WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

VILLERS FOREST CLEARED. USEFUL POSITIONS OBTAINED. Received July 14, 5.5 p.m. Paris,, July 12. A French semi-official message states that the capture of Corey completes the clearance of the enemy from the forest of Villers Cotterets. This was the object of the recent series of French local attacks, which resulted in the securing of useful positions and valuable information previous to the resumption of the enemy offensive. The bastion formed by the forest is now intact.—Reuter. ENEMY RAIDED. FURTHER FRENCH ADVANCE. Received July 14, 5.5 p.m. London, July 11 Sir Douglas Haig reports: We took 120 prisoners and captured machine-guns in Thursday's enterprise south-east of Mer lis. We repulsed, an attempted raid pouth of Bucquoy. We successfully raided the enemy north-east of Merris, near Metern and in the vicinity of Hamei, taking prisoners. A French communique states: We accentuated our progress north of Chavignr and east of Naverolles, and occupied the village of Longpont and Javage farm. We made coups de main north of Montdidier and the Champagne. Lively enemy artillery occurred on the right of the Meuse.—Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc. THE AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS A USEFUL ENTERPRISE. LMPORTANT RAIDS I Received July 14, 5.5 p.m. London, July 13. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the 12th, states that the operations north-west of Merris was one of those enterprises for advancing the line and gaining more tracts beyond No Man's Land. The Australians, attacking suddenly, overran a chain of German outposts and established a new line. Our series of raids between Flanders and the Somme, which everywhere resulted in securing prisoners, will probably be the means of obtaining more information of the condition of affairs behind the enemy's line. Yesterday there was much hostile artillery in Flanders and on the Somme between the rainstorms and thunderstorms. Wet weather has now set in, and, if it continues, it may disturb the German offensive preparations; therefore it has been in our favor.— Reuter. ENEMY RAID REPULSED. BRILLIANT FRENCH ATTACK. * ALL OBJECTIViES SECURED. Received July 14, 6J5 pjn. London, July 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We drove off an attempted enemy raid this morning, with loss, in the neighborhood of Bucquoy. Heavy rainstorms on July 11 limited activity in the air. Our aeroplanes dropped nine tons of bombs on railway junctions behind the German lines. Wo destroyed three German aeroplanes, and drove down two uncontrollable. Three British machines are missing. Night flying is impossible. A French communique states that our troops this morning carried out a brilliant attack on a front of five kilometres, between Cartel and north of Mailly and Raineval. All our objectives were secured, including the capture of the village of Cartel, Anehin Farm, and a number of strongly-organised spinneys, the advance in some places being two kilometres deep. We took prisoner over 500—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. SUCCESSFUL MINOR ENTERPRISES. ENEMY RA3JD REPULSEDReceived July 14, 11.10 pjn. London, July 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the English and Australians, on July 12, carried out successful minor enterprises in the neighborhood of Vieux Berquin and Merris. Our casualties on this sector during the past few days have been exceptionally light. We raided north of Hamel, and repulsed a Taid north of Metren. Hostile artillery is active opposite • Beaumont Hamel, in the Strazee-Le , Loore sectors.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc | and Reuter. j A GERMAN [REPORT. Received July 14, 11.20 p.m. 1 Condon, July 13. Wireiess German official:—We re. pulsed strong enemy thrusts and fre- i quent reconnaissances south-west of Ypres and north of Albert, Lively French activity has continued between the Aisne and Maine. We captured prisoners in engagements at the Forest of Villers Cotterets and drove back reconnoitring thrusts in the neighborhood of Rheims. We shot down six American ' aeroplanes, which were raiding Cbblenz-—Aus-.-N.Z. Cable Assoe. and Reuter. FURTHER FRENCH PROGRESS. Received July 15, 1.30 a.m. London, July 13. A French communique states that during the night, between Montdidier and the Oise, our advanced posts advanced jfive hundred metres in the region of- ■ Partes farm.— Press Association. *