FIERCE FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1917, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT.

ENEMY GAINS A FOOTING. AT VERY HEAVY COST. STORMING TROOPS NEARLY ANNIHILATED. A. & N.Z. Cable Association & Seuter. Received July 1, 5.5 p.m. London, June 30. A French communique reports that north-east of Cei'ny the enemy renewed strong attacks, launching two on La Bovelle, supported by a stream of liquid fire. After a 'violent fight they gained a foothold on the salient, which had been completely flattened out by the bombardment. The artillery struggle was continued with extreme violence, throughout the Avocourt-Morthomme region. Wp counter attacked west of Hill 304, regaining a portion of the trenches previously occupied by the enemy. Simultaneously the Germans undertook a violent offensive west of Morthomme, on a front of more than two kilometres. A later communique says that after the bloody defeat inflicted yestereve in the region of Cerny, the enemy further attacked a position north-west of the village and succeeded, after several fruitless attempts, costing them heavily, in again penetrating the first line elements from which we had driven them. Southeast of Coobeny the Germans launched a particularly violent attack the same night, several battalions of special assaulting troops were engaged, and made several attempts to carry the salient on v both sides of the Laon-Rlieims road. Waves of the assault were broken and rolled back with heavy losses. Our Are nearly annihilated the storming troops, who first succeeded in penetrating tho first line, along the whole length of the front, but were repulsed on the greater part by counter attacks, except on the western slopes of Morthomme, where they retained their footing. Left of the Meuse, on the sector from Hill 304 to Avocourt Wood.

HUN TACTICS AT Z'EESBUGGE. Amsterdam, June 29. : The Telegraaf states that the Germans compelled SOD Belgian civilians to remain within half a mile of the hailbor of Zeebrugge, .presumably with the hope that it would have a deterrent effect cm British naval activity. The entire region is a great iqrtress. Marines and infantry are quartered on tho dunes, and an enormous mass of artillery is concentrated.