WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

STRENGTH OF AMERICANS. 480,000 Fighting Men. Received June 17, 5.5 p.m. Washington, June 18. American troops in France number 800,000, whereof 00 per cent, are .fighting men.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Asfioc. and Reuter. STREAMS OF AMERICANS. Pduring Into France. . , * Received June 17,11.45 p.m. London, June 16. The Morning Post states that the arrivals of American troops during the past few days has eclipsed all records. As a feat of shipping movements across the, Atlantic, it exceeds anything in mercantile shipping annals. The week-end scenes at one port were ajnazing. Ship after ship discharged their, khaki-clad cargo, who were Whirled off by special trailie en route to France.—Presß Aaa<>c. A DARING ATTACK, In the Darkness. Revived June 18,12.6 a.m. London, June 17. Mr. Phillip Gibbs writes that the Suffolks and Gordons at La Bassco Canal made a daring attack on a front of two miles, and secured 200 prisoners and 26 machine guns. The sector is chiefly a mining village of slag heaps, with shell holes and broken pitheads. The German defence was based on linked shell craters and machine-gun posts. The defenders were notorious as belonging to the 18th Reserve Division, who were responsible for the campaign of frightfulneSs at Leuvain and Termonde in 1014. Our Attack was carried out in the darkness, ftfld Utterly surprised the Germans. Many were taken prisoner before they could get their arms. Others fought bravely itt shell craters and were bayonetted at their posts, Educated prisoners admit that the gains from the oifensives are much less than expected, and are very nervous about the Americans, as they believed, only 75,000 had reached France.. !fbey' now realise that the submarine campaign has failed. SUCCESSFUL LOCAL ACTIONS. Enemy Fail to Cross the Matz. Received June 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Julie 18. A French Communique reports successful local actions north-east of the Bois de Genies, south of Dammard, and in the region of Viiil i... Ertefriy attempts to cross the Mtf.tz at its junction with the Oise failed under fire.—Aug. jf.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. AN ALL-NIGHT STRUGGLE. Whole Poition Occupied. Received June 17, 10.30 p.m. London June 17. Mr. I'irrie Robinson states that the successful British attack at Bethune led to a hard, all-night struggle with bombs and bayonets. The fight was especially fierce at Lafsnnerie, where the Ger-! mans were posted in strong position*. The enemy casualties were nearly 1000. The whole position was occupied by dawn. Received June 17, 8.20 p.m. London, June 10. | Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: We dropped ten tons of bombs during the daytime and nine tons at night-time on Saturday, the targets including Estaires and Armentieres railway stations and Bruges dock 9. We brought down three and drove down two enemy machines. No British machines : axe missing.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and I Reuter. Received June 17, 8.20 p.m. (Paris, June 10,. A French communique states: In the Woevre the enemy during the morning gained a footing in the village of Xivry, from which he was driven out by a counter-attcak, losing some prisoners.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Wireless German official: Wc repulsed English local attacks, which entered our foremost lines westward of Locon, and repulsed enemy attacks at Dommiers and Villers Cotterets.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. AMERICANS GAS-SHELLED. Received June 18,12.50 ajn. New York, June 16. The New York Times' correspondent with the American Army states that the Germans fired more than 1500 gas shells on the American positions north-west of Chateau Thierry, in two hours and a half. This was the heaviest gas attack yet withstood by the Americans.—Press Association.