THE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 13

THE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT.

The daily reports for the past week have been to tho following effect:— Details of the raid north of Arras on December 20 show that two lines ot German trenches were penetrated in broad daylight along a 400 yards front, and all our objectives were attained. We successfully raided trenches south-west of Lens and eastward of Armentieres. The enemy blew up Camourlet, south of St. Eloi, but the damage done was slight. We shelled enemy defences at their headquarters, north of the Somine, doing much damage._ We raided positions north-east of Armentieres and east of Ploegstraete. Prisoners were secured. We searched and bombed a few hundred yards of trenches and dugouts north-west of Lens, doing great damage, without a casualty on our side. Our positions northward of the Somme and near Le Sars were heavily shelled at intervals. Wo successfully bombarded enemy defences and trench mortar emplacements in the neighbourhood of Hullucfi and westward of Messines. There were a number of air fights, in which enemy aeroplanes were destroyed, and five were damaged. Three of ours are missing. Enemy raids north-west of Gommecourt were repulsed. Tho enemy fired many gas shells in the neighbourhood of Arras and Lens. In air combats six hostile machines wore brought down. We carried out a successful raid east of Le Sars; the trenches were found greatly damaged. We repulsed a raid east of Armentieres. Wo successfully exploded a mine north-east of Neuvelle St. Vaast. We effectively bombarded positions in the neighbourhood of Serro, shelled places of military importance east of Arras, and destroyed a bridge across Faies, east of Le Tellog. We bombarded the enemy south-east of Lo Transloy, exploding an ammunition dump. The enemy's artillery was active at Martinpuich.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Official reports of the French state: was lively artillery work, especially on the right (east) bank of the Mouse, and email enemy attacks in Champagne. South of the Avre a French detachment in the region of Royo penetrated tho German trenches, whose occupants fled after sustaining losses. Ten French aeroplanes bombed the railway station and hutments at Nosle and the bivouacs at Chapitre. There was marked artillery activity in some sectors south of tho Somme where an enemy battery was exploded. We successfully fired several mines in the region of Banoragnes, south of the Avre, and then raided enemy lines, capturing prisoners. Thirteen British naval aeroplanes dropped a ton of bombs on the blast furnaces at Dillingen. French aeroplanes heavily bombarded the railway stations at Montmendy and Pierrepont, cast of Longwy, the factories in Thionville and Joeuf, in the Briey coalfield, and the blast furnaces at Rombach and Hacondangy. Two dirigibles bombed tho factories at Hacondangy and the ironworks at Neunkirchen. There was vigorous mutual artillery work at Morthomme and Hill 304. Following this ' the Germans Bhortly before midnight strongly attacked on a three-kilometres front westward of Hill 304, as far as Mort Homme. The attack* was broken by our artillery, machine gun, and infantry fire. A few of the enemy penetrated a trench southwards of Mort Hommo. We raided the wrecked German trenches between the Oiso and the Aisne. Tho Germans violently bombarded our position between th Meuso and Avocourt. Aviators bombed _ different German munition works, including those at Neunkirchen. Wo captured some prisoners in a coup de main south of Chilly. At Verdun and the Sommc in 1916 we captured 78,500 Germans. GERMAN REPORTS. A German official message claims the repulse of British attacks near Ypres. Tho Somme battle has finished, and an extensive trench system has again been constructed, there being over a dozen lines of defence. Wo brought down nine onemv aeroplanes. We penetrated the French second and third lines on Height 304 and the southern slope of Mort Homme, and ropulsed counter-attacks. EXTENSION OF BRITISH LINE. Tho Paris Journal's correspondent supplies the first news of the British extension of front on the Somme. Ho writes: "It was a busy Christmas _ for tho ' Tommies ' entering the French linos in tho stillness of a cold night. Hundreds upon hundreds of convoys of food, munitions, and material for shelters moved along the roads to tho war trenches. Thousands upon thousands of men, shadowy forms, passed silently and socrotly along thoroughfares within a few Yards of the enemy. Our guards in tho trenches redoubled their vigilance. It was a severe and anxious time, involving an exShangc of duties between two allied armies, nit it was accomplished with tho utmost order and success. Tho operation was completed by Christmas night, and soon the names of celebrated French woods and villages will again be mentioned with added glory, no longer in French but in British communiques. The extent of tho section taken over has not yet been disclosed. The Paris Journal's dramatic disclosure preated a sensation in London. It explains

tho prolonged bombardment of the Yprcs front, where Sir Douglas Haig persuaded the Germans that an attack was imminent, and completely duped them. While they were boasting that they had repulsed a British attack south-east of Ypres, and on both sides of the Wieltji, north of Yprcs, tho great transfer of armies ' was effected without mishap. This extension of her front represents Great Britain's Christmas box to her French Allies, who havo long been hoping that General Haig would be able to increase his responsibilities. Whereas the British and Belgian line in November was 94 miles long, the French were holding 360 miles. Some French regiments are composed of men over 45 years of age, and have held the line at Verdun without leave since August, 1914, even passing the winter in the trenches.

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES. Dr Gibbs writes: "Christmas Eve was mild and springlike, with a glint of sun- _ Supply columns of motor lorries, containing Christmas provender for men, boasts, and guns, ploughed through thick slime to camps, hutments, and dug-outs, which resembled islands in an ocean of ! mud. The Australians and New Zealandcrs I wero observed flinging money about at ; booths and market places upon trinkets J destined for a long sea journey. These fellows with slouch hats wandered to the best restaurants in the. region of the battlefields and choso dishes without worrying about the price. Some units had the bad luck to be in tho trenches, but there was no 'grousing,' though in shell holes halffull of water it is hard to keep fit while , freezing. Every effort was made to get a good lump of plum pudding to them." j The Germans, anxiouo to spend Christmas peacefully, did not seek trouble. Apart from a few raids and artillery duels, from , Ypres to the Somme, tho Tommies listened jto the German carol concerts, but kept their rifles ready in tho event of raids. The Germans occasionally invited a truce, vainly shouting, "Won't you come over, Tommy . dear?" Our man, through their periscopes, watcher tho Germans bailing water from tho trenches, crawling from under falling I parapets,' and struggling up to their necks in shell holes full of ice-cold water. At ', some points the troops exchanged news, ! throwing cigar boxes containing letters. j Drying rooms, warmed by a charcoal stove, are the latest British preventive for trench . feet. The troops holding the trenches j cheerfully waited on Boxing Day for the I Christmas dinner, thus enabling their more I fortunato comrades to enjoy comfortable . surroundings in the rear.

A YEAR'S GAINS. Router's correspondent at the British Headquarters, summarising events on the British front for the expiring year,_ says: "Tho enemy advanced a few acres in two places; we gained thrice as many square miles. The enemy casualties, including Verdun, are well on towards 1,250.000. The British line is nearly twico as strong as at tho end of 1915. The cannon crash by scores, where a year ago thoy wero in isolated pairs." JOFFRE PROMOTED. A decree has been issued ra'sincr General Joffro to the rank of Field Marshal. General Lyautey, in a letter to President Poincaro, states: "The dignity of Marshal of Franco has been in abeyance owing to a long peace, and could not be better revived than in favour of General Joffro, who, at the Marnc and the Yser arrested a terrible onslaught at a moment when the enemy thought to attain their aim and compel us to submit to their will. Tho whole country has.awaited from the Government this act of gratitude and justice."