WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE NEW BRITISH BLOW. BRILLIANTLY SUPPORTED BY FRENCH. ADVANCE CONTINUES. London, Aug. IC. The new 'British blow in tho Ypro* region extends from Polygon Wood to the Anglo-French junction, on a six-mil* ■ front. Tho French attacked simultano- ' ously, brilliantly supporting Sir D. Haig's ' left. | The French right has already crossed I the Steeubeck stream and is'still ad-i vaneing, while their left lias gained aU the objectives. Prisoners are coming in 1 und iJie British advance continues. The Irish are performing the Ulsterites fighting side by side with the Southerners. Sir D. Haig keeps Prince Rupproeht guessing, shifting HUn a master boxer in the ring. A French communique guys: After a Violent artillery preparation wa attacked at dawn in conjunction with the Brit- \ ish on our right. The infantry, with superb elau, assaulted the enemy positions on both sides of the StcenstaateDixmude road, carrying all the objectives. We crossed the Sleenbeck, and are progressing on tho right bank in contact with the British. By a vigorous attack ifi the south the Allies carried a solid enemy trench [ system on a front of a kilometre. Pour ! enemy counter-attacks were easily repulsed. | FALL OF'LENS IMMINENT. A FIGHT OF .MERCILESS VIOLENCE. Paris, Aug. 10. The Matin saya that the impetuous attack of the British was the most violent, 'witnessed for ten months past. ,' The merciless violence of the fight and . Ilts swiftness explain the small number 1 captured. The few prisoner;, were coaij plelely exhausted and depressed. They belonged to the old classes, and many I had been invalided early in the war. : Le Pet-it Journal says that if tha I British attacks north of Lens are continued, the fall of Lens is imminent. 1 GERMANS CRUSHED LIKE FLIES. CANADIANS INVINCIBLE. Af vax DIVISION ANNIHILATED. Received Aug. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. I<3. The enemy is desperately holding out at Lens, where there, was heavy fightujg I ali day. This Canadians last night 1 crushed the Germans like flies, and - ■ Moodil} repulsed ten counter-attacks I by nine o'clock, when the enemy broke off fighting. The Fourth Guards' Divi : sion was practically annihilated aB it marched into Lens, wheveunto only a narrow neck leads across Lhe open . country, which was swept by tho British artillery and machine-guns. FIERCE FIGHTING. WONDERFUL DASH OF CANADIANS United Service. I Received Aug. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 10. Le Petit Parisien's correspondent", doscribing the capture of Hill 70, writes: "Driven hack by bayonets and grenades, the 'Bosches scattered amongst the miners' dwellings <"-nd the mine shafts, the cellars und openings whereof bristled with machine-guns. The Canadians' dash, . was irresistible. In half an hour three groups of dwellings were stormed, and those who were not killed fled to another village, where machine-guns 'were massed, There was a scene of fierce lighting. The enemy launched a series of powerful counter-attacks. The Canadians' .success was the more meritorious because they - attacked troops that had newly arrived and tven rented. Tun Germans have been forced to realise thai the British are strong enough to attack wherever and whenever and however they wish. A FURTHER BRITISH ATTACK. PROGRESSES AT ALL POINTS. COUNTER ATTACKS REP.UL3I3JJ. Received Aug. 17, 5,5 p.m. London, Aug. 10. 'Sir Douglas Haig reports; The Aliiae this morning again attacked on a 'wid* {rout east aud north of Ypreg, heavy fighting ensuing. \V« are ai all .points, despite stubborn resistance. We repulsed three more counter-attacks yesternight against our new positions on the Lens battle front. Our artillery broke up a concentration near Cite St. Auguste. BRITISH AIR RAID ON COURTRAI. GREAT DAMAGE CAUSED. ; Received Aug. 17, 5.5 p.m. • Amsterdam, Aug, 16 A British air squadron bombed w,man barracks, automobiles park, and munitions sheds at Courtrai on Tuesday, causing enormous damage, twenty soldiers being killed or wounded. i TRAINLOADS OF GERMAN \ WOUNDED. ', Amsterdam, Aug. 16. i Twenty to thirty trainloads of wound- . Ed are truyeisiwi Liege daily for Ger-