WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

VIOLENT FIGHTINO AT CRAONNE. FRENCH MAINTAIN A£L POSITIONS.

ENEMY SANGUINARILY DEFEATED,

Received July 22, 5.6 p.m. I London, July 21. A French communique states: The struggle continues violently in the region of Hustebiso and Craonne. The Germans renewed their attacks till late at night. After a powerful artillery concentration, the enemy yesterday evening attempted a general assault with important forces on the line of our plateau, before Craonne and Vauclerc. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred along the whole front, which our men defended with magnificent courage, and their resistance and tenacity overcame the furious assaults. Wc entirely maintained our positions everywhere, and the enemy, despite heavy sacrifices, did not obtain a looting at either the California or Casements plateaux or our positions westward. The ground in front of our lines was covered with bodies, testifying to the violence of the struggle and the sanguinary defeat of the enemy. German attempts to extend the slight advantage guined yesterday between the California and Casements plateaux, proved equally vain. Moreover, our energetic couater-attaeks enabled us to surround the pocket, wherein the enemy had penetrated. Wo hold entirely the creit of the plateau. The enemy still retain* » space of 000 metres and Is clinging to the northern edge of the plateau, where were our first line positions, which the bombardment completely destroyed.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Eeuter. Received July 22, 5.15 p.m. London, July 21. A French communique states that enemy attacks, or attempted attacks, followed very violent bombardments at many points in the sectors of Cerny, Hurtebise, Craonne road, and north of Braye en Laonnois, but the accurate fire and vigilance of our troops caused their plans to fail. An enemy attack carried out in force, south-east of Ceruy, twice penetrated our advanced trenches on a front of 260 metres. On each occasion vigorous counter-attacks completely drove them out. We broke up, with heavy losses, a powerful enemy concentration for attack between Hurtebise and the California plateau, and we recaptured trench elements in the region of Moulin-sous-Tous-Vents. The artillery duel was fairly lively north of the Aisne.

THE POSITION AT LENS. CANADIANS ESTABLISH NEW POST i Received July 22, 5.8 p.m. Vancouver, July 20. Canadian troops have established a new post 1500 yards from the heart of Lens. There is every evidence that the Huns will hold the city until their losses axe unendurable. THE AVOCOURT FIGHTING. BRILLIANT ■FRENCH ADVANCE DESCRIBED. Paris, July SO. Details of the brilliant success shows that since June 28, when the Germans, after a violent artillery attack with «» 'guns, secured the foremost French positions between Avocourt Wood and Hill 304 with its supporting positions southward, they commanded a salient at an intermediate saddle called Col-de-Pom-merien. This overlooked all the French organisations and threatened to outflank Hill 304. The French determined to win it back and prepared a plan of assault.

A continuous (bombardment caused heavy losses on July 10 to the German reserve holding the Col-de'Pommerien! Some of its companies lost SO per cent. of their effectives, until they were reduced to 50 or 60 bayonets. Reinforcements brought the numbers to 75 (bayonets, fcui a few days' shelling again brought the' number down to 50. Consequently the division was withdrawn and replaced 'by the 29th from Tahure, Champagne. The latter was placed in the front line between Avocqurt Wood and Hill 304. The 48tih Division, which had just been ■withdrawn from the Russian front and was somewhat demoralised, was entrusted with the second position behind the 29th. The transference was in full swing when the iFrench attack opened. The fact that prisoners were taken from the three divisions ivras clear proof of the enemy's diaorgauinsation. The French advanced magnificently on a front of 1J miles. They were ordered to capture the saddle and crest «nd reached tiho third trench before the enemy realised that the first had been taken. The victors swept over the crest 300 yards beyond the objectives, fitanly establishing themselves on the receding The counter-attack twelve hours later was slow and hesitating and foredoomed to failure.

A SUOOESSTOL RAID. London, July 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We sue cesshilly Taidfed Gayrelfe atrfi ssortihward of Ypres. The enemy artillery is active north-westward of St. Quentin and eouth-'west of Lens. ' DTJTOB CONSENT TO SAFE PASaAGE Amsterdam, July 20. The Dutch Government has declared its readiness to leave a safe Passage in order to enable Dutch shipping to en*« fcho original so-called safe channel grantred by Germany.