HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK ON BELGIAN COAST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 5

HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK ON BELGIAN COAST FRONT

YSER BRIDGE DESTROYED ENEMY SECURES A TEMPORARY ADVANTAGE tI . „.„, London, Julv 11. Sir Douglas Uaig reports-. 1 lie enemy, after a twenty-four hours' int»nso bombardment, determinedly attacked on the Nieuport front on Tuesday evening. The concentrated heavy nature of tn« uueiiiy's artillery fire levelled the defences of the <1 iilies sector rear the coast. , This sector was isolated by the destruction of bridges on the Yser. The enemy here penetrrtted our position on a front of fourteen hundred yards to a depth of sis hundred yards, mid reached the right bank of Ihe Yser near Ihe sea: The enemy, altpi'tfainittf: some of our advanced positions iuithcr south, opposite l.onibaprlzydo, was driven out liv a roiintor-.ittack."—An.-4.-N-/- '"able Assn.-Tfoufpr. (Ifec. July 13, 0.30 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy's artillery at NieupVtVs dmiinished in intensity. Ours continuesactive. The enemy pressed back slightly our advanced posts eastward of Afoncliy lo Preux, on a. front of SOO yards. We drpyo oft an attempt north-ivestnard of Lens. The weather prevented aerial activity uutil this evening.'

I'lie Admiralty reports that five naval aeroplanes fcugaged on Wednesday ten albatross scouts and three large two-seafers south-westward of Nieuport. Wo drove down three of tlio Ecoute, which were rendered completely uncontrollable, and two others were driven down. Ono of ours iq missing." —Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-Reuter.

TERRIFIC GUN FIRE HEARD IN LONDON

London, .Tuly 11. Jhe newspapers give prominence to Sir Douglas Haig's announcement of a "mit bombardniont of the Belgian coast. The heaviest gun fire was heard in London throughout Tuesday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FIERCE BATTLES FOR THE CHEMIN DES DAMES

MAGNIFICENT STAND BY THE FRENCH.

~,, ~t, ~ London, .Tilly 11. I lie Daily Chronicles' correspondent at French Headquarters states that the Chemin des Domes Kidge. continues to be the scene of fightng, the desperate obstinacy of which recalls the fighting before Verdun. The Crown Prince launched troops against tho narrow ciest of hills, endeavouring to win back the lost observation points and caverns where the" Germans hid saloly for two years. There was particularly fierce fighting on Sunday between the Pantheon f arm .ind the Froidmont Farm, the German infantry charging behind a storm of shells. Twelve fresh battalions reinforced by detachments of engineers with lame projectors, participated in the attack, to"which the French replied with difficulty, as thus far they have been unable to establish a proper system of detence upon the bare slopes. Tbn Frenih were far outnumbered upon the threatened sector, but fought from shell-hole to shell-holo when driven out of the trenches. Bombardments during Sunday brought relief to the sorely pressed foot Chasseurs, and enabled the French lo regain nearly the whole 'of the lost irrouml, and the artillery bnrrago meanwhile caused German losses exceeding hose of the French. The fighting obliterated Chemin des Dames, vine his only traceable by a fow free.*, and stumps, j'he position give.; such a splendid view over the many enemy lines that tho platform is bound to bo bitterly contested until further progress is made. However, the French still possess a first-class observatory in the French fort on the plateau cf ITabnaison.—Au.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

AIR ATTACK IN THE WOEVRE

(Rec. .Tilly 12. 5.45 p.m.)

London, July H. A French official comimininuo states: "There lia = hern a lively artillery strii*srlo north of .Tony, and most livelv artillery activity on the sector of TI ill 3(ll Thi> Germans attacked north of Fliery. in the Woe'v.-e. lint the enemy was completely driven out of tlio portion of trench where he lind secured a. footin» " ■■ Aiis.-N.Z. Cabli! Assn.-Kciiter.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.

(Rec. July 12, 0.20 p.m.) London. July 11. A fiprm.in oliicinl. report slate: "Our marine infnntry, after artillery preparation, stormed Hie pjipiu,v's positions between Hie const and Lojnbaerb.yde. and drove the enemy across tlio Tser. tnkiiifj 1350 prisoners and Inflicting lieifvy 1(1?spf. Our airnipn, despite a prevailing storm, contributed to our success."-Aus.-NX Cable Assn.-Reuter.