WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE COASTAL DISTRICTS. GERMANS PREPARING TO EVACUATE. INADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLIES. Received Sept. 2, 5.35 p.m. , Amsterdam, Sept. 1. The Telcgranf states that news from I Belgium indicates Germany is preparing for the possible, evacuation of the coastal district before the winter sets in. Civilians arc leaving the towns and villages. The banks have transferred their gold to Brussels. There are inadequate food supplies for civilians, thousands of who are ill. HEAVY GERMAN BOMBARDMENT. BRITISH EVACUATE A KNOLL. ENEMY RAIDERS ACTIVE. fius. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Sept. 2, 3.5 p.m. London, Sept. 1. Sir Douglas Itaig reports: The enemy heavily bombarded' the recently captured positions eastward of Ilargicourt and Epeiiy. also our Hues eastward of Gouneaucourt. Strong enemy forces attacked and forced us to evacuate sui isolated knoll northward of Guillemont farm. Wo repulsed attacks eastward of Gouzeaucourt. Enemy raiders entered a post eastward of Costaverne. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS. DIRECT HITS MADE. Received Sept. 3, 12.50 a.m. London, Sept. 2. The Admiralty reports that naval aeroplanes raided the Ghistelles aerodrome last night, seyeral direct hits being made on sheds and n fire started. Bombs were exploded on and adjoining the Ostend-Thourout railway lines, many explosives being dropped. Our machines returned. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH OFFENSIVE. ALL OBJECTIVES CARRIED. COUNTER-ATTACKS BROKEN. Received Sept. 2, 11.50 p.m. London, Sept. 2. A French communique from Belgium states: There is great artillery activity in tlio region of Drigachten and Bixschoote. After strong artillery preparation on the Aisne, we attacked last night north-west of Hurtebise, and with one bound carried all our objectives on a front of nearly fifteen hundred metres to* a depth of about three hundred metres. We broke three counter-atacks. A great many of the enemy were killed during the preliminary artillerying and the fighting, which were very violent. Our aircraft co-operated, machine-gunning the trenches and batteries, all returning. A BRITISH RAID. RECENT CAPTURES. FURTHER FRENCH SUCCESSES. Received Sept. 3, 1.30' a.m. London, Sept. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: AVe successfully Taided eastward of Wytschaete, bombed dug-outs and machine-gunned the escaping garrison. We repulsed raiders south-westward of Lavricourt. Aerial activity was resumed yesterday. The British prisonered in August 7270, whereof 158 were officers, making 10,097, including 234 officers since the morning of July 31. Thirty-eight guns, including tix heavies, 200 machine-guns and 73 trench mortars were captured in August. A French communique states: We captured a further two hundred metres of j trench north of Hurtebise. A counterattack in the afternoon did not reach our lines. Under our violent artillerying In the Champagne, south of Butte du Mesnil, we repulsed a strong enemy coup de main, and captured prisoners, including a commander. There is a brisk artillery struggle in the whole of the region north of Hill 304 and Mort Homme. CANADIANS AND PRUSSIANS AT GRIPS. Paris, Aug. 31. Le Petit Parisien states that the battle continues furiously and stubbornly around the Green Grassier, where the Canadians and Prussians are engaged in violent hand-to-hand fighting. HUN STARVATION CRUELTY. . Paris, Aug. 31. Le Petit Journal alleges that the Germans are starving the French population in the occupied territory. They have had no meat or wino for three years. There have been many deaths, especially among the aged. It is estimated tiiat a quarter of the population had perished | at the end of 1916. WIND AND RAIN CONTINUES. London, Aug. 31. The gale of wind with rain continues in Flanders, flinging down trees and telephone wires. Many sectors of the battlefield are quagmires. WEATHER STILL BAD. Received Sept. 1, 5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the weather is unsettled. The enemy heavily shelled positions northward of Arlenx-en-Fortlle.