WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

CHANGE IN ENEMY'S METHODS. MEETS WITH FAILURE. Received Nov. 15, 10.25 p.m. London, Nov. 14. A high military authority in Flanders reports that we captured another useful chunk of the ninin ridge. The news that to-day's counter-attack was completely repulsed is of interest, as it shows a, change in the enemy's methods. They began by relying upon light forces and pill boxes on the front line, keeping the reserves in the rear. This failed.

They then resumed the old system of holding the front line more thickly and not counter-attacking. This also has proved costly, and the Germans are now trying a third method, allowing two or three days to elapse after our advance before counter-attacking. This also failed. VIOLENT ENEMY BOMBARDMENT. • ATTEMPTED ENEMY ADVANCE. COMPLETELY BROKEN. ■BRITISH LINE INTACT.

Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Nov. 10, 2.10 a.m. London, Nov. 15.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Since the capture of Passchendaelc great artillery activity has been directed against the village and the adjacent portions of the main ridge. After Saturday's successful attack, hostile shelling steadily increased in intensity on the whole of this important area, culminating early yesterday morning in a concentrated bombardment of great violence on our forward positions, Our artillery replied, but the hostile shelling continued and became more intense in the afternoon, and an attack was reported. In the morning the enemy infantry attempted to advance along the west of the Roosbeke road, but our artillery ind infantry fire completely broke tho attack. Our line remains intact. We improved the line slightly during the night north-west of Passohendaele. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. London, Nm'. 14. A French communique reports: There is great, reciprocal artillery activity on the right bank of the Meuso. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy yesterday afternoon attacked our positions on the liigii ground northwards of Passchendaelc and were completely repulsed.