WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

OBSTINATE FIGHTING. FRENCH DRIVEN BACK. BUT REGAIN -MOST OF. LOST > GROUND. London, July 11. The Daily Chronicle correspondent at French headquarters says that the Ohemin-des-JJames ridge continues the scene of fighting, the desperate obstinacy •of which recalls the fighting before Verdun. The Crown Prince "launched his troops against a narrow crest of hills, endeavoring to win back the lost observatories and caverns 'Where the Germans had been in safety for two years. There was particularly fierce fighting on Sunday between the Pantheon farm and Frieumont farm. The German infantry charged behind a storm of shells. Twelve fresh battalions reinforced the attackers, and detachments of engineers with flame projectors participated in the attack, to which the (French replied with difficulty, as thus far . they had been unable to establish a proper system o{ defence upon the bare slopes. ' The French was far outnumbered upon the threatened sector, but fought from shellhole to shell-hole when driven out of the trenches by the ibombardmenta during Sunday. Monday brought relief to the sorely nressed foot chasseurs, enabling the French to regain nearly the whole of the lost ground. The French artillery 'barrage meanwhile caused German losses exceeding those of the 'French. i The fighting obliterated the Chemirr-des-Dames, which is only traceable by a few tree stumps. The position gives such a splendid view over many enemy lines that the platform is hound to ibe bitterlv contested until further progress is made. However;, the French still possess a first-claBS observatory in the French fort plateau of Malmaison. Newspapers give prominence to Sir Douglas Haig's announcement of a great bombardment on the Belgian coast. Very heavy gunfire was heard in London throughout Tuesday. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy, after twentv-four hours' intense bombardment, determinedly attacked the Nieuport front on Tuesday evening. The concentrated and heavy nature of the onemv's artillery fire levelled the defences in the dunes sector near the coast, and this sector was isolated »>y the destruction of the 'bridge over the Yscr. The enemy bere penetrated out positions on a front of 1400 yards to a depth of COO yards and reached the right bank of the Ysey near the sea. Tho enemy, after paining some of our advanced positions further south opposite LombarUyde, was driven out 'by counteratThe tow given in the German communique of the air losses in June are entirelv false. On the British front alone 131 German machines were destroyed, and 00 others were driven down uncontrollable; while the French accounted for 45, and the Belgians for four. No record was kept of the numfber of French machine*, brought down but as the number of (British machines ofiWly "Zrted lost was 78, and as the heaviest fighting was on the British front, vt is obvious that the German figure, at the Allied losses (320) are absurd. Received July 12. 9.20 p.m Paris, July 12. A French communique says: There was a lively artillery struggle north o Jou , with the liveliest artdlerymg in the cctor of Hill 304. The Gem ans attacked north of Flirey, in the Woevrc, but the enemy was completely driven out of a portL of a trench where he secured a footing.

SUCCESSFUL AIR FIGHT. BRITISH POSTS BUSHED SACK. Received July 13, 1.30 a.m. London, July 13. The Admiralty reports: Five naval aeroplanes engaged on Wednesday 10 albatross scouts and three large twoseaters south-westward of Nieuport. They drove down ttfree scouts, which were completely uncontrollable, and two others were driven down. One of ours is missing. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Enemy artillerying at Nieuport has diminished, but ours continues to be active. The enemy pressed back slightly our advancca posts eastward of Monchy lo Preux on a front of SOO yards. We drove oft an attempt north-westward of Lens. The weather prevented aerial activity until the evening. ALLIED COKFii&NCE ON BALKAN SITUATION. Received July 12, 5.45 p.m Paris, July 11. _ A n Allied conference, to deal principally with the Balkan situation, is to meet at Parent the date has not yet been fixed.