WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

A NIPPY CAPTURE. BAVARIANS SURPRISED AT BKEAK-1 FAST. I —_ * Received June 18, 10.15 p.m. j London, June 18. Percival Phillips reports one of the neatest achievments in the way of caphires. The infantry on the hill near ' Monohy surprised two companies of Bavarians breakfasting in the trencher-. The British quietly slipped across and without firing- a shot, brought back 3 prisoners withirr two minutes. It was the quickest and most effective little job of the recent operations. The Bavarians were compelled to leave their steaming coffee. A BRISK FIGHT. GERMAN ATTACKERS EJECTED. Received June 18, 6.5 p.m, Paris, June 17. A French communique states: Following last night's bombardment of the Hurteboise sector, the enemy attacked and succeeded in entering a salient of our positions, but were driven back after a brisk fight, only being able to maintain himself in a small element in the advanced line. Artillery was continued all day long here and north of Cerny, al«o north of Braveen-Laonnois. The enemy violently bombarded Rheinis during the last days. Twelve hundred shells fell to-day. There were many civilian casualties. ENEMY BEWILDERED. WHERE TO MAKE NEXT STAND. A PRUSSIAN CORPS WIPED OUT. i Received June 18, f1.5 p.m. London, June 17. Mr. Phillip Gibbs says there are signs of the bewilderment of the enemy. After the loss of Messines the German command appears to be undecided as to where to make the next stand. There are many groups of Germans in the neighborhood of Warneton. It is a hideous position, because they are out of touch with headquarters, and are living an awful life in the shell craters, which are under our gunfire. The advance on the west side of Bullecourt takes another Hindenburg line, whereof little now is left. The organisation of the army is amply provided for. The hot weather and fierce sun are baking the troops brown. It is noteworthy that water is being sent up quicWy, and at the Messines battle also two lemons were provided for each man. By common consent it is acknowledged that the "Messines show" was tho best thing any army has done. Twenty German officers were dragged out of a dug-out at Wytschaeto in the blackest despair, and declared that their men had gone to the devil. The second division of an East Prussian corps was wiped out. From 3600, two thousand were taken prisoner, and most of the remainder were killed or wounded. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. FRENCH DISPERSE ENEMY ATTACK London, June \l. Sir Douglas Haig reports that Portuguese troops repelled several raids during June. We successfully raided northward of Gouzeancourt Our artillery frustrated a raid southward of the Ypres-Com-incs Canal. A French communique states that an enemy attack which was being prepared against our positions at Largonville, north-west of Cerny, was .dispersed by our fire. . i.. in- - <_«<■ GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. A. & N.Z. Ca,ble Association & Reuter. Received June 18, 0.5 p.m. London, June 17. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was hostile artillerying southward of Lens at a number of points between Armentieres and Ypres. There was great air activity yesterday. We brought down seven aeroplanes, and drove down three. Two of ours are missing. GERMAN GENEROSITY (?)' London, June 17. 'A German official report says:—As Britain has announced that the withdrawal of all Germans war prisoners to thirty kilometres (20) miles behind the front has been completed, Germany has done the same. HORRIBLE BRUTALix'IES TO BELGIANS. New York, June 17. Dr. Arrowsmith, of the American Belgian Relief Committee, stateß that owing to the awful brutalities Belgian hatred of Germany is. growing hotter. He daily visited the hospital for returned deported men. It was heartrending to see the wrecks. Men of 25 looked 60. The men's feet were black as the result of the favourite punishment of making theip stand in water for 24 hours. He saw horrible bruises and unhealed wounds as the result of clubbings and kickings. Men were dying in the hospital at the rate of two daily.