ASTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1917, Page 5

ASTERN ATTACK.

THE CAPTURE OF GRAND COURT. *IW PHASE OF GERMAN 'i iICS. DETAILS OF OFFENSIVE. GEIMAXS FACING BACK . Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. London, February 10. Mr Phillip Gibbs, the war eorrespondent, states that the German abandonment of Grandeourt, enabling us to walkin practically unopposed, proves that the German command prefers, at this stage, to save casualties rather than to hold ground regardless of cost. This is a new phase, as a year ago pride would not have let Germany take aiuli a ; course.

Grandeourt, after the capture of Beaucourt and Beaumont Hamel, must have become a place oi misery for the Germans, and the position was still worseafter Sunday as the result of the British advance.

The Germans probably then began tha withdrawal of their troops lo a. stronger and higher position south of Miraumont, Where they are digging in with great industry. ' One trench barred the way to Grandcourt. The British on Tuesday trudged steadily across the snow and found a fe» Germans, much litter, and a. number ot dead, it was decided to push on.

The enemy's massed gnns rained explosives on the whole of the Contat-maisoD-Pozieres countrj', and no one knew if Grandeourt was occupied, therefore our artiliery put up a great barrage. The. enemy's gtins responded but did not cheek our advance. there was no fighting, the village being jn ruins.

. The British quietly took possession of .Grandeourt, which was honeycombed jritb. deep dug-outs, filled with stores and rations. The seizure of the Bailelscourt farm happened on Wednesday night, in the : bright light of a, full moon. The Germans apparently had not anticipated an 'attaok and were caught in the dug-out's and ruing. There was no resistance. It ,wiw chiefly a matter of dodging shellfire while walking in an abandoned position. These captures are important., in- ' teres ting and significant.

The new German methods seem (o consist in falling back here and there to the defences before Bapauroe. which tbey have been strengthening without ceasing since the Somme battles opened Perhaps they are anxious to quit the low-lying ground before the thaw sets in.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. .MUTUAL AIR RAIDS % '&, K.2. Cable Association and Reuter. Beceived.Feb 11, 5.5 p.m. London, February 10. We carried out a successful conn-de-"Tnain east of Rheims and offensively bombarded the sector Hill 304; also a coup-de-maiu west >f Arberive in the sectors BezangesPn roy. There is vio.knt artillerying on he Vacher au Ville pnd Couriers Wood front.

German aeroplane; bombed Dunkirk, .Amiens and Nancy, iVo being killed. Tile Admiralty reports that naval aeroplanes attacked the aerodrome at GMstelles on Friday, and that many JKmrbs reached, the objective. THE GERMAN VERSION. A. & N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.

Received Feb. 11, 5.6 p.m. London, February 10. Berlin, official.—We repulsed a British detachment south of Sa-illy and checked a French attack on Hill 304. A French attwfc on iPoivre Hill failed. The Germans penetrated the French lines near JVaaix, north of St. Mihiels, and destroy- \*& itigonts, with their inmates.

BRITISH RAIDS. ENEMY CAUGHT IN BARRAGE. .Received Feb. 10, 7.40 p.m. London, February 9. Meld-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig rework:—We made raids east of Vermelles. South-east of Ypres many dugouts were destroyed. The enemy s attempt to approach our lines south of AraSitores nanlted in his being caught ■' inVtanragc and eas.ly raised- Our