WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

FRUITLESS ENEMY ATTACKS SEVERE LOSSES INFLICTED London, Dee. 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Accounts of yesterday's limiting show that the ■enemy, after a heavy preparation, attacked from the north our positions in the Hindenburg line eastward of Bullecourt, also on a wider front from east and north-east against an angle of our trench lines south of Reincourt and west of Lagnicourt. We repulsed both, inflicting heavy losses. The enemy subsequently attacked the latter front, penetrating our obliterated trendies at the apex of the angle. We kifled or took prisoner the few Germans who reached the trenches., • Elsewhere there was local fighting all day. The enemy obtained a foothold in a Small portion of a trench without effecting a change in the situation. . 'Wo repulsed raiders south-west of La Bassee and inflicted casualties as the result of patrol encounters eastward of Zonnebekc, A POST SUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED. ' CONSIDERABLE AIR FIGHTING. DUNKIRK AGATN BOMBED. 'Aiis. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Dec. 15, 1.55 a.m. London, Dee. 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully attacked a post southward of Silleragiuslain. The garrison were killed or pvisopered. There was bomb fighting in the afternoon eastward of Bullecourt in a portion of trench into which the enemy penetrated on Wednesday. The enemy's artillery showed some activity southward of the Senrue and north-cast of Ypres. Aeroplanes engaged the enemy during the attack .it Bullecourt on Wednesday. There was much air fighting, six enemy machines being downed. A French communique states that there was lively artillerying on both banks of the Meuse. Aeroplanes bombed Dunkirk, but no casualties resulted. A LOCAL OPERATION. ENEMY SHOWS HIS OFFENSIVE SPIRIT. ■ Received Dec. 14, 10.15 p.m. London, Dec. 13. Mr. Philip Gibbs states that the enemy attank near Bullecourt led to close fighting throughout Wednesday, but is still limited to local operations on a 500yards front, it being no more important for the moment than the biting off of a small salient which is useless to us. The onslaught looksd as though it was a preliminary to big endeavors. The enemy made a considerable demonstration westward of the poiiyt of attack, pouring poison gas shells in the Cojenl ,valley about Heninhcninge and the valley below Queant. HARD FIGHTING ENEMY DEEPENS THE WEDGE. OLD TRENCH STRUGGLES REVIVED. [ Received Dee. 15,12.40 a.m. London, Dec. 14. Mr Gibbs, continuing, stated that when the Bavarians were advancing in the depth of the penetrated maze of earthworks there was hard fighting for very little advantage. We ■ did not intend to lot them have this spit of land for nothing. Our counter-attacks drove the Germans part of the way back several times on Wednesday, though at the end of a long day's struggle the enemy had slight;ly deepened his driving wedge, and this [morning he. held the base line of the salient. There was close fighting, sometimes within bayonet reach, always within bombing range, resembling the old trench struggles. This was somewhat varied by the British airmen, at a height of fifty feet, maetyne-gunning the infantry in the newly-captured trench, and made a plentiful use of bombs, flying back three times with renewed supplies. Four aeroplanes were engaged, enabling Us to clear the lino nf trench captured in the first assault. Darkness aione prevented our continuing. Our artillery inflicted severe losses on the Bavarians, and prebably these losses checked the renewed attack planned for this morning. A TALL BOAST. GERMAN PRESS FORECAST. Paris, tSev. 13 The Zurich correspondent of tho Matin says that German newspapers are publishing violent articles against the Entente. They declare that Hindenburg, in conjunction with the Austrians, is about to subject the western front to the same treatment as Italy, that Britain and France will jhave to resist a blow from almost tho whole of the forces ot tne Central Powers, which will crush the Allies and finish the war. '

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

EXPLOITS OF. FRENCH AVIATORS. London, Dec. 13. The Admiralty reports that the naval aircraft-bombed Bruges Docks on Tuesday night, The visibility was bad. One of our machines is missing. We brought down an enemy machine during the patrols. Wireless German official: We captured several shelters eastward of Bullecourt. The artillery duel b'etween Moeuvres and Vendhuile has increased in violence. A French communiuqa says: Since December 10 nine enemy aeroplanes have been brought down. Our aeroplanes dropped ten thousand kilogrammes of explosives, especially on the aerodromes at Colmar and Scielstant the de'pot at l.ongelbach, factories at Rombach, and several railway stations, wjth' effective results, v

REPINGTON REVIEWS THE SITUATION. GERMANY'S FULL STRENGTH. CONCENTRATED FOR DECISIVE BLOW. Times Service. Received Dec. 15, 1.55 a.m. London, Dec. 14. Colonel Ropington states that there are now 150 German divisions on the West front, and 7!) on the East, but the latter have been denuded of all fighters between the ages of nineteen and thirtylive for the Weßt front, and possibly more complete divisions are following. We must expect half a million fresh fighter.'' on tho West front, with many more guns and aircraft. Germany may maintain in safety with second grade troops in the East, but the whole German forces fit to fight are concentrated for n decisive blow in the West, possibly in the winter or spring. The exhaustion of her reserves and her want, may compel her to strike more quickly than we think. A MILLION M EN WANTED NOW. In any''- '"• long German defensive has end' .■ must take corresponding pin Whatever is done must be done <|im-.;:y. We have roughly two million men in the West, and « million elsewhere. We need a million men in order to maintain the existing forces in 1918.

ITALY.

MILITARY POSITIONIMPROVEp INSURANCE OF SOLDIERS. Rome, Dec. 13. Signor Orlando, addressing the Chamber, =aid that tlie military situation had greatly improved, thanks to the resistance of the Italian troops. Italy was: equally grateful Jo the glorious AngloFrench troops for confirming the solidarity of the Allies. The Government was promoting a scheme to insure every soldier for £4O. Italian industry, commerce, and agriculture were 'highly satisfactory. ENEMY STILL MASSING TROOPS. I ITALIAN INFERIORITY IN • ARTLLERY. FIERCENESS OF DEFENCE. ° Renter Service. Received Dec. 14, 8.30 p.m. . NLondon, Dec. 13. Italian headquarters reports: The enemy continues to mass troops and artillery on the Trentino, especially on both sides of the Brenta river. Allied aircraft regularly bombard the Austro-German reinforcements, but fresh contingents fill the gaps. The enemy artillery is overwhelmingly superior, and lias destroyed the Italian defences, the defenders' casualties being heavy. They resisted, so fiercely that the enemy losses averaged fifty per cent, of hig strength. | ITALIAN SUCCESSES. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. : ~"ITH HEAVY LOSSES. Aus. and N.z.*. Cable Assoc and Reuter. Received Dee. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 13. Italian official: We regained a great part of the trenches in the Col della Barretta region, which we were unable to reoccupy on Tuesday. We sanguinarily repulsed two violent attacks in the Calcino valley. The enemy attacked in force eastward of Brenta, at mid-day, the attack being continued fiercely in the afternoon, but ceased at night, owing to heavy enemy losses. A powerful attack at Caldipo Pappeyeg broke down. AN AUSTRWN REPORT. ENORMOUS CAPTURES CLAIMED. Received Dee. 14, 8.30 p.m. London, Dec. 13. A wireless Austrian official message states: AVe made prisoners in four days' fighting in the Melette region 03!) officers and 18,000 men, and captured 283 guns and 233 machine guns.