WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

violSt enemy attacks. TO REGAIN CAPTURED POSITIONS. BRITISH FRONT ENTERED. BUT ENEMY THROWN BACK. Aus, and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dec. 2, 5.5 p.m. I London, Dec. 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Alter a violent bombardment, the enemy, who was in strong force, at eight o'clock in the morning, attacked on a wide front southward of Cambrai, between Vendhuile and Crevecoeur. Shortly afterwards heavy attacks also developed against our positions westward of Cambrai, in the neighborhood of Bourlon Wo6d and Moeuvres, And all the front from Maßonierei to Moeuvres, These wero repulsed after many hours' fierce fighting, in which great losses were inflicted on the enemy infantry by our. artillery, rifle And machine-gun fire. Southward of Masonieres, from the neighborhood of Bon Ayis to Villers Guislain, the enemy Succeeded in entering our positions at different points, and penetrated as far as Lavacquerie and Gouzeaucourt. Our counter-attacks have already regained Lacquerie, and driven Back the enemy from Gouzeaucourt and a ridge to the eastward. The enemy's, advance has been cheeked. Elsewhere fighting continues.

A later message states that the enemy has not attempted to renew his principal attacks on the Cambrai battle front. We have successfully repulsed local attacks south-westward pf Vendhuile.

Hostile artillery is active in the Scarpe valley. We drove off three attempted raids last night south-westward of La BasSee, and carried out two successful raidi in the neighborhood of Warneton. GERMANS'DISREGARD OF LIFE. EVERY AVAILABLE MAN THROWN ' IN. .TO DEFEAT THE BRITISH, GERMANS' TERRIBLE LOSSES. Auustralian Cable Association, Received Dec. 2, • 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 1. The Germans launched a very heavy counter-attack on the Cambrai battle front, between Moeuvres and Bourlon. Prince Rupprecht, outgeneralled by Gen-' oral Byng, decided to put every available German life in the balance in an effort to regain some, if not all, of the newlywon ground, arid, likewise, some of his lost prestige. . The blow is, perhaps, the hardest struck by the Germans since Verdiin in February of last year.. Vast masses charged into the teeth of the British mac)iine-gun tire, while the artillery filled the fields with fresh strips of the mangled pawns of the Crown Prince.

The '.Germans thrust Southward to-, wards Graincourt, every forward yard being bought by countless German 'dead. It is manifest that Prince Rupprecht's pride will not allow General Byng to retain his winnings" if the Germans are able to rebuy. Msanwhile the British infantry is vigorously counterattacking.

UNABLE TO PROGRESS. WHAT THE GERMANS FEAR. Aus. and N,Z. Cable Assse and Renter. Received Dec. 2, 5.5 p.m, London, Dec 1. The United Press correspondent at British headquarters says that despite the lavish use of guns, which were lately galloped up, the enemy is'apparently unable to make any progress in a new attack near Connelieu, on our extreme southern flank of the new battle ground. The enemy shelled Bootlwi wood and its vicinity all night, and continues the shelling to-day, declare that the officers ate fearful lest the British wedge at Bourlon should force a German withdrawal from the area, south of the Scarpe. Civilians have already evacuated the Canttyai region, and .the Germans havo begun destroying the city by torch explosives. ' A CRITICAL TIME. Hgfc. - "-((? OUR JTROOPS' BOGGED TENACITY. GERMAN ATTEMPT £AILS. Seutor Service, Keceived Dec. 2, 11.30 p.m. London, Dec. f, Reuter's correspondent at headquarters writes that yesterday's attack was a big and determined attempt to cut our railway communications in two places, with the object of making our salient probably untenable. The attempt definitely failed. The Germans retain some gains, but Insufficient to exercise the tactical effect on the position. Our counter-attacks Were so vigorously pressed home that tho northern line has been almost wholly restored, while in the ( south, beyond occupying the village of Connelieu, the Germans hav« little to show for the costly attack. It is believed some guns which had to be abandoned under pressure of the first rush, were blown up. At ope time it looked like a serious reverse, but, thanks to the extraordinary gallantry and dogged'tenarity of the troops opposing at great odds, the German success wag very largely neutralised.

i BATTLE STILL PROCEEDING.

ENEMY COMPLETELY REPULSED. Keeeived Dec. 2,11.30 p.m. London, Dee. 1, Sir Douglas H&ig reports: The battle is still proceeding, but the enemy has been completely repulsed. Air fighting, of the most severe nature, resulted greatly in our favor. Eighteen enemy machines were brought down. Seven of ours are missing. A French communique records: There is violent artillerving at St. Quentin and south of Juvincourt. We repulsed an enemy coup dc main ilorth-west of Bezonvaux. AIRCRAFT BUSY. XIVELY FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT, Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dec. 2, 11.30 p.iji. London, Dec. 1, Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our aircraft ihas been very active. Low flyers fifed a thousand rounds on the enemy infantry, others bombing railway stations, ammunition dump's and billets in the battle area. We brought down eight enemy machines. Two of ours are missing- .. A French communique reports: The artillery duel increased in intensity on the right bank of the Meuse and the Beaumont—Chaume wood sector, followed by a violent attack on our positions north of Fosses wood. Tlie assaillants were' driven back after lively, fighting.| Our line was entirley maintained. GERMAN RAID FAILS. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. Received Dec. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 30. A French communique states: After a series of Violeht bombardments in the region of Les Qhambreftes, the enemy carried out 'in important raid, which completely failed. THE GERMAN VERSION. Aus, and N.Z. Ca'ble Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dee. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 1. Wireless German official: The new struggle developing. in the Cambrai battlefield, is so far in our favor. 1 • Received Dec. 2, ll.iio p.m. London, Dec. 1. Wireless German official: The brittle near Cambrai broke out with great violence. Our Cou'hter-attacks for improvement of. our positions met with complete success. We threw back tho enemy on Graincourt and Ann'cux, and stormed the heights on both sides of the Banteanx. We captured Connelieu and Villers Guls. Kin. The enemy's counter-attacks at Connelieu collapsed. We captured four thousand men and several batteries. Italian attacks 'r gaiiist Monto Pettlca failed. Received Dec." 2, IOO' p.m. London, Dec. 1, A wireless German official states i Strong English counter-attacks against the captured yesterday, near Cambrai, failed,