WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

BRITISH FALL BACK. TO STRENGTHEN, THEIR LINE. ENEMY ATTACK IN DENSE MASSES. United Press. Received Dec. 7, 10.45 p.m. London, Dec. 6. The evacuation of B-ourlon Wood and the Noyelles salient has not surprised those who visited them. The enemy was placed in many ridiculous posture's by the withdrawal. For instance, he shelled the liourlon trenches in the vicinity of "Hell-for-lcather" long after they were vacated. After a hurricane barrage, the enemy attacked in dense masses, only to discover that the forest was garrisoned by corpses. Later, mounted patrols were seen cautiously approaching the ruins of the buildings near the Cambrai-Bapaume road, southward of the wood, like wary mice approaching a bait of cheese. ' British shrapnel sent them scurrying, only to return and go through the "same performance, presently entering the ruins and signalling "All clear."

A further bombardment laid down another trench, whereupon thick waves of Germans poured over the crest of the hill on both sides of Bourlon to storm the position, which was unoccupied save by ground rats. The British left nothing behind. Every telephone wire had heen neatly rolled up and the dugouts destroyed." The retirement strengthens Sir Douglas Haig's position, which required either a passing on orp„ readjustment of the line. The decision was taken with due regard to the German reinforcements from the Russian front, and to Hindenburg's avowed .purpose of forcing an issue before the Americans are able to hit with force.

A SALIENT RULED OUT. AN AREA ABANDONED. 'Heuter Service. Received Dec. 7, 10.40 p.m. London, Dec. 0. Renter's correspondent at headquarters states: We have fallen back from Cambrai deliberately, upon a well chosen line, which rules out the salient made by the Bourlon Wood nnd Sieourn, thus enabling us to maintain our hold on the captured portion of the Hindenburg line, whatever pressure the Germans may apply. The area abandoned' is probably less than one-third of the total gained by the great tank drive of a fortnight ago. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. CAUSE CONGESTION OF TRAFFIC. Router Service. Received Dec. 7, 9.30 p.m. London, Dec. (i. The headquarters correspondent reports: German prisoners state that all leave on the West front lias been stopped and that there is an extraordinary congestion of westward-bound traffic, every species of rolling-stoijk feeing employed to bring up reinforcements and material. HAIG'S REPORTS. A SLIGHT WITHDRAWAL, . ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. London, Dec. 0. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our troops on Tuesday night, without enemy interference, withdrew a short distance south west from Noyelles sur l'Escaut, and the Bourlon Wood salient. The enemy was unaware of the movement until late yesterday. We, prior to our withdrawal, systematically destroyed the enemy field works in the abandoned area. We repulsed attacks in the neighborhood of La Vacquerie and advanced our line slightly south-westwaid of the village during the night. Sir Douglas Haig further reports: Two minor attacks of the enemy in the neighborhood of Gonnelieu were successfully repulsed. Local fighting in the neighborhood of La Vacquerie ended to our advantage. A more serious attack by the enemy in this area with considerable force in the afternoon was repulsed,, after severe fighting. The artillery broke the infantry advancing to attack in the neighborhood of Bourlon Wood and Moeuvres. Hostile artillery is active to the northward of the Mtnin Road, where we slightly improved our positions and also repulsed reconnoitring parties. Our aircraft yesterday dropped 118 bombs on the aerodrome northward cf Douai, villages, and machine-gun emplacements in the b.ittle area. None missed missed their objects. We a,lso raided a laree railway junction and sidings at Zweibrucken and works at Saarbrucken. Many direct hits were observed, and two large fire;. Antiaircraft guns kept up heavy arid accurate fire, but all our machines returned. ENEMY'S ARTILLERY ACTIVE. Received Dec. 7, 8.30 p.m. Paris, Dec. fi. A French communique states: Batteries on the right of the Meusc effectively replied to the enemy's artillery, which was most active on the Louve-mont-Bezonvaux front. A GERMAN CLAIM. , Received Dec. 8, 1.55 a.m. London, Dec. 7. A wireless German official report states that they cleared out the English from Marcoing.

POSITION UNCHANGED. MINOR ATTACKS REPULSED. WITH SEVERE ENEMY LOSS. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dec. 8, 1.55 a.m. London, Dec. 1. 'Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been local fighting in the neighborhood of La Vacquerie, hut the situation is unchanged. Our artillery and infantry fire repulsed minor attacks southward of Bourlon Wood, inflicting* severe loss on the enemy. Hostile artillery has been active southwards of the Scnrpe, also in the neighborhood of Armentieres. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON MEUSE. FRENCH BOMBING RAIDS. Received Dec. S, 1.50 a.in. London, Dec. 7. A French communique states,: There has been artillery activity on the right bank of the Meuse and in upper Alsaee. Eleven enemy aeroplanes were downed, We bombed railway stations and depots at Courtemarck, Riehtenfeld, and Laon. The enemy bombed Dunkirk, causing several casualties. They also bombed Calais, but without casualties resulting.