ON THE WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2961, 27 December 1916, Page 5

ON THE WEST FRONT

BRITISH RAID ON TRENCHES

London, December 25. Sir Douglas llaig reports: —Wo raided trenches in tho neighbourhood of Hebuterne, taking prisoners. We successfully discharged gas west of Me&sincs. Tho enemy fired a eamouflet (a kind of mine) at Mount Sorrell, but did no damage. Wo shelled a working party north-east of Morvnl.

Details of the raid north of Arras on tho 20th show that two lines of trenches were penetrated in broad daylight on a front of four hundred yards. All the objectives wero attained.

A French communiquo records lively artillory fire, especially on the right bank of the Meuse. Small enemy attacks wore made in tho Champagno and south of the Avre. A Fronch detachment in the region of Hoye penetrated the German trenches, the occupants of which fled after suffering loss. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ATTACKS REPULSED A GERMAN REPORT London, December 25. A German official message claims that British attacks at Ypres and in Macedonia, wore repulsed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn-Reuter. k BRILLIANT SUCCESS. NEW ZEALANDERS IN A RAID (Special, from Captain Malcolm Ross, official N.Z. Correspondent.) London, December 2'l. While tho whole world was discussing tho arrogant German peace proposals the New Zealanders were quietly planning a raid on the enemy front-line and support trenches, This they carried out with brilliant success, entering his lines in several groups, killing and wounding fifty men, and bringing back nine prisoners. This they did without preliminary bombardment, at midnight, with the trifling loss of one killed and four wounded. Til 6 enemy trenches in many places were found to be in a deplorable condition, badly smashed by our artillery arid .trench mortars, and waist-deep in water, so that they cannot be held except by isolated posts. The Engineers who accompanied the raiders blew up a powerful pump and section of a tramway. One section of the party threw three Hundred bombs, killing and wounding twenty Germans. The enemy sent up flares and star rockets, and opened with ma-chine-gun fir?, but thft. latter soon died away under bombs from our trench mortars. Documents wore captured in ono dug-out from which the enemy fled. It is expected that at Christmas the euemy_ will endeavour to further the peaco idea by attempting to arrange a temporary cessation of hostilities. So far as the New Zenlanders are concerned any such advances are likely to meet with a hostile reception at the present juncture.

On December 23 Sir Douglas Haig inspected the. New Zealanders. He rode past the troops in ■ line, consisting of one brigndo and one battalion from each of the other brigades and representatives of all other units. The commanding officers were officialy introduced. A long .column then marched past to the music of hands, the scene being an inspiriting and memorable one. The men marched well and looked remarkably fit. Sir Donelas Haig, addressing tliA corns and divisional generals, again referred to the exceptionally cood'work of the Now Zealaudprs at the Somme, and congratulated the commander of the division on havi'ii" such a fine bodv of men under him. He also expressed pleasure with the excellent turn-out that dav and tho arrangements connected therewith. TRENCH CHRISTMAS ANZACS MAKE THE BEST OF IT (Rec. December 26, 7.5 p.m.) London, December 25. Mr. Phillip Gibbs, tho war correspondent, says: "Christmas Ero was mild, with a spring-like glint of sunshine. Tho supply • columns of motor lorries containing Christmas provender for men and beasts and the guns ploughed through thick slime. The camps, hutmonts, and dug-outs resemble islands in an ocean of mud. "The Australians and New Zealandcrs were observed flinging money about at the booths and market places upon trinkets destined to go a long sea journey. These fellows ill their slouch hats wandered to the best restaurants in the region of the battlefields, arid? chose dishes without worrying about the price. "Some units had the bad luok to be in_ the trenches, but thero was Do grousing, though the shell holes were half-full of water and it was hard to keep tho feet from freezing. Every effort was made to get a good lump of plum pudding to them.^— Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE • INVITATIONS SENT OUT. (Rec. December 26, 9 p.m.) London, December 26. All the Dominions' Prime Ministers have been invited to a conference at which a series of "\Var Council meetings will ho held for discussing war organisations and post-war problems. The Ministers will probably be consulted on peace conditions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FACILITATING CREDIT AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN MOVE. (Rec. December 26, 10.50 p.m.) Washington, December 26. The Federal Reserve Board has empowered tho New York Federal Reservo Bank to appoint tho Bank of England its agent, believing that this would facilitate credit and tend to halt the inflow of surplus gold into tho United States.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FUTURE OF INDIA EQUALITY WITH SISTER NATIONS. Calcutta, December 25. Tho Viceroy in a speech said he hoped some day to see India in a position of equality with the sister nations of the Empire; but progress, though steady and sure, would not be rapid.— 'Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PEACE DEMONSTRATION BROKEN' UP~BY"sOLDIERS London, December 25. A crowd, consisting chiefly of soldiers, broke up a peace demonstration in Trafalgar Square. Tho police protected the speakers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WAR RISKS ADVANCED Sydney, December 26. A private cable message from London states that the Imperial Government's war risk has been raised from 21s. to d2s. cor cent.—Press Asm, i