WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

DESPERATE FIGHTING AT LAFFAUX. ENEMY MASSES DRIVEN OFF. FREXCH EXTEND CAPTURED POSITIONS, Received July 9, 0.'20 p.m. I«ondon, July 8. A French communique states: An intense German lximhardmout from north of Uiffaux mill to Froidmont farm preceded violent attacks on four different sectors on this front. After desperate fighting, the enemy masses were driven off with very heavy losses, our positions being entirely maintained. Between des Bovettes and Froidmont :farra an attack developed on a front of three kilometres for several hours. In the struggle the enemy was ejected from the first line elements which he penetrated. We appreciably extended the position which we re-took' on July 1 to the cast of Cerny. We 'brilliantly carried three strong salients on the left ibank of the Meuse, west of Mort Homine, and southwest of Hill 304, counter-attacks being repulsed.

ATTEMPTED RAID STOPPED. : GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. FRENCH BOMB GERMAN TOWNS. ; A. and X.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. London, July 8. We successfully raided south-east of Hagnicourt and north of Ypres. We drove off an attempted raid eastward of Ixios. Aerial fighting yesterday was chiefly 'between Lens and Ypres. In this area a large number of enemy machines were encountered, but despite the enemy's pronounced activity, we bombed and damaged aerodromes. We carried out successful artillery work and photography. The enemy dropped I*4 bombs on our side of the line. Our machines dropped three times that number on the enemy's side.

A French communique states: The enemy air service raided in the Nancy region on Friday. The hospital was bombed, three persons being killed and four wounded. Several were wounded a-t Epernay. Eighty-four French machines made a series of brilliant, operations on Friday night, some attacking towns far in enemy territory as reprisals for German (bombardments. Eleven machines dropped 2i tons of bombs on Treves, causing fires. Six noirfbed Ludwigshafen and the great Baden aniline works at Aenlame. One pilot bomb«d the Krupp works at Essen. The raiders started at f1.20 in the evening and returned at 4.15 in the morning after covering 440 miles. Military establishments at Coblenz, and the stations at Hirson and Thionvillo were bombed. Altogether L3i tons, of bombs were dropped. Two of our machines have not returned.

TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION CAUSED. KRUPPS' SUFFERS BADLY. Times Service. Received July 10, 1.30 a.m. Amsterdam, July 9. News from Westphalia states that the French air raids were terribly destructive, at lea6t 50 deaths being reported. Krupp's suffered badly. The Tihiessen artillery works and buildings were destroyed, and enormous military damage done.

BRITISH RAID. ALL OBJECTIVES BOMBED. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received July 10, 1.30 p.m. London, July 9. The Admiralty reports that naval aeroplanes raided yesterday evening the Ghistclle9 aerodrome, and despite hostile formations and heavy attacks, successfully bombed the objectives. All have returned.

GREAT AIR FIGHTS. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH WORK. Received July 10, 1.55 p.m. London, July !). Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is continued enemy aerial activity. Cur pilots yesterday frequently broke up large formations, and earned out successful raids. We bombed and machinegunned enemy aeroplane depots and troops. We brought down six German machines, ten being driven down. Eight of ours are missing.

CARDINAL MERCEER*S CASE. Rome, July 8. It is reported that Germany Ims asked the Pope to recall Cardinal Mercicr from Belgium. The request was em- j phatically reflused. Germany insists that relations have (become strained. PROPOSED FOOD SUBSIDY. London, July 8. It is understood that. Lord Rhondda is recommending the Government to grant a subsidy of twelve millions nteiling to reduce "the price of bread. He also hopes to fix the prices of meat, taking over the meat control from the Board of Trade.

A TYPICAL GERMAN REPORT. A. and N.Z; Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received July 0, 8.5 p.m. London, July 8. A wireless German official report says: Artillery duels are takinß place on the coa=t ill the Ypres and Wytschaete sectors, also at Lens, between the Somme nnd the Oise. French attacks westward of Cerny, southward of La Bovelle farm, south-westward of Ailles, also at Mt. Cornillet, Hill 304, and on the western slope of Morthomme failed. Enemy aviators dropped a hundred incendiary bombs in the Westphalian in- j dustrial region, at Trier, Mannheim, Liz-1 wizsliafen and Rodalben, but no military damage resulted. The enemy yesterday j lost nine aoronlanea ai the front-