THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 269, 30 October 1916, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONT.

Gains Held on the Meuse The Seventy-Fives’ Effectiveness [PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.] [iCraULUX AND NtW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] Paris, October 28. A communique states: The enemy after continuous and violent bombardment of our first lines at Haudromont, Douaum*>nt Fort and Damloup Battery, attempted to attack westward of Douaumont village, but were instantaneously stopped by our curtain fire. There was a most active artillery struggle at Douaumont. We brilliantly captured, by grenade fighting, an organised quarry north-east of Douaumont Fort. Except for a most violent artillery duel in the region of Douaumont, the day was quiet. Bad weather continues. The newspapers describe the 75's as ploughing up the Germans in Thursday’s counter-attacks at Verdun. Three regiments melted away in two hours, and some battalions were reformed ten times. ARTILLERY FICHTINC CONTINUES* •'Received 30, 1.20 p.m.) Paris, October 29. A French communique says that the artillery duel is being continued northward of Verdun. GERMAN BLUFF FAILS. London, October 28. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett say- an eye-witness at Verdun says that since the battle on the Somme opened the Germans at Verdun were putting up a gigantic bluff. Divisions had constantly been withdrawn and changed, so that Verdun had become a rest camp for divisions shattered on the Somme. A third to a half of the guns had been withdrawn. Finally General Joffre decided to call the enemy’s hand. CROWN PRINCE’S CftATITUDE. Received 30, 9.30 a.m.) Paris, October 29'An official message states that prisoners belonging to the 39th Active Line Regiment taken on Tuesday at Haudromont Quarries state that .the Crown Prince, when reviewing, at the end of September, several regiments at Wavrille, said: “I am verv proud of you men. Although we did not succeed m our attacking enterprise and the capture of V erdun, it is none the less true that vou behaved like heroes, true sons of the historic legions of Germany. I am very grateful for your unlimited devotion and courage, and askfyou to continue to hold on still, and to hold your tongues.” THE ENEMY REPORT. Berlin, October 28. A German communique states: We repulsed a French attack east of Douaumont Fort. Later. There was heavy fighting at Verdun. The French attacked from Thiaumont Wood and Fort, also from Fumin Wood, but were repulsed with heavy losses. THE SOMME BATTLEFIELDS. British Victory at Lesboeufs. Received 30, 12.40 p.m.; Paris, October 29. “ Le Petit Parisien ” says the suddenness of the British attack on Les Boeufs surprised the enemy, who abandoned hi* positions almost without a struggle, and left great numbers ofdead and wounded. FRENCH PROGRESS REPORTED. ■I and new ZKAL.A.ND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] V - Received 50, 1.20 p.m.) f Paris, October 29. A French communiquqe says:—We progressed at Sailly SaUbsel and Biaches. SIR DOUGLAS HAIC’S DESPATCHES. [revteb’s TELEGRAM.] London, October 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was heavy rain during the enemy artillery was active south of the Ancre. We carried out a successful local operation north-east of Lesboeufs. and captured several important enemy trenches. Our artUiery bombardment was very effective, and the enemy, when driven from the position, was caught by our rifle fire. , , [HIGH COMMISSIONERS MESSAGE. I 'Received 30, 8 a.m.) London, October 29General Haig reports: —This morning we carried out a successful local attack north-east of Les Boeufs, resulting in the capture of several important trenches. We took prisoner 8 officers and 61 men. The bombardment was very effective, the enemv being driven out and exposed to rifle fire. Elsewhere there have been artillery duels. THE ADVANCE ON TRANSLOY. DETAILS OF THURSDAY’S BATTLE. and NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION, ] London, October 28. Mr. Percival Gibbon correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Chronicle and “Daily Telegraph’’) writes:—Hand-to-hand fighting took place in pits and trenches on Thursday. It was one of the bitterest episodes in the Somme action. The attack was undertaken in weather conditions which oply tragic heroism made possible for an advance. . . The British units went into the trenches the previous night in soak mg rain, and there was seven degrees of frost before mornin,;. Later the rain melted the country to a loathly yellow Our uarrage advanced ahead of the attackers. They were only half-way out of their quagmire of trenches when they saw a German officer recalling the defenders from the parapets. While our men floundered in the mud every German was firing W the German position crawling and tumbling forward somewhat until the trench was captured. The defender:, were the Bavarians, who had captured \ aux in face ot the magnificent French defence, so they were worthy foes, but no match for British bayonets. , Dead Germans now he thick on the ground. But lor the miserable weather the British would have been before the great trench svstem guarding Le Transloy.

kaiser orders immediate re-conquest of LOST GROUND. Received 50, 9.30 a.m., Amsterdam, October 29. The '‘Times’ ” Headquarters correspondent reports that prisoners state the Kmser, when recently- visiting the Somme ordered the immediate re-conquest of all ground lost since July Ist. THE ENEMY REPORTBerlin, October 28. A German communique says:—The infantry battles north /the Somme recommenced yesterday. The British attacked from the. line Gueudecourt-Les Boeufs and the French from Mon-al. The attacks were sanguinarily repulsed. [“THB TIMES.”] I 'Received 3 0, ■ .20 ' A German official report claims that English att Gueudecourt and Les Boeufs were repulsed. The English gain ed front trenches.