WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

! GERMANS ALARMED.

GREATEST ARTILLERY BATTLE OF WAB, ' London, Oct. 2. Mr. Gibbs writes: The ceasele'jj artillery battle which has been in progress on the new front since September 26 has reached great fury on both sides by day find night. The enemy was massing troops in the Tanvoordo region, also behind the Passchendaele spurs, but our aeroplanes constantly directed the fire of the batteries on the spot, smashing the German battalions. The Germans are seriously alarmed by our new positions, which threaten the Whole Passchendaele Ridge, and are retaliating by enormous gunfire on a wide front, also by deep barrages behind the front. It is the greatest artillery battle seen in war. Never were there such concentrations of batteries nor such intense and widespread fire.

SIX ENEMY ATTACKS.

j NO ADVANTAGE GAINED. JJ RAIDERS REPULSED. Aus and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter. Received Oct. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday and during the night the enemy made five attacks with fresh troops between the Ypres-Menin road and the northeastern corner of Polygon wood. They also attacked Zonnebeke. All six attempts were a complete failure, with the exception of the loss of the posts reported yesterday.' The enemy suffered heavily, but did not gain any advantage. We repulsed raiders southward of Lens. AIR RAIDS ON ST. DENIS.

SHEDS GUTTED. ZEEBRUGGE AGAIN BOMBED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Oct. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 2. The Admiralty reports: Naval aircraft on Sunday bombed the hangars at St. Denis and the Westrem aerodrome, igniting theip. One fire was visible for thirty miles. They also bombed the Zeebruggc lock gates. Another raid on St. 'Denis and Westrem at noon on Monday resulted in several direct hits, and also ignited two sheds. Those hit on Sunday appear to have been completely gutted.

VISIT OF KING OF ITALY.

TO WEST FRONTS. : NARROW ESCAPE PROM SHELL. Australian Cable Association. Received Oct. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 2. Belgian official: The King of Italy visited the Belgian front accompanied by King ttlbert. A shell burst near the royalties, knocking down King Victor's aide-de-camp. \ King Victor also visited the AngloFrench fronts at the Somme, Rheims, and Verdun. FRENCH LINES COMPLETELY EESTORED. | Paris, Oct. 2. A communique reports: There were somewhat lively artillery actions on the Aisne front and on the right bank of the Meuse. After a violent bombardment the Germans attacked between Chaume Wood and Bezonvaux. A desperate fight ensued for our advanced trenches ending in our favor, and our lines were completely restored. Our bombing machines dropped over ten thousand kilogrammes of explosives on depots at Roulers, six thousand kilogrammes on railway stations at Metz-sur-Davoippy, tlie Thionville aerodrome, Chumbley bivouacs at -Spigcourt, and the Till munition depot at Longeau farm, where a violent explosion was observed.

BOLO'S INVESTMENTS. Paris, Oct. 2. M. Humbert, director of the newspaper Lc Journal, announces the repayment of £220,000, which 8010 Pasha invested in Le Journal. According to the Matin, 8010 Pasha attended a conferenec at Zurich in 1915 and accepted Herr Von Jagow's offer of ten million marks in monthly nstalments of a million for the purchase of French •newspapers. M. Humbert declares that Bolo's investment did not affect Le Journal's policy, which had consistely favorejJ a vigorous war. RECIPROCAL ARTILLERYING. Received Oct. 3, 10 p.m. London, Oct. 3. Sir (Douglas Hair* reports: There is only reciprocal artillerying to report. Our aeroplanes bombed Gontrode and Carnieres aerodromes and German long range guns. We downed eight enemymachines. Two of ours are missing.

A GERMAN REPORT. Received Oct. 3, 5.15 p.m. London, Oct. 2. Wireless German official: We captured a position in the Polygon Wood five hundred metres deep, and withstood repeated counter-attacks. We penetrated to the rear of the French position near Bezonvaux.