TERRIFIC FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13931, 13 July 1917, Page 6

TERRIFIC FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT.

PIERCE FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT, GUNNERS MAKE COSTLY ATTACKS TO REGAIN OBSERVATORY POSITIONS.

.(Australian and New imnna Oalilo Association.).:-. LONDON, July 11. ' The Daily Chroliiclc corrospondont at French Headquarters says that the Chemin-des-Damcs ridge continues the scene of.lighting ' of desperate obstinacy, which recalls the'fighting before Ycrdim. The Crown Prince has launched troops against a narrow'crest of • ! hills, endeavouring to win back the lost observation posts and caverns, where the Germans hid safely for two years. There' was particularly fierce fighting on Sunday between the Pantheon ' Farm and Froidmont Farm. The. German infantry charging behind a storm of shells. Twelve fresh battalions reinforced the at- : tackers and detachments of engineers with flame-projectors par- ' ticipated in the attack, to which the French replied with difficulty, as thus far they had been unable to establish a proper system of ' defence upon the bare slopes. The French were far outnumbered upon the threatened sector, but fought from shell-hole to shellhole when driven out of their trenches, The bombardments during ' Sunday brought relief to the sorely pressed foot chasseurs, enabling ; the French to regain nearly the whole of the lost ground. The French artillery barrage meanwhile caused German losses exceeding 1 those of the French. The'fighting obliterated Chemin-des-Damea, . which is only traceable by a few trees and stumps. ~' <" The position gives a splendid view over many of the enemy lines so that the plateau is bound to be bitterly contested. The French still possess a first-class observatory in the French '' fort on the Plateau of Malmaison.

FIGHT FOR THE FLANDERS COAST.

HEAVY GUN-FIRE'HEARD IN LONDON. (Australian and' New Zealand Gable Association,) ' LONDON, July 11. I ' .The newspapers give .prominence to Sir Douglas Haig's an- ' nouncement of a great/bombardment on the Belgian coast!" Very ' heavy- gun-fire was heard in London throughout Tuesday., The High Commissioner reports:—' ; London;. July: il::; ' ;. Sir Douglas Haig reports: On the evening of yesterday after a . 1 twenty-four hours' intense bombardment on'the Nieuport front, the enemy having demolished our lines of defence, destroying the Yser ' bridge and isolating the sector, penetrated 600 yards on a 1400- • yards front, reaching the right bank of the Yser opposite Lombar-" tzyde. After gaining temporarily some advanced positions they : were driven bade by a counter-attack. ' ' \ ■, i (Australian and Now Zealand;dable. Association.).... Received July 12, at 7.30 p.mi ■'■.■■■'"'" ■ ' ; ' ■ ■ \ '■■'■'..... ' ■;'' '■ ... . LONDON, July 11. '. A French 1 communique says: Lively artillery struggles continue ■. north of Jouy. There has been the liveliest artillery encounter in ■'*

the sector of Plill*3o4. The Germans attacked north of l|irey,and W.oeyre. f 'enemy was completelydriven out of the ; por.tiQiv of ..trenches,where:iielifi(i secured a footing. ■■ ■'. '-: > * ■/■ ■:'.. 1 , (Australian and Re'uter). 4\.'4:' ; V ,;•'•' ; Received July 12, at 9.20-p.m. . ■':...; : '.''. ' ■%■'■■ '-;'•■ .;: LONt)ONj.July:«.":; A wireless German official report says: Our Marine; infantry .after artillery preparation, stormed positions between'the'coast and; ■ Lombartzydc and drove the enemy across the.Yser. ...Wc.took 1350 prisoners and inflicted' heavy losses. Our airmen, despite a storm,.contributed,to the success. '.'■ The High Commissioner reports:— . ■■■■■.;■-■■■•• LONDON, July 11 (12.30 p.m.) A British official report says:—The extreme intensity-of the enemy's artillery fire on the Nieuport front has now diminished, but ours continues active. • ■ '