WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

VERY HARD GOING. ANZACS' AWFUL EXPERIENCES. UNDER HEAVY PTRE IN THE SWAMPS.

Received Oct. 15, 9.50 p.m.

London. Oct. 15. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: In Friday's battle the Anzac troops on the right flank made good. They reached the edge of a hummock called Crest farm, and killed the garrison, but German machinegunners and riflemen held another knoll beyond Crest farm, subjecting the Anzara to deadly short-range Are, yet the Anzaes would have held the ground here, if they had been supported on the left, but the other Anzaes were having a bad time in the swamps, where they were unable to make much headway, owing to the deadly fire from the higher ground. Rain fell the whole time, making flio ground even worse than before. The mist thickened, preventing aeroplanes from directing the guns. Consequently, it was decided not to continue the seoond stage of the attack, and to withdraw the Anzaes on the right and eentr* The Germans on Friday afternoon opened an intense barrage, lasting all night. The German defences protected the blockhouses, and all the machineguns from the supporting lines were sent to the front. The enemy never massed so many machine-guns on his front. Many were posted in trees. Never were there so many riflemen scattered among the shell craters. Machine-gun fire and rifle fire never ceased for an instant during the attack. Other men, floundering in bogs, were unable to keep up to the barrage. The German snipers and gunners shot with cool aim, while our men were struggling forward.

VIOLATIONS OF RED CROSS. DELIBERATE SNIPING OF BEARERS COURAGEOUS OFFICER'S PROTEST. Received Oct. 14, 8.40 p.m. London, Oct, 14. Mr Robinson, the war correspondent, in again confirming the recent German violations of the Red Cross, says that in some units the proportion of the casualties among stretcher bearers exceed those of the infantry. This resulted from deliberate sniping. Two days ago three out of four mem'bers of a stretcher party were sniped at close range, and shot dead.

A British officer in a shell hole near, seeing the shooting, seized a Red Cross flag, and, waving it conspicuously, marched straight to the snipers' hiding place. He halted «. few yards from the German position. The Germans, presumably curious, withheld their fire. Speaking in German, the officer poured .out his indignation, pointing out that German stretchers were moving unmolested. The Germans listened in silence The officer, when finished, turned back tossed away the flag, and floundered backto the shell hole. A SUCCESSFUL RAID. AN AERIAL FIGHT.

Received Oct. 15, 8 p.m. London, Oct. 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The eastern county troops successfully raided southeastward of Monchy le iPreux. Friday's prisoners now number 943, including 41 officers, • A British air patrol on Saturday encountered a formation double our strength. Our men determined to fight Four of our machines have not returned. Allied machines, arriving too late to participate, ,saw several enemy machines falling in an uncontrollable state.

LIVELY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. Received Oct. 15, 8.40 p.m. London, Oct. 14. A French communique states: There has heen lively artillery activity on the Aisne front, especially in the plateaux region on the right hank of the Meuse. ONLY MINOR OPERATIONS. London, Oct. 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy artillery was active last night northeastward of Ypres. repulsed reconnoitring parties westward of Becelacre and northward of Poelcappelie. We made successful raids in the neighbourhood of Hulluch. A French communique says: The artillery struggle was fairly lively on the Aisne front, especially in the Pantheon district, Vauclere and the California 'Plateau. CAPTURE OP HOT-THULST IMPERATIVE. Paris, Oct. 14. Newspapers emphasise the capture of Houthulst Forest as the pre-requisite of the participation of all the Allies in a great offensive. London, Oct. 14. Wireless German official: Five French counter-attacks northward of Vaujlfiie Mill failed.