WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

ATTACKING "IMPREGNABLE" WOOD. BRITISH BATTEIuNG TACTICS. FIRST PHASE ENDED. GERMANS REACH HIGH GROUND. BRITISH GUNS BOMBARDING. Times Service. Received March 6, 8.35 p.m. London, March 5. The Germans* boasted that St. Pierre Vaast Wood, -which is more than one and a. quarter miles square, was impregnable, yet, despite bitter opposition the British are already far along the south, storming and taking prisoners in the trenches. Mr. Beach Thomas, the war correspondent, who bus returned from the Somrae, after a lengthy absence, states that the main change in the British fighting is that the/ batter the German,, worse during the' trench war. The British certainly have inflicted heavier losses. A, battalion at Loos claims that snipers have accounted for thirty-eight Germans in a week, while there were no British casualties. The Germans on the Anc-re prom-aed to be an impregnable line, witli concrete dugouts and cast iron invisible emplacements, while the British grovelled in waterlogged earthworks; nevertheless the retreat was depressing to the German morale. The first phase has finished. The German* have reached a line on the high ground north of Gommecourt and Le Transloy. Already the British gv:: : < are bombarding it, and fires behind the lines indicate that the second phase is coming. ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. POSITIONS STRENGTHENED. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS NUMEROUS AIR FIGHTS FRENCH SUCCESSLT A. & N.Z. Cable Association r-<\ Router. Received March 0, 10.45 p.m. London, March 5. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy's attack eastward of Bouchavesnes Was repulsed. We strengthened our positions eastward of Gommecourt. and carried out raids near Arras. The enemy had many casualties. We entered trenches south-eastward of Givenehy and took prisoners. Many air fights have taken place, German aeroplanes were brought down and eight damaged. Two of ours were brought down, and five are missing A French communique states: On the right of the Meuse vigorous counterattacks ejected the enemy from part or the line he occupied yesterday north of Caurieres Wood. An enemy attempt north of Fleury completely failed. Our fire wrecked works at Hezang Wood. Three enemy aeroplanes were brought down. ° . «i PRISONERS BEHIND THE LINES. GERMANY MUST REPLY Paris, March 5, Regarding the German employment of French prisoners behind the lines, the Government lias given Germany a brief period within which she must reply. AN INFAMOUS OUTRAGE. PROBABLY INTENDED FOR COMING BATTLES. Times Service. Received March 0, 5.5 p.m. London, March 5. At the German-War Minister's direction thousands of war prisoner? may be employed in the German lines as reprisals. This is generally regarded as a preliminary to future atrocities. l The Daily Mail describes this as an infamy, and that it i« intended to use prisoners as screens in the coming battles, as similar assertions preceded the previous use of Belgian screens 'against gas. Paris newspapers urge that neutrals should intervene. GERMANY DIVIDES BELGIUM. London. March 5. Germany has divided Belgium into two provinces, Flemish and Walloon, of which Brussels and Namur arc the capitals. Amsterdam, March a. Belgium remains under the GovernorGeneral. The new province has statutes similar to those of Poland. The Cologne Gazette says the step proves that Germany has the best intentions towards the Flemish, and adds: "This is no annexation." ' HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. • London, March 5. A French communiqua states that after an intense bombardment in the Tegion of Caurieres Wood, on the right bank of the Meuse, the enemy vigorously attacked on a front of three kilometres, between Chambrettes Farm and Bezonvaux. Repeated assaults between Caurieres Wood and Bezonvaux failed. <Thc enemy obtained a footing in our advanced elements north of Caurieres Wood, but our fire smashed all attempts tq penetrate tlio wood, with heavy enemy lossei.