WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BRITISH ADVANCE. , ~ HAMEL CAPTURED. London, July 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried out succesful operations on the morning of the 4th between Villers Bretonneux and the Somme. We captured the village of Hamel, and advanced our line an average deptli of 2000 yards. Thero is hostile artillery activity in the Roubecq and St. Jans Cappel sectors.

An American communique states: There is intense reciprocal artillery lire north-westward of Chateau Thierry. We repulsed three raids in the Vosges.— Aua. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

i VILLERS BRETONNEUX OPERATIONS. A NEW FOUR MILES FRONT. BRITISH LINE GREATLY IMPROVED. Received July 5, 10.30 p.m. London, July 4. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on July 4, states that the morning's operations at Villers Bretormeux were carried out by Australians, assisted by tanks, with the object of remedying an awkward indentation in the lino north-east of Villers Bretonneux, resulting from the German drive in March last, the filling up of which will carry our front in a direct line through Hamel to the Somme. In addition to Hamel villago, we captured two small woods to the southward, and pressed up to high ground south-east of the village of Aligniny, the new front, with the trenches fronting Villers Bretonneux, putting a new four miles of front on practically a level stretch of ground falling steeply to the river. At the north-eastern end is the greatest improvement on the old line. At the same time an advance was made on the north side ef the river between the Somme and the Ahcre thus completing the improvement of our line for nearly five miles Reuter.

ENEMY ATTACK AT VAUX. GERMAN REGIMENT ANNIHILATED. V Received July 5, 9.2g p.m. Washington, July 4. General Pershing's communique states that practically an entire German regiment was annihilated when Vaux was captured. The German counter-attack which followed was repulsed.—Press Association.

GERMAN TROOPS DEMORALISED. REGIMENTS IN DISGRACE. •London, July 4.

The correspondent of the Morning Post on the British front states that the Germans in the Lys area are so demoralised by the repeated British raids that certain divisions are in disgrace and the Higher Command threatens severe punishment if more ground is lost.

Prince Franz of Bavaria inspected the men and talked seriously of the extraordinary state of affairs in the front line. He said the constant British raids at night and the loss of Germans are becoming a scandal. The Germans must strengthen their positions and make more use of their rifles. The Germans replied that it was all very well to talk, hut it was impossible to strengthen the defences as the men were continually shot by the British, who have the observation. Sober observers estimate the German casualties at 800,000 since March 21. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

AUSTRALIANS TO THE FORE. London, July 4. The United Press states that the Australians and others, supported by numerous tanks, captured Hamel and part of the horse-shoe' ridge overlooking Amiens. Another operation, on a 1200-yard front in the Morlancourt region, won a depth of 400 yards. Received July 5. 11.30 p.m. Ottawa, July 4. The Australians took 1500 prisoners during the attack on Hamel, and consolidated their positions.—Reuter. GERMAN OPPRESSION IN BELGIUM. Amsterdam, July 4. Germany is raising the Belgian war contribution to 60,000,000 francs monthly, equivalent to 750 francs ( £3O) per head.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. BOYCOTT OF GERMAN SEA TRANSPORT. Paris, July 4. The French Maritime League, under the presidency of M. Millerand, formerly Minister of War, pays a tribute to the British sailors' decision to boycott German sea transport. It is a powerful economio weapon which the Allies ought to adopt,—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association.