dreadful, 'llie one question is 'How long?' " A soldier of the 3rd Ersatz Regiment says: "This is wholesale murder. It is quite cle&r that Germany is losing." Another writes: "This is terribly cn"hing. We now have doubts as rega:ds the result of the war. What a d'siilusionment!" London., Nov. 20. There is extreme congestion of telegraphic traffic, partially in consequence or the severe storms, which have. eg::scfi n v.hoesale breakdown c," wires. Tata explains the heavy delays am. :ieeHsit.ited a stringent temnorary curtailing of messages.

THREE DAYS' FROST. LIGHT LOSSES OF KRITI.SH AND CANADIANS. ENEMY DUG-OUTS POOR AND FLIMSY. Received Nov. 22, 1.50 a.m. London, Nov. 21. The correspondents at the British headquarters state it has been freezing for three days, the water on the roads being frozen solid, and the whole earth blanketed with white. The British and Canadian troops who were responsible for the latest gains achieved suffered unusually light casualties. Tiie only serious resistance encountered was south of Grandeconrt, where machine-gun 3 were dominating the sunken roads, and the gullies afforded the enemy a temporary respite. The captured positions were of less strength than on the Grandecourt line, although the Germans attempted, by digging in mud and ooze, to maintain a grip of the hillside. The dug-outs were poor, flimsy affairs, compared with the deep defences above the Ancre. The Saxons were genuinely glad to surrender. A thaw set in at mid-dav, with slime, slush, and a raw November fog. FRONT RELATIVELY CALM, London, Nov. 20. A Paris communique states that the V estern front is relatively calm. CONSIDERABLE AETILJjERYINO. Received Nov. 21, S p.m. ■Paris, Nov. 21. There is considerable hostile artillerying north of the Somrae and at Douaumont.