WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE NEW GERMAN LIN*.

BEING STRONGLY FORTIFIED.

DEPARTMENT OF SOMME COMPLETELY LIBERATED. HON DEATH TRAPS. j BRITISH LINE NOW STRAIGHT. Received April % 6.30 p.m. London, April 3. Mr Beach Thomas, describing the position on the West front; says the new contracted Hindenburg line runs from Beaurains to St. Quentin, and that the German guns are within reach. We see great mixing places for concrete, wherewith the line is being fortified, and heavier artillery is resounding. The department of the Somme is now completely liberated. There has been villainous destruction, and the attempts at assassination by,man-traps continue, the commonest being sham fires made of bombs resembling sticks. The headquarters correspondent says that our line is now almost dead straight for 14 miles from Beaurains, south of Arras, to the ; great AmiensCainbrai road|. near Bea'umetz.

IMPORTANT PROGRESS MADE. FRENCH CARRY A ' SERIES OP POSITIONS Received April 4, 0.55 p.m. i London, April 3. A French communique states:—East and west of the Somme, after violent artillery preparation, we attacked the position on the south of the line Castoes-essigny-Benay from Epine de Dallon, on the Oise. We attained our objective despite desperate resistance, and carried on a front of 13 kilometres a series of strong points solidly organised, and held by large forces.

We captured Epine de Dallon and the villages of Dallon, Giffecourt, and Cerisy, also several heights south of Novillers and south of the Ailette. We continued our progress in the region of Laffaux, whereof we liold the south and northwestern outskirts. We also carried Vauxeny, and gained a footing in the west and north thereof.

Our batteries caught a German column marching towards Haffaux mill.

The enemy violently bombarded Rheima, and threw over 2000 shells on the town, killing several civilians.

FURTHER CAPTURES.

SEVERE AERIAL FIGHTS.

Received April 4, 6.15 p.m,

London, April 3. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-ports:—South-east of Arras we carried the village of Henin-sur-Cojul, and stopped counter-attacks.

Further south we captured Mais9emy and occupied Ronsay wood. Eight German aeroplanes were brought down, but six of ours are missing. i— , MAISSEMY CAPTURED. New York, April 3. M. Simmß, a war correspondent, reports that the British have captured Maissemy, north-west of St. Quentin. THE KAISER'S PEACE JOKE. Paris, April 3. Le Matin states that the Kaiser recently informed Pesident Wilson that! Germany was willing to evacuate Belgium, maintaining garrisons at Liege, Namur, Antwerp, Ostend, and Zeebrugge, and retaining control of the Belgian railways. She would also evacuate certain French territory with an indemnity of 600 million sterling.

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

London, April 3. A French communique says: There has been intermittent artillery work from the Somme to the Aisne, and at Maison-de-Chainpagne. There have been frequent patrol encounters. A wireless German official message claims to have taken over 300 prisoners near Noreuil, but, coming under the English machine-guns, only 00 reached the lines.