THE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 21

THE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. The reports of Sir Douglas Haig during the week have been to the following effect: Successful raids wore mode eastward of Neuville St Vaast, and south-eastward of Armentieres, destroying machine gun emplacements and talcing prisoners. An attempted enemy raid eastward of La Doutillerie failed. Hostile working parties at Fauquissart and Wieltje were dispersed. There was reciprocal artillery and trench mortar 'work in the Loos, Arras, and Ypres districts, and north of the Ancre. Inure were successful mining operations southward of Ypres. 'An enemy ammunition dump at Vimy was fired. A patrol endeavouring to enter our trenches eastward of Armentieres was driven off. We bombarded trenches in the neighbourhood of Festubert, Neuve Chapelle, and Ypres. Wo entered trenches in the neighbourhood of Monchy and Aubois, southward of Arras, and bombed dugouts full of troops. . An enemy attempt to raid in the neighbourhood . of Hulluch failed. Wo bombarded and fired a dump in the neighbourhood of Pys. An enemy attack at Los Boeufs was crushed. Wo raided trenches southward of Armentieres and eastward of Vierstraat. A powerful enemy raiding party endeavoured to enter our line southward of St. Eloi. A few reached our trenches, but were immediately ejected. Tho enemy losses were severe. ,

Tho Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states that an artillery duel on the Ancre last week was tho most violent since the beginning of the Somme battle. The British gunners north of the Ancre gained marked success over tho German heavy guns. Tho oannonado extended to many sectors, including Loos, Givenchy, Armentieres, and Ypres, and also along tho Belgian front. FRENCH REPORTS. French official reports during tho week have stated: —Two Gorman aeroplanes were downed at Verdun and two at Champ. Our aeroplanes bombed the cantonments and a munition dump north of Verdun, where several fires and powerful explosions wore observed. There was violent artillery work at Villeaubois, northwest of Rheims, and in the Douaumont sector. A coup de main was successfully carried out against enemy trenches at Bois lo Pctre, west of Pont-a-Mousion. A German attack on Bois de Logos, north of Lassigny (between tho Avro and the Oisc), was broken up by our artillery barrage. Some enemy detachments which gained a footing in our advanced trenches were driven out with grenades, and our line was entirely re-established. A Paris official report states: South of the Sommo there is brisk reciprocal artillery work in the Biaches and La Maisonette sectors. A coup do main against a salient north of Tour de Paris, in the Argonno, enabled us to destroy mine work and capture prisoners. There was a fairly lively artillery action south of the Somme, on both banks of tho Mouse, and the heights south of Bonhomme. GREAT FRENCH SUCCESS. THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS TAKEN. _ After several days' artillery preparation, we attacked the enemy north of Douamont, between the Meuso and the_ Woevre, on a front exceeding 10 kilometres. The enemy front was everywhere pierced to a depth of three kilometres. Wo captured, besides numerous trenches, tho villages of Vachcrauville and Louvemont, also farms at Chambrettos, and works at Hardaumont and Bezonvaux. We have not counted all our prisoners, but 7500, including 200 officers, have already passed through tho collecting stations. Wo also took or destroyed numerous guns, including heavy field pieces and trench guns, besides a great quantity of material. Notwithstanding unfavourable weather, tho air service brilliantly participated. The success wag complete, our troops displaying the greatest enthusiasm. Our losses were slight. Our French divisions which attacked between tho Mouse and tho Woevre, defeated five German divisions, of which all the regiments wero in action. Prisoners were taken from every one. The enemy did not counter-attack during the night. Following up our successes on tho right of the Meuso, wo made progress in the Cauriercs Wood, and captured the village of Bczonvaux. A violent German attack on Pcpperville was decisively repulsed. We maintained tho whole of our new front. Prisoners continue to arrive. So far they exceed 9000, including 250 officers. Eightyone guns have been captured or destroyed. Tho newspapers are enthusiastic over tho Verdun army's reply to the peace proposals, and Gen< ral Nivelle's brilliant debut in the chief command. T-To and General Pr>tr>''n planned the vast operation, which General Mangin carried out. On General N'ivollo's signal at 10 o'clock in tho morning five attacking divisions dashed forward under tho protection of guns of all calibres. They immediately penetrated tho enemy's

trenches, the occupants of which were unable to oppose them seriously. There numerous machine guns at "Vacherauville, however, where the lighting, though short, was very lively. The French, admirably led, clashed to the slopes of Poivre Hill, crushing all opposition, and yelling and shouting. Above the din the watchers could clearly hear the notes of the "Marseillaise" as Vacherauville and Poivre Hill were captured on the rush. The Germans, seeing that resistance was impossible, fell back in good order.

On the Vacherauville-Beaumont road the French contingents suddenly surged up behing the Germans, causing a panic, and the abandonment of everything. Tho attackers from Poivre Hill assisted in the rout. Half an hour from the commencement of tho attack the French were on top. The village of Louvemont was speedily captured, tho Germans surrendering along tho whole line. The victorious troops pushed on to Chambrettos Farm, south-west of the Horn of Bois des Fosses. Our artillery fire had completely destroyed the Hardaumont defences, so these wero unable to' assist the enemy, who fell back in disorder, leaving the whole wood in French hands.

General Mangin, having gained his objective, despatched search parties in all directions, who destroyed numerous guns.

! Tho positions captured yesterday wero those taken by the Germans on February 25. GERMAN REPORTS. i German* reports state: —Wo captured Bulcn ana repulsed a triple attack southeast of Malancourt, while after a strong preparatory fire far and near the French attacked in waves at Cote do Poivre, but failed. Strong French attacks east of tho Mouse since the forenoon gained advantages in the direction of Louvemont and Hardaumont. Tho fighting continues. GERMAN LOSSES. % The German casualties officially reported ' for the month of November were 166,176, of which 28,729 wero killed making tho war's total 3,921,659, of which 889,957 were killed. I An authoritative estimate of tho German losses on tho Sommo is 700,000. Official: On December 1 the enemy forces l were distributed as follow:—123 divisions on the west front, 106 on the Russian, 29 on the Rumanian, 12 on tho Macedonian, and 33 on the Italian and Albanian fronts. NEW FRENCH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Official: General Nivelle has been op'pointed Commander-in-Chief of the armies in the north and north-west. General Nivelle was a colonel at the outbreak of the war, and made his reputation by capturing 24 cannon, which were the first trophies of the war. His most famous feat j was on the Aisne, on September 16, 1914, • when the Germans caught the Seventh French Army Corps crossing the river. Part of the corps were forced to reoross. Colonel Nivelle galloped up with his guns, and a frightful massacre of Germans followed.

REORGANISED FRENCH MINISTRY. It has been decided" that the Cabinet shall consist of 10 members. A War ComI mittce has been appointed, consisting of ■ M. Briand, Premier; M. Ribot, Minister of Finance ; M. Lyautey, Minister of War: M. Lacazo, Minister of Marine; M. Thomas, Minister of _ Munitions. General Joffro, as generalissimo, will attend the committee as technical military adviser. Technical directors will bo appointed for mines, merchandise, and shipping. Tho new Ministry comprises: M. Briand, Premier and Foreign Affairs. M. Ribot, Finance. ' M. Viviani, Justice, Public Works, and Instruction. M. Lyautey (ex-Governor of Morocco), War. M. Clementel, National Economy end Commerce. I M. Doumerguc, Colonies. M. Thomas, Minister of War Production and Armaments. . M. Malvy, Interior. Rear-admiral Lacazo, Marino. M. Herriot (Mayor of Lyons), Civilian Minister for Military Rcvictualling. The Chamber of Deputies passed a A - ote of confidence in the Government, and approved M. Briand's declarations concerning prosecution of tho war by 314 votes to 166. ; Tho Cabinet has introduced a measure to suppress tho consumption of spirits, on tho ground _ that these are needed for making ammunition. i There was a stormy scene in the Chamber of Deputies during the df-bato on the war j credits by Socialists M. Brizon, one of their deputies, who recently men German Socia'ists in Switzerland, vehemently pro- ! tested against tho prolongation of the war. I A tumult ensued. M. Brizon persisted, despite the opposition of the whole Chamber. The scene culminated in M. Brizon hurling a -u-ater bottle at tho head of his nearest opponent. Tho sitting was suspended owing to the pandemonium, and M. Brizon was ejected. The new Government's first step will bo

to seek power to take necessary war measures, excepting money votes, by decree instead of legislation. This applies to agricultural and industrial production, labour, and food. M. Br: and proposes forthwith to apply the powers to the prohibition of liquor containing over 15 per cent. _ of alcohol. In tho Chamber there was a lively debate, and by 300 votes to 137 votes the proposal was referred to a special commission. M. Briand explained that he desired power to requisition men and additional supplies whenever required.