WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GERMANS Vvi inum tWING GUNS. BRITISH DOMINATE POSITION, 1 CIVILIANS LEAVING TOWNS. Aui. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Oct. 1, 12.50 a r m. Paris, Sept. 30.

■ Le Petit Journal's correspondent at the British front reports that the enemy is withdrawing his heavy guns orpposite Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood, and that the British will soon dominate the long stretch of country eastward. Only one remaining ridge enables the enemy to assemble troops without direct observation. It is believed that the new German line runs from Blankenbergho and Zeebrugge. Civilians have left Hog-, lede, Moorslede, and Dedizeele, and are leaving Koulers. AN ENEMY ATTEMPT FAILS. PARTY KILLED OR CAPTURED. AERODROMES BOMBED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Sept. 30, 6.5 p.m. London, Sept. 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There were no further counter-attacks, infantry encounters being confined to patrols. A strong enemy party, while attempting to reach our lines in the early morning, eastward of Polygon wood, was caught by artillery, rifle and machine-gun fife. Many were killed, and the survivors were captured. Airmen yesterday bombed the aerodromes at Carniercs, St. Denis, Westrem, and Gontrode with good results. Ten German machines were brought down and one of ours is missing.

ZEEBRUpGE BOMBED. SEVEN TONS OF EXPLOSIVES DROPPED. . A. andijN.Z. Cable Assoc. and. Reuter. Received Sept. 30, 55 p.m. ' London, Sept. 29. The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft dropped seven tons of explosives on' Thursday night on the lock gates at Zeebrugge, on the St. Denis —Westfem and Houttave aerodromes, and the Gontrode airship shed. All the aireraft returned. I A RAID REPULSED. '< SUCCESSFUL AERO WORK. 14 PLANES BROUGHT DOWN. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Sept. 30, 11.5 p.m. London, Sept. 30. "Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed an attempt to raid at two points on Hill 70, northward of Lens, and captured a few Germans. We also took a few prisoners in patrol encounters in the neighborhood of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. Our artillery has been active on the Ypres front. There has been considerable hostile artillerying at points between the Ypres-Comines canal and St JulieM. Our aeroplanes dropped four tons of bombs on the aerodromes at Gon.trode and Carnieres, and on dumps, billets and railways, also another six tons of bombs at night on similar targets, including Gontrode aerodrome. Despite a heavy barrage all our aeroplanes returned safely. During the raids our flyers used machine-guns with good effect against troops and transport, and down fourteen enemy aeroplanes. Three of ours are missing. , A GERMAN REPORT. Aus. and' N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Sept. 30, 5.5 p.m. London, v Sept. 29. A wireless German official report states: We repulsed attacks north-east .of Frezenbeig and the Menin roid. The enemy still occupies crater positions on our front line on the Ypres-Passclien-daele road. 40 GERMAN DIVISIONS EXHAUSTED. London, Sept. ?,8. Correspondents at British headquarters estimate that forty German division? have been exhausted in the battles in Flanders since the end of July. Ten have been broken and withdrawn since the commencement of the battle on the Menin Road a week ago. Newspapers applaud the raid on St. Denis aerodrome, pointing out that it prevented raiders starting for London. ENEMY RAIDS FAIL. London, Sept. 28. A French communique states:—The enemy thrice attacked Four De Titris. northwest of Tahure, and West Xaranin, in the Argonne. We prevented him reaching our lines. The enemy sustained heavy losses. Our air squadron heavily bombed aerodromes, railway stations, and cantonments, all the objectives being attained. FURTHER BRITISH SUCCESSES. London, Sept. 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We broke up a hostile counter-attack last evening againßt positions at Zonnebeke and cleared up isolated strong points south" ward of Tower Hamlets and Polygon Wood. We carried out successful raids eouth-wast of Cherisy. There is considerable hostile artillery activity south, ward of Lens.