TERRIFIC FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13935, 18 July 1917, Page 6

TERRIFIC FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT.

. • FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES ON WEST. FRONT. ." ;\ v*• ' k " •». : ■ _ ■ ' ni ' " '" . ENEMY'S SUPERIOR NUMBERS;;ROLLEB' - BACK "BY . ;: BRILLIANT COUNTER«ACKS.' " r# ( i - '■? ! The High Commissioner reports:—. v '■ - • • :.Y." . . . > : LONDON, July 16 -('3.'lo'P'.ir.) ■>.. A Ffench official report says : ~ , Between the Somme and the Aisne there lias been a series of ~c;oups;de-main. East'of St. Quentin;-and westward of Allemant, three enemy attempts failed completely ,arid were rolled back after lively fighting. Southward of Aillcs we liaye mado-progress,■ taking...» • some'prisoners; - N ; • In the regions of Mont Haut. and Teton, the Germans attacked with strong forces the positions taken on (Saturday. We energetically resisted the enemy's superior numbefrs. At Teton the enemy was unsuccessful, and suffered heavy losses; at.-Moiit r I-laut,.j .after,-., stubborn fighting all night, the enemy, who had regained a large part of the captured ground, was rolled back by brilliant counterattacks. r" ' At the time of reporting only some elements of the benches remain Avith the enemy. ■ (Australian and Renter). ...• / ■ Received July 17 at 9.40 p.m. >• V 1 LONDON, July 16. Sir Douglas Hajg reports: We'successfully raided' eastward of Vermelles and slightly advanced our line north-eastward, of Messines. Hostile artillery tire has increased.southward of'liens' and hi" the neighbourhood of Annenticres. . .. HEAVY FIGHTING IN CHAMPAGNE. '

GERMANS' WAVES OF ASSAULT UNABLE TO RECAPTURE LOST GROUND. . . v ENEJIY .DETACHMENTS ANNIHILATED. " . ... (Ausft'a 1 inu and Renter)...... / . Received'-July 17, at 11.1U p.m. LONDON,. July ,17. 'A French communique says:— ".. . The Champagne fighting, which began iluriug: the "night, at Mont.Haut ended in the complete defeat of the ( Geririiii^Sj ; lvho, de"Spite""violent efforts were unable to.recapture/tli6 on the 14th. These attacks were murderous''foi'' the'enemy 'wholaunched three waves of assaults. Our fire; mowed' 1 down two, whije one penetrated our lines. After a fierce conflict which •lasted until daylight, our troops annihilated the detachment and regained possession of all the ground s previously won. Sixteen hundred shells were thrown into Rheims, where the artillery firing has been most

GERMANS-'-GOSTLY ATTEMPTS TO';REGAIN POSITIONS, TRENCHES HELD BY FRENCH AGAINST STRONG : : , . ■ COUNTER-ATTACKS. . . . ; ; '.... (Australian and Renter): " • Received July 17, at 6.30 p.m. ; A French communique savs:— *;; ; • . • -/"After • tlie bombardment, the enemy attempted a series of coup-de-main between the Somme and the-Aisne. An attempt southeast of- Saint Qnentin, west of Allement failed. The enemy'sattack Avith several detachments on our-small posts south-of-Gov--bcux'Avas--completely repulsed. We progressed south-of Tilles after the most violent bombardment. In the region of Mont Haut and Teton large forces attacked the positions we captured on the 14th instant. The enemy was in greatly superior numbers to our forces. His tft'orts at Teton Avere unsuccessful. He suffered • the heaviest losses and was unable to'break our lines. Obstinate iig.lj.tjug. took place all night at Mont Ilaut. The enemy at first succeeded in retaking the greater part .tif'the captured ground, but was driven back by our brilliant counter-attack. Only some portions of the trenches remain in his'braids. (Australian and Reutcr). Received' July IT, 1 at 6;30 p.in. - - • • • LONDON, July 10. A German wireless-official report says • The French failed to recapture the positions lost .southward of Conrleson. They also fruitlessly attacked soutlnvard of Labovelle Farm and north-east of Tillcry, Our trenches -west •of Champagne remained in .the enemy's hands after the night's fighting. We failed to maintain the trenches recaptured at Hockberg, but reached the old lilies after bitter fighting, at Hockberg. There has been .-lively artillery fighting on the.Avest bank of the Meuse, and between the Meuse and Moselle. The High Commissioner reports:—'.V, "• " LONDON, July ,16/(ipojpi.) '; A French official report says: lii.the Champagne last night's struggle at Mout Haut resulted in a coiiipjete clicck' oflli'e"Germans;, who .woreainable, despite all, their efforts, to recifpttfre the ground Ave took on Saturday., The.enemy suffered sangilinaty lo'sscfsV-'Two" waves of attackers were mown doAvii by'our fire, One detachment which penetratei] our line's, after a fierce Sglit, was destroyed.