SPASMODIC OPERATIONS ON THE WEST.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 10 September 1917, Page 6

SPASMODIC OPERATIONS ON THE WEST.

: ,. •'.'■' r MANYMSIONS SHATTERED ; AND WHDRAWN. •' - /.'. "■ ls -~ s '.' : v .-./',•' '.■''■' ! ' i ' (Australi&n and ftw Zealand Cable Association.) ■■■•■•■■■■ PARIS, September 7,', , M.Marcel Hutin, writing to the Echo dc Paris, states that the German losses m defending Lens are already 16,000, or a quarter of the number engaged. Moreover, since' : the M thirty-five "Brown" divisions have been engaged between Meekcm and Hollebelce, where the losses have averaged 2500 in each. Eight divisions remain in the firing 'line, "and: seventeen have; been withdrawn, severely mauled. Eight others are suffering from "cold feet," and have been transferred 'to quieter sectors. The Germans have .called up the 1920 class, and youths of seventeen have already enlisted in-, certain districts in Eastern-Prussia,'Hesse, and Westphalia. SPASMODIC ENCOUNTERS FROM CYPRES TO THE. . AISNE. V : . .. . , .... ■ ■, .'' " v ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS FRUSTRATED. : ' • ..,/' (Australian and Nejr Zealand Cable' Assooiatldn.) ..'. ' ■ ' ' ' ii i ■ ' ' ' ''■ >' \ \ LONDON, September 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We rushed a hostile post westward of Tafata and repulsed raids near Lens and Armentieres. Strong ' .counter-attacks northward of Frezenberg agaipst the positions we gained yesterday compelled us to return to our line. A wireless German 1 official message states:. The English atI tacked on a four-kilometres front along the Ypres-Roulers railway, ' but failed. The enemy employed three divisions in a partial attack near Lens, and also failed. We brought down fourteen aeroplanes. -''• ;

(Australian and Sow Zealand Cable Association and Reutor.) v> " " : -'PARIS, September 7, : A French communique states: "We repulsed enemy attacks south of Aillcs, and our air squadrons bombed the railway stations at Thionville and Louppy. ' (Australian and Reuter.) Kftceivpcl September 9, at 5.5 p.m. . LONDON, September 8. ' Sir Douglas Haig reports:. We successfully raided the neighbourliood of Gavrelle and there is patrol iightiiig north-eastward.of St. Julieti, The enemy lias heavily shelled Langfiinarck.

"Our advance posts at Avion, also eastward of the ElendiUc-AiTvette-Lens front we have made slight progress.. Despite \he weather our aeroplanes dropped one hundred bombs on various tagets.'

A French communique reports 'reciprocal artillery activity at various points, particularly east of Vauxaillon in the' Champagne and the mountain region on both banks of the Meuse.

GERMANS CLAIM REPULSE OF F^NOft;A!E,!'^ "•'", VERDUN, •'"'"' , '"." '"■'

NO INFANTRY ACTIONS ON BRITISH FRONT. •

(Australian and New Zealand Cable Assoriatiou.) . ~, Received September 9, at 11.5 p.m.

( : ■ LONDON, September 8. A wireless German official report says: The French attack between Samogneux and Beaumont Vaucher-Anvill road on a front of twenty miles was repulsed with heavy losses. Sir Douglas Haig says the enemy artillery is showing activity but there are no infantry actions.

A wireless German official report says: The French attack north-east of Bezanvanx failed. Tho enemy gained ground at Chaulines wood and fighting continues.

ii in r i ...» BRILLIANT VICTORY FOR THE FRENCH. ANOTHER COMPLETE SUCCESS ON VERDUN FRONT. (Australian and Reuter). Received September 10,. at 1.5 a.m. LONDON, September 9. A French communique states: On the right of the Mouse we attacked the enemy lines this morning on a front of two and nhalf kilometres in the sector of Fosses and Caurieres woods. The attack was a complete success despite desperate resistance. We extended our position north of Fosses and carried the whole of Chauline Wood and a line west dominating the whole of Caurieres* Wood.