WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE VERDUN PUSH. SNOW HINDERING CONSOLIDATION. "VICTORY IS CERTAIN.* Paris, Dee. IS. The Germans have reverted to the earlier practice of holding the foremost tr-Miches in strength, because thinly held lines could not he trusted to resist. The only result, at Verdun has been an increase in the number of prisoners. The victors include the colonial troops v. l:o captured Dnr.nuinant in November.

The Germans have now lost observation points down the ravines. Another similar rush will thrust them to the line occupied before February 21. Snow is falling heavily and hinders the.work of consolidation. - General Nivelle, who has succeeded General Joll'rc as Commander-in-Chief, in bidding farewell to the staff at Verdun, added: ''Victory is certain. I give you my word on that, as Germany will learn to.her cost." New York, Dee. IS. 7hf Berlin correspondent of the New York Times .states that the Kaiser and Crown Prince have started on an inspection ttiur oi' the west, front. London, Dec. IS. "he Air Board describes successful hoicking raid-; in France. German artu'i'iy prisoners admit that large nunil< rs of guns have been directly hit as result of the accurate observation of Lr.tisli aviators. THE CAPTURES AT VERDUN. London, Dee. IS. A French communique states: The firmans violently counter-attacked our new positions on the right bank of the Me.ise, but failed to gain a footing, expect. at the farm of Chambrettes, the immediate approaches to which we eon-tv-i.e to hold. Since December 15 we have counted 11.307 prisoners, including 254 officers, at Verdun. We have alfo captured or destroyed 105 guns, 44 mine throwers, and 107 machine-guns. i GERMANS DEMORALISED. BY ANGLO-FRENCH ARTILLERY. Australian Cable Association. Received Dec. "10, 5.1fl p.m. London, Dee. IS. Many accounts from the West front concur as to the tremendous AngloFrench artillery demoralising the Germans, who are increasingly surrendering On slight provocation.

BRITISH ENTER ENEMY TRENCHES. FREXCH REGATX THE LOST FARM. Received Dec, 1!), 11.55 p.m. London, Dec. 19. General Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We successfully entered trenches southward of Armentieres last night, killing a number of the enemy. A Parh communique states:—South of the Sonime there was fairly lively reciprocated artillery activity at the La Maisonette sector, on the right bank of the Jleuse. After a sharp fight we ejected the enemy from ?liambrettes Farm, the whole of which we re-oc-cupied.

BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS. * ESTIMATED AT 90,^00. Received Dec. 20, 1.33 a.m. Amsterdam, Dec. M. It is estimated that 00,000 Belgians have been deported during the two months.