GERMAN ATTACK ON CAMBRAI FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 59, 3 December 1917, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACK ON CAMBRAI FRONT

, REPULSED AFTER MANY HOURS' FIERCE FIGHTING GREAT LOSSES INFLICTED ON ENEMY ..INFANTRY By Telegraph—Press Asßooiation-Oopyrijht London, November 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We drove off raiders last evening near Gavrelle. The enemy artillery is active south-west and Tvest of Cambrai and ■ east of Ypres."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After a violent bombardment the enemy, in strong force, at eight o'clock this morning, attacked on a wide front southward of Cambrai, between Vendbuille and Graveooeur. Shortly afterwards heavy attacks also developed against our positions westward of Cambrai, in , the neighbourhood of Bourlon Wood and Moeuvres, and oil all the front '""from Masnie'res to Moeuvres. These Were repulsed after many hours'' fierco , fighting, in which great losses were inflicted 'on the enemy infantry by our' . artillery, rifle, and machine-gun fire.' Southward .of Masnieres, ifrom the I neighbourhood of Bon Avis tb Villers G-uislain, the enemy succeeded in entering our positions at different points, and penetrated as farasLoVaequerie and Couzeaucourt. Our counter-attacks have already regained La Vaequerie and driven back the enemy from Couzeaucourt and the ridge to the eastward. The enemy's advance has been checked elsewhere. The fighting continues." A later message states: t>"Tho enemy has hot attempted to renew tho . principal attacks on the Cambrai battlefront. We successfully repulsed local attacks to the south-west of Vendhuille. Hostile artillery is active in the Scarpc Valley. We drove off three attempted raids last night south-west of La Bassee, and carried out two successful raids in tho neighbourhood of Warneton." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. December 2, 11.5 p.m.) • ( London, December 1. Sir Douglas Haig rejiorts:—"Onr aircratf are very active. Low flyers fired a thousand rounds on the enemy infantry, others. bombing railway stations, ammunition dumps, and billets in the battle area. We brought down eight enemy machines. Two of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. ' ,(Rec; December 2, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports"The battle is still proceeding, but the enemy has been completely repulsed. Air fighting has been most severe, and resulted greatly, in our favour. Eighteen enemy machines have been brought down. Seven of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. FIELDS FILLED WITH MANGLED PAWNS OF CROWN PRINCE ; EVERY FORWARD YARD BOUGHT BY COUNTLESS DEAD. (Rec. December 2, .5.5 p.m.) • • London, December 1. Tho Germans launched a very heavy counter-attqck on the Cambrai battle/ront, between Moeuvres and Bourlon. Prince Rupprecht was out-generalled ! by General Byng, and be decided to.put every available German life in tho . balance in an effort to regain some, if not all, of the newly-won ground, likewise some of his lost prestige. The blow is perhaps the hardest struck by the Germans since, the attack at Verdun in February of last year. Vast masses charged into tho teeth of the British machine-gun fire, while the ar- ■ tillery filled the fields with fresh Btrips of. mangled pawns of the' Crown . Prince. The Germans thrust southward; towards Graincourt. Every forward , yard was bought by countless dead. It was manifest that Princo Rupprecht's prido would not allow General Byng to retain his winnings if the ■ Germans were able to rebuy them. Meanwhile the British infantiy is vigorously. Counter-attacking.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LITTLE TO SHOW FOR A COSTLY ATTACK . GERMANS'SUCCESS LARGELY. NEUTRALISED. (Rec. December 2,11.5 p.m.) London, December 1. Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters writes:—"Yesterday's attack was a big and determined attempt to cut our railway communications in two . places, with the object of making our salient probably untenable. ' The . attempt definitely failed. The Germans retain somo gains, but insufficient to exercise a tactical effect on tho. position. Our counter-attacks were so vigorously pressed home that the northern line has been almost wholly restored, while in_ the Bouth, beyond occupying the village of Gonnelieu, the Germans have little to show for their costly attaok. It is believed that some . guns which had to be_ abandoned under the pressure of the first rush were blown up. At one time it looked like a serious reverse, but thanks to tho extraordinary gallantry and dogged tenacity of our troops, opposing great odds, tho German success was vory largely neutralised." —Reuter. ' _____ HUNS DESTROYING CAMBRAI BY TORCH AND EXPL'OSIVES. (Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.) . London, November 30. The United Press correspondent at British Hoadquarters says: "Despite the lavish use of guns which had lately been galloped up, the enemy was apparently unable to make progress in the new attack near Gonnelieu, on our ' extreme southern flank of the new battleground. The enemy shel'ed Bourlon Wood and the vicinity all night, and continues shelling to-day. Prisoners declare that the officers are fearful lest the British wedge at Bourlon should force a German withdrawal from the area south of the Scarpe. Civilians have already ovacuatod the Cambrai region, and the Germans have begun J destroying the city by torch and explosives."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LondoMi November 30. 'A German official report states: "There is a most violent artillery bombardment both sides of Poelcapolle antl north of Gbeluvelt. We repulsed an English attack west of Bourlon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ( (Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 1. A German official report states: "The now struggle developing in the Cambrai battlefield so far is in our favour."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.

(Rcc. December 2,11.5 p.m.) ! London, Decomber 1, A Gorman official report states:—"Tho battle near Cambrai broke out with great violence. Our counter-attacks for tho improvement of our positions met with complote snccoss. We threw back tne enemy on Graincourt and Armeux, stormed tho heights on both sides of Banteaux, and captured Gonnelieu and Villcrs Guielain. Tho enemy's counter-attacks at Gonnelieu collapsed. Wc captured <1000 mou and several batteries."—Aus.-N.X. Cablo Assn.-Router. (Roc. December 2, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 5. .A. German official report states:—"Strong British counter-attacks against tfie positions wo captured yesterday near Cambrai failed."—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY ATTACKS ON FRENCH FRONT FAIL LINE ENTIRELY MAINTAINED. London, November 30. A French communique states: "After a series of violent bombardments in the region of Les Ohambrettes, tho enemy carried out an important raid, which completely failed."—Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ~ (Rec. December 2, 11.5 p.m.) London, December 1. A French communique reports:—"The artillery duel has inoreased in intensity on the right bank of tho Mouse and in tho Beaumont-Chanme Wood sector, followed by a violent attack on our positions north of the Fosses Wood. The assailants were driven back after lively fighting. Our lino wn» entirely maintained."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. December 2, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 2. A French communique records violent artillery firing at St. Quentii, and south of Juvincourt. "We repulsed an enemy coup do main north-west of Bezonvaux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asm.-Reuter.