WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17661, 13 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH LINES.

MINOR OPERATIONS, LONDON, December 11

Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was unusual mutual aerial ac ; tivity yesterday, particularly south of the Scarpe and north of th e Lys. We repulsed a raid east of Epehy and dispersed: working parties on the Cambrai front, securing prisoners. (Received December 12, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 11. Mr < Philip Gibbs reports:—There have been only patrol encounters on'me Cambrai front; The enemy is busy digging cover opposite our new line. We have the advantage still within the deeply dug Hindenburg line, while the Germans are exposed to our artillery, ■which does not allow working parties to rest. Twenty-seven German divisions •were massed on the Cambrai section* and all have been engaged in fighting. The Germans are displaying great aerial activity, bombing \ our dumps, depots and - field-works. We retaliate with great numbers of fighting planes.

AIRMEN AT WORK.

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

(Received December 12, 11.5 p.m.)

, LONDON, December 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Wo successfully raided west of Hulluch. A number of enemy raiding parties were repulsed south of Armentieres. The enemy’s aeroplanes were particularly active on Monday west ’of Cambrai, and repeatedly attacked our artillery and machine-gunners. Our aeroplanes dropped many bombs and machine-gunned villages, hutments and trenches. We downed five German machines, and three of our machines are missing. This morning our machines proceeded to Germany to bomb certain factories, and found their objectives obscured by clouds, but they bombed a largo railway station north-east of Pirmosels.

IjONDON, December 11

The Admiralty reports: — Three naval aircraft, patrolling, attacked and, drove back five enemy scouts and seven large seaplanes. We also destroyed two enemy machines, and raked with machine-gun fire enemy trenches, and an anti-aircraft battery. We raided the Vaisscnaere aerodrome, obtaining two direct hits. All our machines Returned. ,WITH THE FRENCH. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. ». N.Z. Cable Association and Router. '(Received December 12, 11.,9 p.m.) ■ PARIS, December 12. A French communique says : —There was moderate reciprocal artillery fire on the greater part of the front.