WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

FURIOUS FIGHTING. ARTILLERY DUEL. London, June &. lA! French communique states that there was a most intense artillery duel 1 on the Cliemin-des-Danies. The Germans ( launched two waves of attack against i our position near flurtebise, 'but were thrown bade after furious fighting, and our line was maintained. There were lively actions on the Belgian front. At midnight seven German aeroplanes a'iid a captive balloon were brought doHvn. I THE GERMAN REPORT. Admiralty.—Per Wireless 'Press. Received June 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Juno 6. Wireless German official report sfates: 1 ~ Artillerying at Wytsehaeie has been continued with only short interruptions. I Wo repulsed strong reconnoitring ad- : vances. Fighting activity lias increased ■ in the neighborhood of the coasts, and ' cn the Artois front. The English attack- - ed strongly at nightfall northward of the Scarpe, but the Bavarians heavily ; drove back the enemy. Between Gavrelle and Fampeux the enemy penetrated our • positions at Roeux. At the railway sta- • tion the fighting continues. A third ' French attack on Winterberg failed. The j enemy lost eleven aeroplanes. SLIGHTLY PROGRESSED. , GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. Received June 7, 10.20 p.m. London, June 7. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Ilaig reports: Wo slightly progressed southward of the Souchez river, and now hold tho electric power station, where fighting on Sunday was a success. Southward of Ypres there 'was great aerial activity, bombing day and night with good results. We brought down twelve German aeroplanes, and drove down six others in an uncontrollable state. Five of ours are missing. BRITISH GAIN OBJECTIVES. CONSIDER ABLE lAJRTILLERYING. Keoeived June 7, 8 p.m. London, June 7. ' Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully completed the operation commenced yesternight northward of the Scarpe, and gained all. our objectives. Wo captured positions on tho western slope of Greenland 'Hill, on a mile front. The raids northward of Ypres yielded a few prisoners. There is considerable mutual artillerying,' particularly northward of the Scar.pe, in the neighborhood of Vimy, Armentieirres, and Ypres. We brought down eight German aeroplanes and drove down eight others in an uncontrollable state. Seven of ours are missing. GERMANS ATTACK. " SMAS'H-Bn BY THE FRENCH. ißeceived June 7, : 8 p.m. London, June 7. A French communique states: After a bombardment the Germans delivered several attacks at different points between the Ailette and Laon road and northwest of Bray-en-Laonnois. Our fire immediately smashed two attempts against 'Mortierre wood The enemy suffered appreciably in concentrated efforts north of Chemin-dcs-Diimes. They only succeeded in reaching our lines at a single point. Some portions of our front lino trench remain in tho enemy's hands. Everywhere elgo thoy were thrown back. The artillery struggle is lively in the Nieuport sector.

FIGHTING. UNDERGROUND

PIERCE CONFLICT AT HOEUX. London., May 15.' Mr. Pirrie Kobinsori, The Times correspondent at British Headquarters, writes: —Saturday's attack at Koeux ' largely surprised the enemy. In one dugout we made prisoners of a German doctor and his staff. Finding the place equipped as a dressing station wt' took our wounded there for treatment. As no one spoke the German doctor went i ahead dressing the wounded, labelling i' each one when .finished for despatch to . "Berlin. It was not until lie had treated i ovor 100 that lie discovered lie was not treating prisoners taken by the Germans, hut that he himself was a prisoner. English, Scotljsh and Irish troops participated in fierce fighting at Koeux, in the underground, where the. Germans utilised curious local ancient subterranean tunnels with large chambers, which they had improved and strengthened, and Btocked with ma-chine-guns, the only real entrance being through an old . well in the corner of the cemetery, down which our men poured. The defenders were all killed or taken prisoner. The strength of the defence elsewhere is indicated by the fact that machine-gun emplacements are protected . with seven feet of solid guns, the guns - being placed to fire in any direction.