THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 17

THE WESTERN FRONT.

BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Sir Douglas Haig's reports are to the following effect:— .. , An attack by Scottish troops expelled the defenders from a post eastward of Boursies. The enemy's artillery became active southward and south-wes't of Cambrai, and also eastward and nor'-west of Yprcs, particularly in the neighbourhood of Polygon Wood and Passchendaele. We repulsed a trench raid east of Epehy, and dispersed working parties on the Cambrai front, securing some prisoners. We successfully raided enemy trenches' westward of Hulluch. A number of enemy raiding parties were repulsed southward of Armen'tieres. We made a successful raid on the 12th. inst. in the neighbourhood of Pontruet, northeast of St. Quentin. We repulsed a local attack north of La Vacquerie. The enemy on the 12th inst. delivered a etrong local attack on a mile front eastward of Bulleoourt, and succeeded on the right in entering -a short length of the front trench, which formed a salient and had been demolished by the bombardment preceding the attack. At all other points the attack was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. Hostile artillery was active in 'the area of" the attack. There was also some activity southward of Lone and in the neighbourhood of Armentieres. The accounts of the fighting show that the enemy, after a heavy artillery preparation, attacked from the north our positions in the Hindenbiirg line eastward of Bullecourt,- also on a wider front from the east, and north-east against an angle of our trench lines south of Riencourt les Gagnicourt. We repulsed both attacks, inflicting heavy losses. The enemy subsequently attacked 'the latter front again, penetrating the obliterated trenches at_ the apex ef the angle. We killed or took prisoner the few Germans who reached our trenches elsewhere. There was local fighting here all day, and the enemy obtained a foothold in a small portion of a* trench without effecting any change in the situation. We repulsed raiders south-west of La Bassee, and* inflicted casualties as a result of patrol encounters eastward of Zonnebeke. We successfully attacked a post southward _ of Sillers-Guislain, and the garrieon were kiiled or taken prisoner. There was bomb-fight-ing in the afternoon eastward of Bullecourt, in that portion of the trench which the enemy penetrated on the 12th inst. The enemy's artillery showed some activity southward of. the Scarce and north-east_ of Ypros. As a result of the bomb fighting we slightly improved our positions east of Bullecourt. The enemy raided a. post_ south of Pronville, and a few men are missing. Local fighting occurred south-east of Polygon Wood before dawn. The enemy attacked the British positions in ihe neighbourhood of Polderhoek but was repulsed except at one point, where he entered the front trench on a front of about 300 yards. Hostile artillery is very active. We regained a considerable portion of the trench. A GERMAN ATTACK. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: The enemy are busy digsring into cover opposite our new line on the Cambrai front. We have the advantage of being still w'thin the deeplydug Hindonburg line, while the Germans are exposed to our artillery, which does not allow working parties any rest. Twentyseven German divisions are,massed in the Cambrai sector, and all have been engaged in the fighting. The enemy's attack eastward of Bullecourt on a quarter-mile front was partly intended to bite off the section of ground Jutting beyond our line from tho quadrilateral position in the old system of Gorman trenches opposite Lioncourt and tho neighbouring earthworks. Tho enemy bombarded a much wider front on each side of the projecting nose, and bored in on tho quadrilateral (especially the lattcr's base) with a fierce contained barrage, with a view to isolating it from the lines adjoining and cutting off the supporting troops. The assaulting battalions bolonged to the Sixteenth Bavarian Division. Thev had swarms behind in readiness, according to prisoner statements, to pass beyond tho first waves' assault and break through our rearguard as soon R 9 the first objective was gained. The larger plan failed under the weight of onr artillery fire, and the enemy suffered heavv casualties. They, however, dented in the outer line of our promontory, and are for the time being holding part of it. The enemy attack led to close fighting throughout but still it was a limited local "operation on a 500 yards front, and of no more importance for tho moment than the biting off of a small salient whioh is useless. The onslaught looked as though it might h* a preliminary to a big endeavour. The enemy mads considerable

demonstration of their offensive spirit, bombarding eastward and westward of the point of attack and pouring poison gas shells into Cojeul Valley, about Heninheninge, and the valley below Queant. When the Bavarians, advancing in depth, penetrated the maze of earthworks there was hard fighting for very little advantage. We did not intend-to let them have-this spit of land for nothing. Our counterattacks drove the Germans part of the way back several times on Wednesday, though at the end of a long day's struggle the enemy had slightly deepened his driving ; wedge, and next morning held, the base line of the salient. There was close fighting—sometimes within bayonet reach, ' and always within bombing range,—resembling the old trench struggles. This was somewhat varied by the British airmen, at a height of 50ft, machine-gunning the infantry in the newly-captured trench. They made a plentiful use of bombs, flying back three times for renewed supplies. Four aeroplanes were engaged, enabling us to clear the line of trench captured in the first assault. Darkness alone prevented our continuing. The artillery inflicted severe losses on 'the 16th Bavarian Division, and probably these losses checked the renewed attack planned for the following morning. The United Press correspondent at the British Headquarters reports • Prince Rupprecht's apparent aim was tc merc.e General Byng's lines near Bullecourt • nn.l strike at the British holding the new Oambrai battlefront in the front and rear.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE FRONT. Mr Gilmour, who is visiting the west front, says that since the battle of Passchendaele the Australians and New Zealanders have had an easier time. The men, who were never fitter, are obtaining a considerable amount of leave in England or Paris, especially at Home. In the present weather conditions they aro happily placedin_ surroundings remote from the firing line, being billeted in villages. Following a recent attack by t men from the Otago and _ Canterbury Battalions, supported by British artillery, an enemy concentration was assembling, apparently for a counter-attack. It was dispersed by our barrage and promptly put down, our guns causing very severe casualties. Small groups of enemy/ infantry were also broken by our machine-gun and rifle fire. All the evidence points to the fact that the enemy lost heavily. Our Lewis gunners and snipers seldom, if ever, had such an opportunity of bowling over the enemy in the open. One man in a few days put 25 Germans out of action. ■ The old hands were enthusiastic regarding their opportunities and achievements. One German, who was sniping from a tree, was brought down by a fine shot at long range. Though our final objective was «ot entirely gained, ground was taken and held in the face of very strong .enemy opposition. Some junior officers and' several men were killed or wounded in determined efforts to capture strong pill-boxes equipped with machine guns, whicii were guarding a ruined chateau that was very strongly held. A captain and a signaller were killed when merely a few yards off one of the strongest pill-boxes. One particularly strong pill-box has since been ascertained to have held between 70 and 80 men, with four machine guns. While 'the Otago men were being held up by heavy fire the Canterbury formed a defensive flank under machine-gun and rifle fire and some shelling from the front and right flanks. In our new sector the ground is of a sandy nature that will enable us to hold the winter trenches with less discomfort than on thc_ lower landa that for so long we have occupied on other parts of the Flanders front. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques state:_ There was great reciprocal artillery activity between the Aisne and the Oise, in the Champagne, at Main de Massiges, on the right bank of the Meuso, and m Upper Alsace. There was a sharp bombardment on the Boldechaume front, and towards Calonne, after which the Germans launched two coups do main, which broke down. There are violent artillery actions in the regions of Maison da Champagne and east of Suippc. GERMAN REPORTS. Gorman official reports state: We captured several shelters eastward of Bullecourt. Wo beat back an attempt to recap-

fcure the trenches east of Bullccourt, and our violent surprise mincfiring caused heavy damage south of St. Quentin. .