WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE CAMBRBAI BATTLE. GREATEST EFFORT OX WESTERN FRONT. Received Dec. 4, 5.5 p.in London, Doc. 3. Headquarters reports that it looks as if the German effort on the C'ambrai front lmd temporarily spent itself, although they are showing aggressive activity round the La Vacquerie salient, about Masniores from which we had withdrawn. It is untenable for the enemy, except in the deep catacombs, with which it "is bejieved it is honeycombed. The recent attack was one of the greatest, if not actually the greatest, tho Germans ever launched on tlv West front. The second battle of Ypres was the only possible claimant of equal magnitude. It is computed that twenty divisions were 'employed, representing at least 2€0.000 infantry. GERMANS' SURPRISE ATTACK. | TOMMIES PLAYING FOOTBALL. | GALLANT FIGHT FOLLOWS. | London, Dec. 3. Mr. Gibbs, tolcgraphing on Sunday, says;—On account of the German breakthrough at Gouzeancourt on Friday morning a village well behind the fighting line was organised as a forward station for the wounded. Many civilians were there and one medico was in a. rubber bath properly lathered idien suddenly shots rang right among the ruins of' the village. The lathered man threw a towel round his body and dashed down the street. Then a gunner came up to our car <ind said the enemy had Ifroken through. The gunners commenced to gallop acrops the fields while others stood to their guns until sure of the direction of the attack.

Elsewhere tho Tommies were pHaylns football and others frying their breakfast bacon, but they quickly da«hed into the fight, as it was evident the whole right wing of the British salient was endangered and Bourlon Wool and ITavrinoom't Wood were vnder intense bombardment. The northern attack was supported bv six or seven German divisions. It followed two hours after tho as.<auli on the right, wing.

For a time we had to give ground and the enemy penetrated to the sugar factory on the Canibrai road. Our lads fourth t with enormous gallantry The British artillery caught, the attackers, and forced masses of men into retreat, spraying them as they went with shrapnel and slaughtering a great number. Overhead the sky was black with, aircraft. T never saw so many in one battle, they were like crows over the enemy lines. GERMAN MENACE BROKEN. 1 Throughout Friday morning the situation was critical at Goicieaucorjrfc, but it was relieved I>y th>"» Guards 1 magnificent counter-attack, in which they were assisted by dismounted cn.valry and tanks. Other bodies of troops fought all the way back in short rushes, lying down for a. volley, then retreating a= the German swarms eamc on. Some British parties were i-nr up as the Germans had cavalry ready to pour in through anv serious gap. It was thrilling to 'see tlio Guards marching towards Gouzeaiieourt led by their Jwnd playing gay music. They stepped out whistling nwl singing. AVl)en I saw them next I looked on rows of faces under bandaged Pleads and many bodies grievously mangled. They haii driven back the enemy beyond Gouzcancourt and broken the. German menace.

SHARP SALIENT EVACUATED. PRUSSIANS SUFFER HEAVILY London, Dec. 3. An Exchange telegram from a Paris correspondent says that the rectification of the front which the British have carried out sooth of Cambrai was necessary owing to t'ho sharp salient at Masniercs constituting a weakness and exposing the troops to massacre and capture. The British voluntarily evacuated the position without the enemy's knowledge. The latter continued to hail shells against the abandoned position. The Germans since November "20 have, used twenty divisions in this sector. The Prussian battalions in their mad rushes suffered terribly, offering a veritable hecatomb. ATTACKS REPULSED. London, Dec. 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed attacks, after sharp fighting, in the neighborhood of Moeuvres. London regiments captured machine-guns and a dumber of prisoners' in the neighborhood of Bourlon. There is considerable reciprocal artillery activity on the southern battle front. THE GERMAN VERSION. London. Dec. 3. Wireless German official: We beat oft yesterday strong English attacks northward of Passehendaele. The firing increased in violence in the evening We repulsed an attack between Inchv and Bourlon. The prisoners taken since Friday number 00(10, and wo have captured 100 guns. AMERICAN HOSPITAL STAFF PRAISED. London, Dec. 3. New 7.oalanders speak highly of their treatment, at Number 1 Genera! Hospital which is staffed by Americans. VIOLENT ARTILLERY STRUGGLE. London, Dec. 3. A French communique states that the artillery struggle was fiairlv violent, during the night between the Ai«ne and east of Reims and on tlic right hank of the Meuse-