CLOSE AND BITTER FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1918, Page 5

CLOSE AND BITTER FIGHTING.

UNDER AWFUL CONDITIONS. A GRIM PICTURE. Received Sept. 23, 11.10 pm. London, Sept. 23. Mr. Philip Gibbs wwrites:—The fighting at Epehy and Villers Guislain was of a bitter nature, resembling the old trench, warfare, amid dirty ditches, 'barbed wire, swamps and ruins. The enemy brought up for new divisions and e3semfoled many guns, under cover of which lie launched a series of bombing attacks, in which the 'bombers were well hidden in old trenches. This was only a minor action, designed to straighten the line. True, we were unable to maintain all our gains in the face of the intense shelling and the difficulties of the ground and the wep.ther, : but the position haw improved. The Fourth Army's prisoners since 3th August .we over 44,000. Mr. Gibbs paints a picture of the British troops' difficulties in the wild weather and heavy rains in a country where there is little shelter, sßve tents, among the swamps and slimy dug-outs. Tarpaulins are spread over the tops of the ruined habitations. Our men fight, work, and sleep in their wet elothes. The labor battalions slave hard to reduce the discomfort and improve the roads, whilst, the rapid advance of the railways is marvellous.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AssocSTRONG POINTS CARRIED. HMD-TO-HAND FIGHTING. TfiE DAY'S GAINS SATISFACTORY. Received Sept. 2\i, 1.20 a.m. London, 3ept. 23Reuter's correspondent a_t British Headquarters states that the enemy, wno uad been reinforced, stubbornly resisted. In. the fighting around Epehy we carried mapy strong points, the most important being a weblike trench work called the quadrilateral. North-east of Honlop, the fighting was more of a hand-to-hand character than hitherto in the present offensive. We were opposed by an Alpine corps and two other divisions, besides a new division that had been moved up from the resepe. We captured Quennemont Farm by 2 o'clock. We afterwards withdrew from Quennemont Farm. The net gafns for, the day are satisfactory. We occupied -or destroyed many outposts fn a troublesome zone, and inflicted heavy casualties.'—Reuter. A French communique states: South of St. Quentin we extended our positions east of Hinacourl, and Le Fontaine ana reached the western outskirts of Vendouil. North of the Aisne three German counter-attacks were shattered, north of Allemont', before they could approach our lines. We gained ground east of Sancy and took prisoners.—Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc. and Reuter. OFFICIAL REPORTS. Received Sept. 23, 7.45 p.m. London, Sept. 22. iSr Douglas Haig reports: A hostile attack north-west of La Bassee, reported in the morning, was not pressed, and our position is unchanged. In local encounters we slightly improved our positions south of Villers Guislain and in the neighborhood of Zillebye. There has been active aeroplane work, despite the bad weather. Wo downed 13 hostile machines. Eight British are missing.-- Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Sept. 23, 0.55 p.m. London, Sept. 22. A French communique stales: The night was marked only by considerable artillery activity in the St. Quentin region and north of the Aisne. On the Vesle front we repulsed two coups de main. Detachments penetrated the enemy lines in the Champagne and Lorraine Received Sept. 23, 9.05 p.m. London, Sept. 22. Wireless German official: The Fnglish launched a'great attack yesterday morning between Gouzeaucourt Wood and Hargieourt. Anticipating the attack, we had removed our defence eastward of Epehy to the old English positions between Villers Guislain and Bellieourt. The attack broke down. A second attempt also failed, although the English temporarily penetrated the southwestern 'portion of Guislain and Quenemont farm. They were thrown back by a counter-attack.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter,