WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

NEW GERMAN TACTICS. * INVOLVING RUINOUS LOSSES. Received July 4, 9 p.m. London, July 3. The Times' Paris correspondent says the violence of the bombardment of Cheiuin des Dames caused the French to retire from this front line trench. Our batteries immediately concentrated upon the line, which the enemy, in spite of severe losses, was unable to hold. A splendid counter attack in the evening swept the Crown Prince from his costly perch. The Germans are now modifying this method of attack, endeavoring to flatten the French trenches before attacking, thus destroying their prospects of shelter against the French guns, and involving them in ruinous losses. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. A. & N.Z. Cable Association & Reuter. Received July 4, 0,30 p.m. London, July 3. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided westward of Havriacourt and northward of Nieuport. We repulsed an attack southward of Cojeul river, HELLISH FIRE. HELPLESS AGAINST THE BRITISH. GERMANS HOPE TO BE TAKEN PRISONERS. Reuter Service. Received July 4, G. 46 p.m. London, July 3. The special correspondent at the British front gives an extract from a Gcrma* letter found at the Messines ridge: "Wo have been fourteen days in a hellish fire. Day and night we crouch together in holes awaiting our doom, qnd wearing gas masks, as the English fire gas shells by the hundredweight, as well as aerial torpedoes. Trench work is impossible with shrapnel all night. So far, our division, which was composed of three regiments, has lost 3400 in barely three months. We are quite helpless against the British. We cannot sit or lie down. Our artillery cannot fire by day, and we all hope to be taken prisoner, otherwise we shall go mad." SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS. COMPLETE DEFEAT OIF THE ENEMY. Received July 4. 11.55 p.m. London, July 3. A French communique states: Yesternight, after bombardment, the Germans wade a series of violent attacks upon *lie trenches which we recaptured on both sides of the Paissy-AUies road. A most violent struggle all night long ended in the complete defeat of the enemy. We maintained our positions. The artillery duel increased in intensity at midnight on Hill 304, in the Avoucount wood sector. The Germans early in the morning attacked on a front of five hundred metres on the southern extremity of the wood. Our fire smashed the assaulting waves', which were una'ble to reach our lines. CANADIANS PUSH FORWARD. CELEBRATING DOMINION'S ANNIVERSARY. Received July 4, 6.5 p.m. London, July 3. Mr, Philip Giibbs reports that there was great gunning at Lens on Sunday, j The Canadians pushed further through Avion on Sunday, southwards, near Fresnoy and Oippy. The Canadians celebrated the Dominion's anniversary by a special shoot at midday, when all their howitzers fired a tremendous salvo on the enemy's lines. The Germans were apparently annoyed, and retaliated with great quantities of Sin. shells. BRITISH SUFFER SLIGHT REVERSE. v " London, July 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—As the result of hard fighting westward of Lens our advance posts were driven Iback slightly. There was considerable reciprocal artillery fire at numerous points. ARTILLERY WORK AT CERNY. A. and N.Z. Caible Assoc. and Reuter, Received July 4, 5.5 p.m. London, July 3. A French communique states: During the day there was reciprocal artillerying at the sectors on the west and cast of Cerny, but no infantry work. ARGENTINA. REPARATION DEMANDED. Buenos Aires, July 4. The Argentine has demanded from Germany immediate reparation and indemnification for sinking the steamship Protogido, as Germany has not carried out her promised reparation.