WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1916, Page 4

WESTERN ATTACK.

CHRISTMAS IN TRENCHES * ISLANDS IN OCEAN OF MUD. , MEN IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS Received Dec. 20, 7.5 p.m. London, Dec. 25 Mr. Philip ttibbs telegraphs: Christina! Eve was mild and springlike, with a glint of sunshine. The supply columns of motor lorries, containing Christmas provender for men, beasts, and guns, ploughed through the thick slime. Th« ciimps. hutments, and dugouts ?esembl< islands in an ocean of jrmd. The Aus- \ tralians and New Zealandors were observed flinging money about the booths and market places upon trinkets destined for a long seii journey. These fellows in slouch hats wandered into the beßt restaurants in the region of the battlefields and chose dishes without worrying about the price. Some of the units had tho bad luck to he in the trenches, but there was no grousing, though the shell holes were half full of water it was hard to keep from freezing. Every effort wr.s made to get a lump of plum pudding,

A SUCCESSFUL RAID. ARTILLERY DOES MUCH DAMAfIB. Received Dec. 20. f> p.m. London, Dee. 2ft.. General Sir Douglas Haig report?:— \\ e successfully raided trenches southwest of Lens and eastward of Arnic-r:-ticres. The enemy blew up Camonilet, south of Saint Eloi, the damage being siight. We shelled the enemy defences and headquarters north of the Soinme, doing much damage. General Sir Douglas Haig report-:--We raided trenches in the neighborhood of Ifebnteme, taking prisoners, and successfully discharged gas. West of ' Mcsine the enemy at Camonflet and Mount Sorrel bombarded us without We shelled a working party! northeast of Morval. Details of the raid north of Arras on. the 2l),'h show that two linos of trenches were penetrated in- broad daylight' on a 400 yards front, and all the objective-*' were attained. Paris, Dec. 2(i. - A communique states:—The day was comparatively quiet everywhere on tUa West front. There was a violeui.artillery struggle north of Monastir, in the Balkans.' A French communique records lively, artillerying, especially on the bank of the Meuse, and small enejny attacks in the Champagne and soiit-J of Avre. ■ A French detachment in the region of Roye penetrated German tienches. The occupants fled after Ins*.