WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GERMAN SUPPLIES ENDANGERED. A TANK BREAKS A BRIDGE. GALLANT CANADIAN CHARGE. EFFECTIVE CAVALRY WORK. London, Nov. 27. Mr, Gibbs says that there is not tlie slightest doubt that the Germans will make a powerful attempt to regain Bourlon Wood in order to prevent us making his railways untenable, thus affci ting one of his main lines of supply. Our cavalry, after the break through on the first morning of the battle, had a hard time without much luck. Several unfortunate incidents spoiled their hopes of a big drive, notably two, obstacles. The first was the strong Ger--1 an defence at Flesquineres and the second was due to a tank unluckily breaking the bridge over the Masnieres Canal. A squadron of Canadian cavalry repp ired the bridge, rode forward and had v n arkable adventures, because the message ordering their retirement did not re.ich them. The commander's horse was lan ed but a young lieutenant carried on. The squadron reached a camouflaged had south-eastward of Rumilly and came up against a battery of field guns firing point blank. They charged the biilterv putting the guns out of action n:id killing or taking prisoner the gunners. Darkness saved the squadron. The lirrtenant speaking German when challenged deceiving the enemy, enabling him, by pressing forward, to take ,the Germans by surprise and hack his way through the enemy. A small body.of Dragoon Guards took Noyelles. Thev skirtM round the villa?! under rifle and machine-gun fire, ti'cn galloped straight through the main slieet nt :i o'clock in the afternoon, and advancing further, captured seven Hermmi officers walking in the La Folie Wood and penetrated the depths of the wood. An officer rode up to where the GerniTif-. divisional headquarters were, poured revolver shots through the window and rode back. Another squadron took Cantaing at the gallop, one party direct and two others riding round the flanks and continued towards Fontaine Notre Dame, whip wah then strongly defended. Other squadrons riding in open country and constantly meeting machine-gun fire took prisoner small bodies before they were converted into a dismounted force which included the Hussars, for an attack on Bourlon Wood. A Canadian squadron was caught, in a tight corner in the darkness and practically surrounded in a sunken road. Only five horses remained unhit and they had to cut their way out. They therefore stampeded their riderless horse* in the direction of the enemy in order to draw machine-gun fire and the troopers hurriedly escaped. They encountered and routed four parties of Germans before they reached safety.

ANOTHER ENEMY ATTACK. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH OPERATIONS. London, Nov. 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports another coun-ter-attack at the north-fast corner of Burlon wood. The 1 weather is wet and stormy. A French communique states that a successful local operation was carried out last night north of Hill 344 on the right bank of the Meuse. It reduced an enemy strong point, fully completing the gains obtained on November 25.