WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

DESPERATE GERMAN REr SISTANCE. BRITISH POSITIONS OX RIDGE WIDENED. ENEMY DRIVEN DOWN. KEY TO POSITION HELD SECURELY. Received Nov. 12, !).50 p.m. London, Nov. 11. Mr. Gibbs reports that the German resistance on Saturday was more desperate than the battle for Passchendaelc. The Germans used all their batteries for miles around, concentrating the deadliest fire on the outer lines at Passchendacle heights. The British traversed the storm of shells, and took a few prisoners, but killed many, owing to the stubbornness of their resistance. The English, Irish and Canadian attack succeeded in widening our defensive positions upon the Passehendaele ridge, driving the enemy further down the far side. The weather was dismal, and there was hard fighting among block houses all day long in the rainstorm.

The enemy has regrouped his guns since our capture of the crest, and his artillery, answering our barrage on Saturday, was extremely violent. Infantrymen declare that they have seen nothing like it during previous attacks. It was a frightful spectacle, and they marvel at their escape from such a hurricane of high explosives.

We reached the enemy's pill boxes, where some Germans fought at close quarters. The Canadians upon the right had better ground than the English, who were lower down, and had a hard time up the slopes agianst block houses, which were fiercely resisting. Numerous counterattacks from the direction of Roosebeke drove back some of our outposts. Heavy shelling, coupled with the difficulty of holding our defensive flank, compelled the Canadians Inter to withdraw from some of the foremost positions, but the key to Passehendaele and its neighborhood was securely held. The Canadians had an anxious time during six sleepless days and nights, but .went forward gallantly, determined to take the crests at all costs. The commander says that the men were fine.

BRITISH REPULSE A RAID,

G:.OJND GAINED CONSOLIDATED. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Nov. 12, 11.10 p.m. London, Nov. 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed with loss a raid westward of Lens. Organisation of the gi-ound captured on Saturday continues. Aviation has been restricted, owing to the rain. ENEMY BOMBARDS LOST POSITIONS. j/SUCCESSFUL AERIAL OPERATIONS.

London, Nov. 11. Sir Dougias Haig Teports that there was heavy rain. Hostile artillery fire was carried out against our positions at Passchcndacle and the ground captured northward of the village. No infantry action occurred. • The Admiralty reports that the air service bombed St. Denis. Wostrem and Bruges docks on Friday night. The machines dropped large quantities of explosives with good results, aud all returned.

A GERMAN CLAIM

TO HAVE THROWN OUT L SERS Received Nov. 12, 9.15 p.m. London, 'Nov. 11. Wireless German official: The English five times attacked the craterland between Poelcapelle and Passchendaele. They penetrated our centre, but were thrown out with heavy losses. ON THE FRENCH FRONT. INCESSANT ARTILLERYTNG ENEMY ATTACKS FAIL. Received Nov. 12, 8.30 p.m. London, Nov. 11, A French communique states: Incessant reciprocal artillerying continues at Chaulme Wood. A violent attack on Hartmannsweilcr, in the Vosges, was completely repulsed. Another attack at Reichack failed. THE POUNDING PROCESS CONTINUES. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Nov. 12, 11.10 p.m. London, Nov. 12. French communique: There has been a pretty lively artillery struggle in Belgium, on the Papegoud sector, on the right bank of the Meuse, in the region of Hill 344 and at Bois le Chaume.