WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17756, 6 September 1917, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAID. GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. (By Telegraph,—Press Assn.—Copyright,) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 5. Received Sept. 5, 11.30 p.m. Sir D. Haig reports ; Last night a raid northward of Lens yielded a number of prisoners and machine guns. There has been considerable artillery activity on the Ypres front. The enemy bombed various places behind our lines, and there were a few soldier and civilian casualties. There has been great aerial activity. We dropped five tons of bombs on railway stations, billets, and aerodromes. We brought down thirteen, and drove down five enemy machines. Seven of ours are missing. FRENCH OPERATIONS. EFFECTIVE CHAMPAGNE RAID. AIRMEN INFLICT DAMAGE. LONDON, Sept. 4. Received Sept. 5, 5.5 p.m. French communique : Our fire smashed »n attack in the region of Hurtebise Farm by enemy reconnaissances. We penetrate*} an enemy salient yesterday by a surprise attack, and killed or captured the garrison after a lively engagement. We made an important raid on both sides of the Souain-Somme Py road, in Champagne, yesterday evening, and penetrated the enemy’s front line on a front of 800 metres. We destroyed a great many gas tanks, and blew up dug-outs. French aeroplanes dropped 15* tons of bombs on aerodromes, bivouacs, and railway stations, including Cambrai and Metz, causing important damage.

INCESSANT ARTILLERY. LONDON, Sept. 5. Received Sept. 5, 11.30 p.m. French communique : There has been great artillery activity in the region of Laffaux mill, between Cerny and Aides, and on both banks of the Meuse. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, Sept. 4. Received Sept. 5 7.50 p.m. Wireless German official ; We threw out the British who penetrated our lines northwest of Lens. AERIAL ACTIVITIES CHANCE BOMB CAUSES MOST CASUALTIES. RAID LASTS ONLY FIVE MINUTES. (By Telegraph,—Press Assn.—Copyright,) {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 5. Received Sept. 5, 11,5 p.m. A Gotha aeroplane bombed Chatham while hundreds of people were leaving the theatres. The bulk of the casualties were due to a chance bomb falling on the naval )»arracks. Ihc raid lasted five minutes. ANOTHER RAID.

LONDON DISTRICT BOMBED. LONDON, Sept. 5. Received Sept. 5, 11.30 p.m. British official : A considerable number of enemy aeroplanes crossed the south-east coast at II o’clock last night, and dropoed bombs on a number of places. Some of the machines reached a London district, where bombs were dropped. No reports of damage have yet been received. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, Sept. 4. Received Sept. 5, 7.50 p.m. German official : We bombed Dover, Chatham, Sheerness, and Ramsgate.