THE WEST FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17174, 29 November 1917, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT

COUNTER-ATTACK. REPULSED. Atiitralian and N.Z. Cable Association and Ileuter. LONDON, November 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was another counter-attack on the north-east corner of Bpurlon Wood. The weather is wet and stormy. WORK OF THE CAVALRY. MANY SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. Aiutralian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, November 27. Mr Philip Gibbs states: There is not the slightest doubt that the Germans will make powerful attempts to regain Bourlon Wood, so as to prevent us from making their railways untenable and affecting one of their main lines of supply. Our cavalry, after the break through on the first morning of the battle, had a hard time without much luck. Several unfortunate incidents spoiled their hopes of a big drive, notably two things, the first being the strong German defence at Flesquieres, and the second being that a tank unluckily broke a bridge over the Masnieres Canal. A squadron of Canadian cavalry repaired the bridge and rode forward. They had some remarkable adventures, because a message ordering their retirement never reached them. Their commander's horse went lame, but a young lieutenant carried on, and the squadron reached a camouflaged road south-eastward of.Rumilly. There they came up against a battery of field guns firing at point-blank range. They charged the battery, putting the guns out of action and killing or taking prisoner the gunners. Darkness saved the squadron. A Canadian lieutenant, who spoke German when challenged, deceived the enemy, enabling the squadron to press forward, take the Germans by surprise, and hack their way through the enemy. A small body of Dragoon Guards took Noyelles. They skirted round under rifle and machine-gun fire, and then galloped etraight through the main street at three o'clock in the afternoon. Advancing further, they captured seven German'officers walking mLa Folie Wood. The dragoons penetrated the depth of the wood. Their officer rode up to a cottage where were the German divisional headquarters, poured in revolver shots through the window, and rode back.

Another squadron took Cantaing at a gallop, one party attacking direct and two others riding ronnd theflanks. They continued towards Fontaine Notre Dame, "which was then strongly defended.

Other squadrons riding through open country were constantly meeting mafchinegun fire, and took prisoner small bodies of the enemy. The cavalry were afterwards converted into a dismounted force for the attack on Bourlon Wood.

A Canadian squadron was caught in a tight corner in the darkness. They were practically surrounded in a sunken road, and only five horses remained unhit. The Canadians resolved that they must cut their way out; therefore they stampeded their riderless horses in the direction of the enemy in .order to draw their machine-gun fire. The troopers then hurriedly escaped. They encountered and routed four parties of Germans before they reached safety.

FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR

CAMBRAI.

BRITISH LINE ADVANCED.

AIRMEN VERY BUSY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and

Reuter. LONDON, (Received Nov. 29, at 0.5 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: Local attacks at dawn in the neighbourhood of Fontaine Notre Dame and Bourlon villages led to .severe fighting. The enemy, being strongly reinforced, contested the advance with great stubbornness, and the fight swayed backwards and forwards, but we advanced our line and took prisoner over 500. We drove off in the afternoon an attempted attack on a position in the Hindenburg line on the spur westward of Mceuvres. There is great activity on the part of the enemy's artillery eastward and north-east-ward of Ypres. Our low-flying machines on Monday constantly attacked enemy troops, batteries, and transports. Over three tons of bombs were dropped on crossing the Sensel and the river railhead near Cambrai and northward of Douai and Somain railway station. Wβ brought down six enemy machines.

WITH THE FRENCH. ENEMY STRONG POINT REDUCED. Aurtralian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, November 27. French communique: A successful local operation by us yesterday evening north of Hill 344. on the right bank of the Meuse, reduced an enemy strong point, fully completing the gains we obtained on November 25.

SPIRITS IN NORTHERN FRANCE.

BRITISH REQUEST GRANTED,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, PARIS, November 27.

(Received Nov. 28, at 7.25 p.m.) The Government is acceding to the request of the British military authorities and prohibiting the consumption of spirits in Northern France. FIGHTING AT BOURLON. NORTHERN PORTION OF VILLAGE CAPTURED. ISOLATED PARTY RESCUED. LONDON, November 27. (Received Nov. 28, at 8.45 p.m.) A report from the British headquarters states: Furious attacks and counter-at-tacks-are taking place on our new battle front. We hammered away early in the morning into the northern portion of Fontaine -village, beWeen Bourlon and Cambrai. Attacking from the direction of Bourlon Wood, we drove the Prussians by bayonet and bomb into the southern half of the village. During the attack, a daring British raid on Bourlon village succeeded in rescuing a party of officers and men who had been isolated there. During the night a Prussian attack from the village against the wood was completely cut up by machine-gun fire. GERMAN REPORTS UNCENSORED. PARIS, November 27. (Received Nov. 28, at 8.45 p.m.) M. Clemeneeau has, for the first time, allowed the publication of uncensored German communiques. . GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, November 27. (Received Nov. 28, at 8.45 p.m.) German official: There is most violent artillery work between Houthulst Wood and Zandvoorde. We repulsed a big French attack north-weat of Pruney. Fighting lias actively increased between Samogneux and Beaumont, astride the Ornes.

A GERMAN ORDER,

DEALING WITH SHIRKERS.

Reutor'sATnJffijrams. LONDON, November 27, (Received Nov. 28, at 9.30 p.m.)

British headquarters reports state that a written German order has been found stating that if soldiers found lurking in a big dug-out did not come out immediately and fight the lurking place would be ' blown up; further, directing that the order be read aloud to the whole battalion.

PRINCIPALLY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association end Router. LONDON, November 28. (Received Nov. 29, at 0.5 a.m.) A French communique states: There ia vigorous artillery work in the Juvincourt district and the Bois le Chaume front. GERMAN CLAIMS. Admiralty per Wireless Preea. LONDON, November 28. (Received Nov. 29, at 0.5 a.m.) German official: Strong British attacks between Bourlon and Fontaine failed. Bitter local engagements are progressing.