WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ALLIES ATTACK. A SALIENT WIPED OUT. Now York, Aug. ]. The Allies attacked on a ten-mile front at P.uzancy and wiped out a considerable salient—Alls. X.55. Cable Assoc.

t London, Aug. 1. Tlie Germans bombarded the Americans on the Woevre front and attacked, only to discover thai the Americana had previously evacu<r,i:l tile pOoicicns.—Am. NZ. Cab' 3 Assoc.

GERMANS UNHAPPY. DEPRESSION FOLLOWS DEFEAT. London, Aug. 1. The United Pre.® correspondent, in an optimistic review of the situation in the west, says that both officers and men captured by Australians around Merris, in the north, and Morlaneourt, eastward of Amiens, are extremely depressed. After the first few weeks of tlie Germans' offensive the enemy's morale appeared higher than since 1914. They strutted inside the prison cages as though already owners of the world, replying ev<!n to kindly treatment by condescending and contemptuous smiles and sneered at American fighting men. But today, and I believe this is equally true of the Germans in the Held, prisoners are more depressed than since the war broke out.

Prisoners admit that supplies are law and ammunition scarce, and that it is difficult to obtain recruits for the worndown divisions. Instead of the smashing vidtory and immediate peace Hindenburg promised early in tlie spring, the' Allies are weeHy growing stronger. The truth is slowly percolating to the front and the Germans are beginning to (hear that the Americans are not only well represented on the west front, but that they are beating the best Prussian troops. They also hear that the Crown Prince is retiring instead of advancing, and that Prince Ruppredit's offensive against itho British has .been postponed because of this disaster. Some prisoners obviously fear that the British may assume the offensive. In •short, the Germans are very unhappy. The front has seldom been so quiet. There is only British shelling and spasmodic German shell-bursts. Everything shows that the Germans are preitty sick. —United Service.

BRITISH RAIDS. London, Aug. 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided enemy positions in the neighborhood of Lens. Hostile artillery is active at Villers-Bretonneux, Bnequoy, Merris and Meteren—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

SOPER-OTN" EMPLACEMENT. N«w York, Aug. 1. Mfi Edwin James, New York Titneß correspondent on the American front, describes a visit to the German supercannon emplacement in the Bois-de-Chatelet.

"It is hard to tell just what it looks like. It reminded me of a Pittsburg steel mill. The emplacement is connected by three switches running from a railway south of jFere-eh-Tardenois, one of Which runs into a pit 15 feet deep and 40 feet across.

"In the pit is a steel cylinder of complicated construction 31 feet across and 20 feet deep, the top of which is a huge rotary gun carriage moved by massive machinery on hall bearings, each ball being ten inches in diameiter. The cylinder is constructed of armor plate 1% inches in thickness in sections, to each of which is attached big hooks for the derrick lift.

"An artillery expert said. that the cylinder wedghs 1100 tons and the carriage mora than 200 tons. The Germans had not left the barrel. The emplacement would have dwarfed the Mggest dreadnought gun emplacement."—Aus. N.Z. Caible Assoc-

AMERICAN SUCCESSES. London, Aug. 1. An American official report states: All the enemy who penetrated the "region of Seringos and Nesles were killed, wounded, or captured. Southward of the Bois Me»nier, after severe bayonet fighting, we drove the; eneflny iTit o the woods. Wo captured Grirnpettes Wood and reached Seringes village.—Aus. N.Z. Ca/ble Assoc

TWO DAYS OP BITTEREST FIGHTING New York, Aug. 1. The New York Times correspondent says: In the vicinity of Sergy the American division fougjht tho 4th 1 Prussian Guards, who are different from other German troops in that they do not surrender when their ammunition ia exhausted, but fight hand-to-hand to the death and fire machine-guns until they are killed. Only eleven prisoners were taken in two dayg of the bitterest fighting. Two companies of Americans, largely German-Americans, fought a bloody battle with the foe, showing no love for the Germans. The Germans attacked the French around Bligny, hut were repulsed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable As&oc. i

ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. Received Aug.' 2, 5.5 p.m. ' London, Aug. 1. A French communique states: Southwest of Rlieims, a German attack on BHgny mountain waa repulsed. The enemy made several raids at Four de Paris, on the right bank of the Meuse, but lost heavily.—-Aua. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter.

Received Aug. 3, 2 a.m. Londtoj, Aug- 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: PoArok, 'luring the night, took several prisoners in the neighborhood 0 f Merris. We prisnnered during July 4503, including Si) officers.

AN IMPORTANT GAIN. F.NISMY IN AWKWARD POSITION. Received Aug. 9, 1.15 a.m. London, Aug. 2. Router's correspondent at French headquarteraj writing on the evening of the Ist of August, states that Gehelul Mangin's army attacked 1 during the-morn-ing between Plesnierhtil!es and Fere-en-Tardenois. The troops, progressing favorably, occupied Hill 20-i. 'Die operation is highly interesting, because it gives us a view of the enemy's roar to Fis-mes, and puts the enemy in the Hartennes-Ar-icy salient in a vory awkward position.—Reutor.

33,400 PRISONERS TAKEN BBY THE FRENCH. Received August 3, 2.10 a.m. Ldndon, August 2, A French communique state 3 that north of the Oureq French and British units drove back the enemy from positions between IPlesniertiuller and the river. We carried the height north of Grand Rozoy, and advanced beyond the village of Bengneux, and reached Cramoiselle and Cramaille, realising here an advance of three kilometres southwards. We took possession of Ciergea- and MeUnir Wood, north of the DormansRheirns Road. After desperate fighting, we conquerthe village of Romigny. 3 Since July 16, on the Mam? a# Champagne front, we prisonered 33,400, including 674 officers.. An American communique states: There were vigorous local actions on the Gurcq arising out of our attacks and enemy counter-attacks at several points. We captured the village of Cierges and advanced beyond. Otherwise the situation in this vicinity is unchanged.