WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH ADVANCE. - BOMBING BEHIND ENEMY LINES. ENEMY OFFENSIVE FRUSTRATED. Received Jan. 7, 11.30 p.m. « 1 1 London, Jan. 7. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We seized and consolidated two posts north of Beaumont Hamel, and successfully raided a wide front. Southeast of Arras we penetrated as far as the third line, destroying many dug-outs »,and much damaging the enemy's defences. Our aeroplanes bombed a number of places of military importance behind the lines, with good results. A Paris communique states: —Thorn has been violent artillery dtels in the region of Pasehendael. We successfully bombarded enemy organisations on the Somme front. Enemy coups de main at the Butte Mesnil, Maisons, Champagne, and Arr da court were frustrated.

ENEMY RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF. TRENCHES BOMBARDED. Received JiSi. 7, .>.5 p.m. London, Jan 6. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: An enemy raiding parly entered onr lines southward of Loos There was htavy fighting, and the onemv was speedily driven out, lcavins •! number of dead. Sdhie of the British are missing. Wo successfully exploded a mine northward of Givenchy. and bombarded trenches opposite Les Boi>u f s, Gneudeconrt, westward of Gommeeotirt, and in the neighborhood of Hill (SO

DESPERATE ATTACK PROPHESIED. Now York. Jan. 5. The New York Times' Paris correspondent is of opinion that, the Germans will attempt a desperate blow in •the west early in the year. M. Gust»ve Herve warns the nation to prepare for an onslaught in February. They must be ready to resist it then, but if it come; later all the better. He anticipates a sudden attack with picked troops, heavy artillery, automobile cannon, and probably tanks. It i» safe to 4:sun>e that after capturing the first British tank the Germans began reproducing it. He does not think the Germans will have large manoeuvring bodies. A NEW ZEALANDER'S FEAT. London. Jan. 5. A headquarters correspondent supplies the following story in connection with recent raids. When the raiders were preparing to leave the. German trenches a New. Zealand sergeant was bvried in the debris. His cries were in heard, but ifter remaining concealed for two hours he boldly'emerged and tried to find th? British trenches. He encountered ja reconnoitring patrol of five Germans. He leu-lied his revolver and shot a noncom. dead. The others hesitated and then laid down their anns The sergeant, who was reported as missing, triumphantly returned with his prisoners and was congratulated by iiis officer, to whom he replied: "It was not me who found the silly Germans; they just came along to be caught." BELGIAN CIVILIANS FORCED TO DO MILITARY WORK. United Service. Received Jan. 7, 5.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 6. The Times learns that, the Germans arc forcing the civilian population in the occupied portions of Belgium and F'anee to do distinctly military work, such as digging and preparing trenches, laying electric wires for military purposes, and preparing the crornd for wire entanglements. AMERICANS FIGHTING WITH ALLIES. Received Jan. C, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 5. The Evening Standard estimates that nearly fifty Americans are fighting with the Allied armies on the Somme. Among them are millionaires, Harvard men, including two brothers Thaw, of Pittsburg, who are lieutenants in the French army. & N.Z. Cable Association olid Renter. Received Jan. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 0. A French communique states: Aerial Ikrfnbafdmeiits were made on "the aerodrome, railway stations, hutments, bivouacs; and ammunition dumps, mostly en the Somme front, during bad