WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

POWERFUL ENEMY ATTACKS SHATTERED. BRILLIANT FRENCH WOEiK. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received July 23, 0.10 p.m. London, July 23. A French communique states: There lias been a violent enemy bombardment on the Aisne front, froim the Checrigny spur to the south of Coribeny. The Germans at daybreak powerfulVy attacked with fresh troops, which had been brought up the previous evening, between Hurtebise and Casemates plateau. Thd hostile waves of assault nvere shattered by our fire and thrown back to their own trenches. Our heavy batteries dispersed enemy masses south of the Ailette, with severe losses. Simultaneously, our forces brilliantly repelled a violent attack on tho Casemates and California plateaux. The artillery duel continues with redoubled intensity throughout the whole region. The enemy is most active at night time on both banks of the Meuse. Lively artillery duels are talking place in the regions of Avocourt, Rzonvaux, and tho whole of the St. Mihiel sector. The Germans attacked at two points north of Bzonvaux, tout after a sharp light we completely drove them out of some of the elements wherein they had gained a footing. Two enemy attempts that were made to reach our trenches on the heights of the Meuse at Touchot, near Chevalier's woods, failed.

INCESSANT GERMAN ATTACKS ENEMY THROWN BACK. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter, Received July 23, 0.40 p.m. London, July 22. A French communique states: A battle continued all day long, with extreme violence, in the region of Hurtebiso.Craonne. Observers located several German batteries. The whole of their principal efforts were directed against tho Casemates and California plateaux, which powerful effectives incessantly attacked, ours resisting with admirable bravory and vigorously counter-attack-ing, tha enemy being thrown back often from the Casemates, whereto they had clung, with enormous losses. The enemy obtained a foothold on the California plateau first) lino during the afternoon. The fighting continues desperately, the artillerying being most lively in the Champagne and on the lleft of the Meuse.

FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS. ENEMY EFFORTS FAIL. , Reuter Service. Received July 23, 9.15 p.m. London, July 23. Renter's French headquarters correspondent, describing the attack on a four-mile front at the Chemin dee Dames sector on July IS, wherein the 'soth Division of Prussian Guards, composed of picked "battalions, participated, were repulsed, says that everywhere along tho crest the Germans have only a stone's throw climb to reach the | French the front lines in some places being only fifteen yards apart, the French hanging almost vertically over the Germans. The latter obtained a single success at one point, because it was practiaally impossible for the French artillery to protect their own front line. Desperate hand-to-hand conflit U raged all night, but tfhc enemy was driven out of all his momentary gains, by the morning.

GREEK KING'S MESSAGE TO THE ; . BELGIANS. Reuter Service. Received July 23, 10.50 p.m. Athens, July 23.

The King telegraphed to the Belgians, on the occasion of the Belgian Independence Anniversary, sympathetically conveying Greece's hope of the Allies' triumph.

BRITISH LONE ADVANCED. London, July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Patrol encounters last night norili-weatnvard of St. Quentin and southward of Lens resulted in our favor. We slightly vanced our line south-eastward of Monchy-le-Preux. There is hostile artillery activity from Armentieres to the coast.

!FRENOH WIN A DESPERATE BATTLE. (Paris, July 22. M. Marcel Hutin states that oiie of the moat desperato tattles, and probaibly the most desperate in the war,' has terminated, south of Cerny, in an incontestable victory for the French infantry and » bloody defeat for the best German troops, represented by the Brandenburg Guards. Heaps of enemy dead testify to phenomenal losses.