THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 13

THE WESTERN FRONT.

The United Press correspondent at Headquarters states that the Canadians advanced north of Lens on a 600 yards front, penetrating more than 200 yards. The Second Prussian Guards Reserve was badly mauled. Simultaneously our line advanced east at another point north of Lens, the two operations tending further to threaten Len 3. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Sir Douglas Haig reports to the following effect: —We repulsed a third German attempt to capture our advanced posts southwestward of Havrincourt (south of the Bapaume-C'ambrai road). We made successraids south-eastward of Monchy-le-Preux (east of Arras), where we surprised the enemy and_ destroyed dugouts and guns, returning with 18 prisoners. We advanced our line north-eastward of St. Julien. We made successful raids northward of Lens, captured prisoners and guns, and repulsed German .raiders south-westward of La Bassee. We slightly advanced our posts south-west of Lens, and repulsed a counterattack with considerable enemy casualties. The enemy; twice attempted a raid eastward of Armentieres, and in the second attempt succeeded in entering our trenches, but were immediately driven out. We carried out a local attack on strong points northward of Frezonberg, and made some progress. Strong counter-attacks the following day compelled us to return to our line. Our advance posts at Avon and also eastward of Eleu dit Leauvette, on the Lens front, have slightly progressed, despite the weather. We successfully raided in the neighbourhood of Gavrelle, and there was patrol fighting.north-eastward of St. Julien. The enemy heavily shelled Langemarck. We attacked east of Villeret, penetrating the enemy trenches on a several hundred yards' front. We also made raids near Gavrelle and eastward of Vermellos. The Northumberland troops captured 600 yards of trenches south-east of Havrincourt. Simultaneously wo captured a small portion of a trench rounding off our line eastward of Malakoff Farm, and improved our position north-east of.St. Julien. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques state: The Ger mans attempted four attacks west of Hurtebise, but were everywhere checked by our fire. An enemy attempt on the Allies Plateau also failed. Our fire smashed an enemy attack in the region of Hurtebise Farm; reconnaissances penetrated the enemy salient east of (Sapigneulles, and surprised, killed, and captured the garrison after a lively engagement. Wo made an important raid on both sides of th« SouainSomme road, in the Champagne, and penetrated the enemy front line on a front of 800 metres. We destroyed a great many gas tanks, and blew up dugouts. After a lively bombardment the Germans attacked the casemates on the California Plateau (Aisno heights), but our fire checked them. Our batteries in the Champagne are dominating the enemy's artillery, which is particularly violent in the sectors Butte-du-Mesnil and Main-de-Massignes. We vigorously shelled the enemy's front lines, preventing any attack. On the right bank of the Mouse we attacked the enemy lines on the 7th inst. on a front covering two and a-half kilometres in the sector comprising the Fosses and Cauriercs Woods. Wo achieved a complete success, despite a desperate resistance. We extended our positions north of Fosses, and carried the whole of ChauKno Wood and a line west, dominating the whole of Cauriercs Wood. The Germans violently counter-attacked the positions wo captured. We repulsed them with heavy losses. Our scouts pushed beyond Fosses Wood. It is estimated that there are over 1000 enemy corpses lying before our lines. Following an intense artillery fire, the Germans attacked in force on the right bank of the Meuse. on a front of threo kilometres on both sides of Hill 344. A few detachments only gained a footing, but oiir counter-attack completely re-established the lines. The enemy renewed fruitless attempts to recapture positions at Chaume Wood. A number of columns north of Wavrillo Wood were caught by our firo and severely punished. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. German official messages state: An English attack on the Cambrai-Arras road failed. We reduced the French gain near Hurtebise Farm. Wo threw out the English who had penetrated our line northwest of Lens. English attacks on the Ypres-Poel Cappello and Ypres-Zono-beke roads and a French attack northward of Reims failed. The English attacked on a four-kilometre front along the Yprcs-Ronlcrs railway, but failed. The enemy employed three divisions in a partial attack near Lens and also failed. A French attack between Samogneux and tl« Beau mont-A 7 aucherville road, on a front covering 20 miles, was repulsed with heavy losses. A French attack north-east of Bezonvaux failed, but the enemy gained ground in Chaulnea Wood.

GERMAN LOSSES. Router's correspondent at the French Headquarters writes: Since the beginning of the battle of Verdun 10 German divir sions have been withdrawn on account _of losses. The enemy have now seven divisions on both banks of the Mouse; therefore 17 divisions are in process of exhaustion by operations begun on August 20. Since the beginning of August the enemy have been obliged to withdraw 30 divisions facing the allied army in Belgium. The enemy had altogether 42 divisions in the Flanders battle. Therefore in a single month the Allies put 40 German divisions out % of act on, and at present 19 others are being reduced by the same methods. The Matin states that the German losse* in defending Lens are already 16,000 (? 60,000) men, or a quarter of the number engaged. Moreover, since August 23, 33 divisions were engaged between Mekem and Hollebeke, where their losses averago 3500 in eaoh of eight i divisions. These remain in the fighting line. Nino teen have been withdrawn severely mauled, and the eight others, who are also suffering, have been transferred to quieter sectors. The Germans have called up the 1920 class. Youths of 17 have already enlisted in certain districts in Eastern Prussia, Heso, and Westphalia.