WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GUNS AND MEN. POURING INTO FRANCE. GERMANS STRIVING TO SECURE NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY. TRANSPORT OF GERMANS TO WEST FRONT. Amsterdam, Dec. 30. The Maetricht newspaper reports that all passenger and goods traffic on the Belgian railways has (been suspended since December 15, and the entire rolling stock requisitioned for transporting troops to the west front, which is profeeding with redoubled intensity. Received Dec. 31, 5.5 p.m, Ottawa, Dec. HO.

A Paris message aliys the masniiig of troops behind the German lines is proceeding uninterruptedly day and night. Trains pass Mezieres)' near the Kaiser's we-terti headquarters, at intervals of six mimiies. .* Tlie guiis formerly used in Italy have been re-assembled in the Verdun region. The German high Command is vainly straining every.nerve to attain a numerical superiority" of"guns over the French. POWERFUL LOCAL ATTACKS. GAIN ELEMENTS OF BRITISH TRENCHES. Received Dee. 31, 1.4S a.m. London, TSoc. 30 Sir Douglas Haig reperts: The enemy wade powerful local attacks at dawn on a two-mile front, against the Welsh ridge on a, spur southward of Cambrai. We repulsed the centre. Tlie enemy effected a lodgment in small salients on the right northward of La Vacquarie, and on the left southward of Marcoing. Counter-attacks ejected the enemy from a portion of these positions. Fighting continues. We repulsed raiders in the neighborhood of Gonnelieu. Air activity continues. We downed five enemy machines. SUCCESSFUL COUNTERATTACKS. MORE IMPORTANT PARTS OF RIDGE REGAINED. , LINE ADVANCED NEAR LA VAQUERIE. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 1, 6.15 p.m. London', Dec, 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports: As the result of successful counter-attacks, we regained the more important parts of the positions on the Welsh ridge, taking prisoners. The enemy retains a portiem of the front trenches. Near La Vaquerie and southward of Marcoing we advanced our line yesternight a short distance astride the Ypres-Staden railway. RENEWED ENEMY ATTACK. TEMPORARY SUCCESS FOLLOWED BY REPULSE. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 1, 11.30 p.m. London, Jan. 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy this morning renewed his attack on the Welsh ridge on a 1200-yards front. His troops on the southern portion of the attack temporarily, with the assistance of liquid fire, entered a trench, but our counter-attack drove him out. The attack on the remainder of the front was broken by our fire and completely repulsed. A French communique states that there was lively artillery activity in the Champagne, in tlie region of the heights, aud on the right bank of the Meuse, in the sector of Bezonvaux. ACTIVE ARTILLERYING. Received Dee. 31, 1.45 a.m. Lond#n, Dec. 30. A French communique states: There is active reciprocal artlllerying in the various sectors. | A FRENCH REPORT. Received Dec. 31, 8.16 p.m. London, Dec. 30. A French communique states: We downed three German aeroplanes.