THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 274, 4 November 1916, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONT.

British and French Advance. Approaching Le Transloy. - [PRESS ASSOCIATION COPTBIGHT.] [ Arrant JTJ AN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] London, November 3. Mr. P. Gibbon (the “ Daily Chronicle’s ” correspondent) says that since the 23 rd ult. the fighting eastward of Les Boeufs has ebbed and flowed against the stubborn Bavarians until only the crest of a trench held out. For a week artillery pdtended the trench out of existence. On the 30th the British, after fierce bayonet fighting, again rushed the slope and won every objective. Our line is now parallel with the great German system before Le Transloy. The price paid was not excessive. That the Germans lost heavily is shown by the number of corpses lying in the rain. The Bavarians were so dazed by the violent fighting that they declare they destroyed two tanks, whereas no tanks were engaged. The rain continues, and there is mud and broadening ponds of water everywhere, necessitating constant efforts to keep our positions in repair. T . T , London, November 3. The “Daily Chronicle’s ” Paris correspondent says that seven battalions of Wurtemburgers and Silesians participated in the attack on Sailly Saillisel. The French lines were dosed plentifully with flaming liquid and poison gas, and the enemy’s infantry advanced bravely. Six assaults were smashed up with heavy losses. A successful advance later brought the British within 200 yards of Le Transloy. The French are near the south of this important point. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DESPATCHES. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. London, November 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy shelled our front in Hebuteme-Arras region. Our artillery' was active south of Armentieres. North of Ypres our aircraft bombed a number of batteries. (Received 4, 11.30 a.m.) We surprised and captured a trench east of Gueudecourt, raided trenches at Etrenas.

THE FRENCH COMMUNIQUE.

Paris, November 3. Official.—North of the Somme, we carried out a new operation between Les Boeufs and Sailly Saillisel, hereby an appreciable amount of ground was gained. Our total prisoners on this sector since yesterday are 736. THE BERLIN VERSION. Berlin, November 3. A German communique says:—The French gained a minor advantage at Les Boeufs. Anglo-French attacks elsewhere on the Somme were repulsed. THE MEUSE FRONT. FRENCH RE-OCCUPATION OF VAUX FORT. [ACSTBALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] (Received 4, 11.30 a.m.) Paris, November 3. hb A communique says:—Owing to the violence of our bombardtv ment for several days, the enemy, not awaiting the attack of our infantry, whose pressure is ever closer, yesterday afterUK noon evacuated Fort Vaux, wherein the heaviest explosions were observed, and we occupied it at night without loss. The belt of exterior forts around Verdun is now entirely re-established firmly. THE ENEMY’S STORY. DEFENDERS RETIRE TO BETTER POSITIONS. Berlin, November 3. A German communique states:- —Under violent French bombardment we evacuated Fort Vaux, after blowing up important positions. (Received 4, 11.20 a.m.) Rome, November 3. A German wireless message claims that the withdrawal from Fort Vaux was not observed by the French, who bombarded the empty fort for many hours, and then strongly assaulted it, but found the stronghold deserted. Owing to French gains near Fort Douaumont, Fort Vaux was valueless to Germany, whose troops retired to a more favourable line.