HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 19 October 1914, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGES.

(OFFICIAL NARRATIVE,

WELLINGTON, Qct. 17

T&Q following official war news has feon received by the Prime. Minister, j dated. London, October 1Q (lQ.go p>m.): —general headquarters continues and supplements the narrative of move- | ments of the British and French armies ;in imediate-touch. From October 9 until QctoHer 12 little occurred. The usual sporadic shelling of our trenches : resulted in little harm, so well dug in are our men. On the night of the 10th the Germans made a fresh assault, supported by artillery, against a pcint which has all along attracted most of their attention, The attempt was again a costly failure, towards which our guns were able to contribute with great | effect. One of cur aviators sighted a | hostile machine and gave chase, but lost sight of his opponent amongst the clouds. Another machine appeared, a German Otto biplane; Our officer started in pursuit. At sixty yards range he fired, turned round, and empted his magazine at the German. The latter descended and our officer continued firing while ha was descending on his opponent, who disappeared .into a,bank of clouds. ,; :.'■■'. French airmen were yeiy succssfif a \ during the last three :l°ys. They dropped bombs amongst the German cavalry and caused considerable loss and disorder. They also silenced a battery of field howitzers. German anti-aircraft guns were recently unusually active. From their rate of fire it seemed nearly automatic. So far it has not had.much effect in reducing our air reconnaissances. A striking feature of our line is that it consists of trenches not all placed alongside each other, but' some more advanced 1 than others, many facing r in different.directions. At one place they run east and west on one side of a valley, at another north and south At different points both German and British trenches jut out like promontories into the opponent's territory. In spite of lavish expenditure of life, the enemy has not succeeded in driving us back. Experience has shown that a short field of fire is sufficient to beat: back the. enemy's infantry assaults. The extent to which cross fire of all kinds is employed is remarkable. • Many localities are untenable by rifle fire from neighboring features or guns out of sight, and it is difficult for the troops to find out-whence they are being shot at. There is a perpetual triangular duel. The First Contingent of Canadians has arrived at Plymouth. '