FRANCE AND BELGIUM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 15 January 1917, Page 5

FRANCE AND BELGIUM

SUCCESSFUL MINOR ENTERPRISES.

HAMMERING TACTICS

ENEMY GIVEN NO REST.

SPIRIT OF BRITISH TROOPS GRIM AS EVER.

LONDON, Jan. 13. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We entered trenches at two points northward of Arras and took prisoners. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy penetrated a post north-west of Serre, but was immediately driven out. We successfully conducted a minor enterprise westwards of Wytschate. A French communique reports a quiet day, with intermittent cannonade at various sectors. (Australian Cable Association.) LONDON, Jan. 13. Mr Philip Gibbs says the success north of Beaumont Ham el is a continuation of a series of small encounters that have occurred during the past tern, days. They were not big figkts, but were important locally. They show clearly the character of the winter warfare, as well as the spirit of our men, and the effect of our definite, deadly policy of hammering the enemy with increasingly high explosives and not giving any rest to the enemy. We made the first move on January 2, leading up to the recent events, when we seized a small post in j front of Serre. We then decided to take two points and link them as a protective barrier. Raiding parties on the sth captured the posts. The Germans counter-attacked, and in their first effort 20 out of 50 were killed. The remainder crawled back. The second attempt was blocked as soon as it _ started. Then the fighting grew grimmer and gi-immer, and the area widened until the bombarding occupied two miles of front. British detachments on the 10th followed up the barrage, penetrated to the dug-outs, and gave the enemy the choice of death or capture. They all surrendered, including several officers. They were wet, miserable, and nerveI broken. The attack on the 11th was in greater strength. It was a misty morning, and over the snow-covered quagmire we were too quick for the enemy. We pierced his dug-outs before his ma-chine-guns were brought out, and gave them the same choice. Some officers tried to rally their men, but all were killed. An important feature of these local encounters is that the spirit of the British troops, which is unweakened, is as grim as ever despite the hardships and the foul weather. Behind them the massed guns pursue their destructive work all day and all night incessantly. PARIS, Jan. 13. The Parliamentary Group of National Action resolved on urgingl the appointment of an inter-Allied General Staff to advise the Governments as to the war and as to the appointment of a: Commander-in-Chief by common consent, to be assisted by the inter-Allied ! staff, who, if necessary, will amalga- . mate the different' troops.