WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

, ENEMY ATTACK FAILS. AIR SQUiIDROW BUS®. Received May 28, 5.5 p.m. London, A French communique states:—An enemy attempt north of Laplaux mill failed. Our air squadrons heavily bombed a number of military establishments and factories, causing several fires. BRITISH LINE ADVANCED. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. ■ [London, May 27. Sir Douglas llaig reports: Our line advanced slightly to-day westward and north-westward of Fontaine-les-Croiß-I elles. We-made a successful raid early this morning north-westward of Wytschaete and secured prisoners. We made many air reconnaissances and bombing raids. On Friday ten German aeroplanes were 'brought down; Ave.of ours missing. We successfully raided last night north-west of St. Quentin. We repulsed uii attack east of Loos! The enemy artillery ■ wsa again activo south of the Scarpe. . . j BRITISH GAINS EXTENDED. ELEVEN AEROPLANES DOWNED. Received May 28, 7.45 p.p. ! London, May 28. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We gained further ground in the' neighborhood of Fontaine and Les Croiselles, near the Oojeal -river. We brought down eleven enemy aeroplanes. Four of ours arc missing. 1 HEROIC FRENCH. HQLD IMPORTANT POSITIONS. Received May 26', 8 p.m. > London, May 28. A special correspondent at French headquarters gives a graphic description of the position of the California plateau, where the French held out for 3 wcekß in hurriedly-improvised trendies. Tho men often only had one meal a day. The importance of tho plateau lies in the fact that it marks the eastern extremity of a great crest overlooking, southwards the valley of the Aisne, and northwards tho valley of the Ailette. FRENCH! POSITIONS EXTENDED. ' London, May 26. A French communique states: Two successive attacks launched- against our salients east and west of Ceray were without result. Wo attacked both sides of Mont Cornillet, considerably extending our positions. HUN PRESSURE OK BELGIANS. Amsterdam, May 27. The Germans arc increasing the war contribution payable 'by the Belgian provinces from fifty to Bixty million francs monthly, owing to the increased expense of maintaining the army of occupation. ; MANT'F'-ACTURED REPORTS. London, May 27. A wireless Gorman official report states: We carried out surprise Attacks on the Chemin-dcß-DamoS," which considerably improved our positions. We easily repulsed a French counter-attack. Three strong French attacks southward and south-eastward of Nauroy on a fourkilometre front failed. Our air squadron dropped bombs on Dover and Folkestone with good results. The enemy lost 21 aeroplanes on Friday. We repulsed tile English reconnoitring advances southward of Acheville. Fivo French southward of Pargny and an attack near Vauxaillon failed. We shot down yesterday 15 enemy aviators.