WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GREAT FRENCH VICTORY. GENERAL NIVELLE'S DEBUT. VAST' I iPKRATTONS IN VKRDUN SECTOR, ENEMY FRONT PIERCED TI-IKKE KILOMETRES DEEP SEVERAL POSITIONS CAPTURED GERMANS SURRENDER ALONG WHOLE LINE. SI ANY THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN. Received Dee. 17. 5.5 p London, Dec. 10. A Paris communique states: After several days' artillery preparation, we attacked the enemy in the morning north of Doiiaumont, between the Mouse and tie Woevre, on a front cxceed'ng ten k'lometres. The enemy front was everywhere pierced to a depth of three kilnmetres. We captured, besides numerous trenches, the villages of Vaelicr-ai;-Ville and Louvemont. farms at Chainbrettes, and works at Hardaiunont and Bczonvaux. We. have not counted al! prisoners, but 7,500, including 200 officers, have already passed_the collecting stations. We took or destroyed numerous guns, including heavy fie|d pieces and trench guns, besides a great quantity of material.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather the air service brilliantly participated in the success, which was complete, our troops displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight.

On the Vacher-au-ville—Keaumont read French contingents surged up bel'ino the Germans, causing a panic. They abandoned, everything. The attalckers from Poivre H'll assisted in the rout. Half an hour from the commencement of the attack tl>- French were on top. The village of Louvemont was speedily captured, the Germans surrendering along the whole line. The victorious troops pushed nil to C'hainbrettes Farm, south-east of the horn of Bois' des-Fosses. The artillery had completely destroyed Hardaumont defences, so they weue unable to assist the enemy, who fclj back in disorder, leaving- the whole vccod in French hands.

General Mangin. having gained his objective, dispatched search parties in all directions, who destroyed numerous puns. The positions captured yesterday were those taken by the Germans 011 February THE OFFENSIVE DESCRIBED. ARMY'S REPLY TO PEACIi PROPOSALS. Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m Paris. Dec It'. The newspapers arc enthusiastic over the Verdun army's reply to <•!■; peace picposals. General Niveilcs made a brilliant debut as chief in command. He and General Petain planned the vast opera tii.ns. which General Mangin carried out. On General Nivelles' signal, ac in a.m.. five of the attacking divisions dashed forward under the protection o f guns of all calibres. They immediately penetrated the enemy's trenches, whose occupants were unable to oppose seriously, but made use of numerous machine-guns at Vacher-au-ville, where the fighting, though Bhort, was very livejy. The French, admirably led, dushed to the. slopes of Poivre Hill, crushing all opposition, yelling and shouting, Above the din the watchers could clearly hear the notes of the Marseillaise as Vaucherau villc and Poivre Hill were captured Ly the onrush. The Germans, seeing that resistance was impossible, fell back in good order

POUR FRENCH DIVISIONS DEFEAT FIVE G-ERMAX. Received Dec. 17, 5.5 -p.rn. London, Dec. 10. A French communique states: —Four French divisions, which yesterday attacked between the .Mouse and Woevre, defeated five German divisions, whereof all regiments were iji action. Prisoners were taken from every one. The enemy did not counter-attack during the night. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. • ' Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 10. General Sir Douglas Haig reports:— An enemy attack upon Les Boeufs was crushed. We raided trenches southward of Armentieres and eastward of Vh>'tstrait. A powerful enemy raiding party endeavored to enter the line southward of St. Eloi, a few leaching the trenches, but they were immediately ejected. The enemy's losses were severe. GERMANS ADMIT FRENCH GAINS. Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m London, Dec. 16. A German evening official report states "that .a strong French attack has been ill progress east of the Meuse since the fu'enoon, whereby the French gained advantages in the direction of Louvemont ana Hardaumont. The fighting continues. GERMAN OFFICIAL DISPATCH. London, Dee. 15. A German official dispatch says:— V e repulsed a' triple attack south-east of Malancourt, while after' strong preparatory fire extending far and near the French attacked in waves at Cote de Loivre, but failed. FRENCH REFORMS. Paris, Dec. 15. Le Matin, in an interview with M. Harriott, Minister of Transports, learned that the provisioning of the army with corn, coal and potatoes will be carried out with the co-operation of civilians. Mr. Herriotfc intends to assist in the formation of a new mercantile fleet and to increase the coal output exploiting surface cqnjbiistible#

A FURTHER ADVANCE. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED, OVER 11000 PRISONERS AND 31 GUNS TAKIi.V. Received Dec. 17, 11.53 p.ioLondon, Dee. 17. A French communique states:—Following up our successes on the right of the Meuse, wo progressed in O.niricreswood, and captured tlie village of I'ezonvanx. A violent German attack at Pepperville was decisively repulsed. We •naintained the whole of our new front. Prisoners continue to arrive. So far tliej' exceed !H)(K), including' 250 officers. We captured or destroyed 81 guns. BRITISH BOMBARD TRENCHES. Received Dec. 17, 11.30 p.m. London, Dec. 1/. General Sir. Douglas Haig' reports We bombarded trenches northward of HiiUuch and eastward of Neuve Chappelle.

DISTRIBUTION OF ENEMY FORCES. (Reuter). Paris, Dee. 15. Official.—On December 1 the enemy forces were distributed as follows: —123 divisions on the "west front. 100 on the Russian, 2!) on the Roumanian, 12 on the Macedonian, and H 3 on the Italian and Albanian fronts. [A division is roughly 20,000 ] FRENCH MINER PATRIOTS. Paris, Dec. ,15. The miners in Nortliei/n France have decided to work an hour longer daily.