THE WESTERN FRONT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERN FRONT.

ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE. BRITISH AIR RAIDS. Rich Commissioner's Cable. LONDON, November 22. A British official report says:— Hostile artillery was active in the Beauniont-Hamel and Yprcs areas. On the night of November 20 our aeroplanes attacked enemy railway stations, billets, and transports with bombs and machine gun lire. All returned safely. Australian and \.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 24, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 23. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: —The enemy shelled our new front yesternight on both sides of the Ancre, and in the neighbourhood of Hebuterne. A TRENCH RAID. FIERCE GERMAN ATTACK. LONDON. November 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—After a heavy trench-mortar bombardment, the enemy raided our front southwest of the site of St. Eloie. Part of our front line trench was obliterated, NAVAL DIVISION. FIGHTING ON THE ANCRE. Australian and S'.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 22. Mr Perceval Gibbon, in the "Daily Chronicle," reveals the presence in the Ancre battle of the British Naval Division. He says:—"No account of last week's fighting can omit this division's attack. It made good the great name won at other points. The division attacked the line between the Ancre and Beaumont-Hamel, which consisted of a sprawling series of trenches, communications, and redoubts, and also the village of Beaucourt. The first battalions gained the first objective, and settled down to let the second line through. A German redoubt stood on a steep slope containing four casements, each of which held an armed battery of machine guns of unprecedented number. Nothing could live within range, and the attack was hung up, [but reserves arrived on the scene i promptly, and eager for the fray. The colonel of one battalion was I four times wounded, but succeeded Jin holding the attackers together until they neared Beaucourt. The colonel then collected all the forces within reach, and pushed on to the German position, and occupied it all night. Meanwhile the force held up at the redoubt was still unsuccessful by nightfall, as every attempt to progress had been mown down. Three tanks started out next morning. One reached to within 100 yards of the redoubt, when the crew opened the door and emerged with a machine gun. The Germans did not wait any longer, but frantically waved a white rag and surrendered. "The same morning the oft-wound-ed colonel led his men forward to the village. There was intense hand-to-hand fighting, but the sailors could not be denied." ROUND VERDUN. INTERMITTENT SHELLING. Australian and -V_Z. CabU Associating. LONDON, November 22. A French communique says:—• There has been intermittent artillery fire on the greater part of the front, particularly at Vaux and Douaumont.