WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16742, 24 December 1914, Page 7

WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

PROGRESS AT All POINTS. ALLIES CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE. THE OFFICIAL SURVEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, December 22. The following official report has been issued:— Yesterday there were artillery duels from the sea to the Lys, and also on the Aisne and at Rheims. There were fierce bayonet combats at Souain. We carried trenches extending 1500 metres near Perthes le Shurlus, and traversed entanglements north of Malincourt, capturing trenches. W© further progressed in the Bois de la Grurie and at Tracy-le-Val, and also at Blancy. We repulsed several attacks at Lihons. GREAT WORK ON ’THE LEFT. PLUCKY LITTLE BRITISH BAND. LONDON, December 22. The “ Daily Chronicle ” states that the Allies are gradually driving the enemy from Lille through a morass of mud. Hundreds of prisoners have been captured by the Allies’ extreme left during the last few days. b The French stormed a farm held by German marines. Many were killprl and the vest captured. A force of 180 British held 10,000 GetP'-ns for two days until reinforced

One of the best British shots, hidden in a clump of trees, with two rifles and a boy as loader, picked off 120 Germans in forty-eight hours. ON THE COAST. A Dunkirk message says that in the advance from Nieuport the Allies cleared strong network fortifications, and many rows of trenohes. The houses at Lombaertzyde had been con-vert-eel into miniature, forts, machine guns commanding a wide sweep. Tho British fleet, aiding the infantry attack,** did colossal execution. Four successive shells decimated an approaching German column. Others'levelled many houses, exposing the German positions. BRILLIANT FRENCH DASH. A small number of Frenchmen crossed the Passcliendaele, ' canal at night, using barges as bridges, and crawled up the bank, and bayoneted tho surprised Germans out of the first trench. The vest of tho Frenchmen crossed in barges and captured seven other trenches. GERMANS LEAVE MIDDELKERKE. An Amsterdam message says that tho Germans have evacuated Middelkerke. Allies’ aeroplanes are busy examining the region , between the \ solan d the Dutch frontier. further progress. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received December 23, 9.15 p.m.) PARIS, December 23. An official report states: The enemy’s violent counter attacks south Of Noyon were repulsed. Wo gained a footing and made progress at BourneviLles, south of Varennes,.and An the rest of Vauqueoia,

FRENCH parliament opened. PATRIOTIC SPEECHES. (Received December 23, 11.30 p.m.) PARIS, December 23. Parliament has opened. Many deputies came straight from the trenches. M. Dischanel, in a. speech, said, ‘* England, at whose, heart Germany aims, rises with Canada, Australasia, India and with us pursues her glorious civilising mission iti tho greatest drama, history lias known. All will do their duty to realise the ideal that right js greater than might.” (Cheers). M. Viviani said that France and the Allies would fight to the bitter end. Franco would lay down her arms when the lost provinces had been regained, Belgian independence restored and Prussian militarism, broken.