WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GERMANS REPULSED. j i WITH HEAVY LOSSES. i BRITISH ENTER ENEMY POSITIONS 783 PRISONERS CAPTURED. Aust and N.Z. Cable Assn and Reuters. Received Ft/. ]!>, 8.20 p.m. London, Feb. 18. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: On Autre on Saturday we took 773 prisoners. In the morning three waves of German infantry, accompanied by supporting troops, attacked our new positions at Baillescourt Farm. The,) came under our concentrated artillery fire and were driven back with heavy losses before reaching our lines. We entered positions at night southwest and north-west of Arras, south of Manquissant and north of Vpres and inflicted many casualties. We repulsed raiders south of Ypres. A French communique states: There is lively arlillerying on both banks of the Meuse, especially in the region of Bezon, Vaux and Hill 304.

IMPORTANT NEW GROUND. WON BY THE BRITISH GERMANS BEATEN BACK. Received Feb. 19,10.30 p.m. London, Feb. 19. Mr Philip Gibbs says that Friday's and Saturday's successes north-east of Grandecourt give the British important new ground on both sk|es of the Anew on the high rising slopes dominating tha ruined villages of Miraumont and Per-pit-Miraumont, This steady progress was ll precise repetition of the attacks which resulted in the enemy's evacuation oi Grandecourt, which was then in a similar position to that now occupied at Miraumont. Prior to Saturday's attack the Germans had strengthened all the garrisons in the neighbourhood, sending up to tha Prussians large supplies of artillery ammunition. They knew that if the high ground south of the Ancfe was . lost the two' Miraumonts must surrender. The German commander ordered the high ground to be held at all costs, yet as ft result of two days' fighting and heavy counter attacks the Germans lost all the slopes, and hold only a hillock guarding the enemy at Miraumont, which consists of a strongly defended kuoll wherein the Prussians still resist, but the British outposts have dug in close below, whiln shell fire is demolishing the earthworks. RECENT GERMAN RUSH.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION. Eeuter Service. • Received Feb. 19, 8.40 p.m. London, Feb. 18. The French headquarters correspondent throws light on the German attack of February 10 in the neighbourhood of Maison de Champagne, which was a coup de main on a large scsjle, with the object of improving their local position. The sector selected was immediately east sf the salient left in the German line between Tohure and Butte Mesnil by the French offensive in September, 'l9in, when the assault swept past a tremendously powerful position, leaving a largish peninsula in the conquered territory. The attack was preceded by ex tremely heavy artillerying. The enemy also exploded a mine under the front line, demolishing the defences, and then charged, amid the ensuing confusion. The operation was no more than a single successful rush.