FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145999, 4 December 1917, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

SLIGHT BRITISH WITHDRAWAL. FROM ACROSS ST. QUENTIN CANAL. LONDON, Dec. 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The home county battalions this morning captured some fortified buildings and strong points on the main ridge northward ot Fasschendaclc. Wo withdrew unmolested last night from a sharp salient formed by Masnicres, which the enemy was still shelling this morning. There have been ten hostile attacks on this front during the last 24 hours. They were completely repulsed. Fighting occurred in and around Gonnelieu. AVo broke up attacks in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie and Bourlon. Our artillery successfully engaged concentrations of iniantry m the vicinity of Moouvrcs. Despite the clouds and mist on Saturday our aeroplanes undertook several successful reconnaissances oyer areas near the battle front, bombing and machine-gunning infantry.

ATTACK ON RIGHT FLANK. LONDON, Dec. 2. Mr. Philip Gibbs, describing the fighting round Canibrai, says the enemy seemed apparently to bo concentrating his efforts during the past week on the northern side of the salient, but meanwhile he was secretly concentrating heavy forces on our right flank, intending to strike through the weakest part of the salient, thus hoping to cut off a groat number of Britishers. Our forward linos on the right flank wore held thinly. When this sadden weight of men was flung against them they were forced to give way. The enemy broke through the lines. The surprise was so great that our men in most cases were unaware of the break through until they saw the Germans swarming close to them. A gunner told me that when the officer shouted “Stand to the guns! he rushed to the battery mid saw a great number of advancing Germans wit!* machine-guns only 300 yards away. The surprise was stupefying. The guns were laid directly on the enemy's ranks. Several rounds were fired arid tore groat gaps in their lines, hut others filled them. The gunners were .almost surrounded before they .abandoned their battery and ran for their lives. The gunners joiner! the infantry and were given rifles, and participated in the counter-attacks, which recaptured Gouzoaucourt and drove back the enemy. Router’s headquarters correspondent says the amount of territory the enemy gained in Friday’s attack at a loss of thousands was so trifling that it scarcely shows on the map. The tactical situation is practically unaffected. We retain gains up to a depth of nearly six miles, while the Gormans weio beaten back almost everywhere to whence they started. It was a test of the respective fighting qualities, with odds probably three to one in favour of the Germans.

THE FRENCH FRONT. LONDON, Dec. 3. A French communique states that there is an artillery duel in various sectors. ARTILLERY STILL ACTIVE. ON THE FRENCH FRONT. (Received, Dec. 4, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. A French communique states that the artillery struggle ft as fairly violent during the night between the Aisne and oast of Reims and on the right bank of the'Meuse. POSSIBLE GERMAN ATTACK. ON ALSACE-LORRAINE FRONT. (Received Dec, 4, 10 a.m.) OTTAWA, Dec. 3. A cable from Paris states that the Gormans are preparing to use Italian captured guns and troops from the Russian front for a mighty blow on the Alsace-Lorraine front. AMERICANS TAKE A HAND.

LONDON, Dec. 3. The Americans in some cases # have fought side by side, with the British, using borrowed rifles. Since the commencement of General Dyng’s thrust tho Americans have been building and. operating strategic railways close up to tho German lines. They relished their baptism or nrc, and, with sleeves rolled up, they plunged into the spirit of the fighting. A Tennesseean was standing by an engine when shrapnel began to ram. He had no steel helmet, but grabbed a- petrol tin, which he put on lus head. The Prussians came up and he hid in a shell-hole. The enemy blew up the railway, • but left the engine. The Tennesseean then stole from the shellhole and went back till he rejoined the Tommies. He secured a rifle, fought all day. and ended up by getting his engine back. He looked as proud as if he had done the whole thins himself. Two other Americans had similar experiences. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, Dec. 2. Wireless German official.—There was most violent artillery activity all night astride tho Passchendaele ridge. English attacks eastward and westward of Moeuvres broke down. We cleared the enemy out of Masnieres and repulsed strong counter-attacks after desperate fighting on the west bank of the Scheldt, also westward of Vendhuile, taking prisoner 700. Our captures are now sixty guns and a hundred machine-guns.

GERMAN ATTACK ON FRIDAY.

BRITISH LINES DRIVEN IN. SOME EXCITING SCENES. THE GUARDS DRIVE GERMANS BACK, (Received Doc. 4, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. Mr. Gibbs, telegraphing on Sunday, says:—On account ol the German break-through at Gouzeaucourt on Friday morning a village well behind the figliting line was organised as a forward station for the wounded. Many civilians were there and one medico was in a rubber batii properly lathered when suddenly shots rang right among the ruins of the village. 'Die lathered man throw a towel round his body and dashed down the street. Then a gunner came up to our car and said the enemy had broken through. The gunners commenced to gallop across the fields while others stood to their guns until sure of the direction of the attack. Ehr.vhero the Tommies were playing football and others frying their breakfast bacon, but they quickly daslitxl into the fight, as it was evident the whole right wing of the British salient was endangered and Bourion Wood and Havrincourt Wood were under intense bombardment. The northern attack was supported by six or seven German divisions. It followed two hours after the assault on the right wing. For a time we had to give ground and the enemy penetrated to the sugar factory on the Cambrai road. Our lads fought with enormous gallantry. The British artillery caught the attackers and forced masses of men into retreat, spraying them as they went with shrapnel and slaughtering a great number. Overhead the sky was black with aircraft. 1 never saw so many in one battle, they were like crows over the enemy lines.

, GUARDS TO THE RESCUE. Throughout Friday morning the situation was critical at Gouzeauconrt, hut it was relieved by the_ Guards magnificent counter-attack, in which they were assisted by dismounted cavalry and tanks. Other bodies of troops fought all'tho way back in short rushes, lying down for a volley, then retreating as the German swarms came on. Romo British parties wore cut up as the Germans had cavalry ready to pour in through any serious gap. It wfts thrilling to sco the Guards marching towards Gouzeaiicourt loci by their Rand playing gay music. _ They stepped out whistling and singing. When I saw thorn next I looaed on rows of faces under bandaged heads and many bodies grievously mangled. They had driven back the enemy beyond Gouzeaucourt and broken tho German menace.

SIR D. HAIG’S REPORTS. SHARP FIGHTING NEAR MOEUVRES. (Received Dec. 4, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Dee ; 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports; Wo repulsed attacks, after sharp fighting, in the neighbourhood of Moouvres. London regiments captured machine-guns and a number of prisoners in the neighbourhood of Bourlon. There is considerable reciprocal artillery activity on tho southern Battle front. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received Dec. 4, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. Wireless German official; Wo beat off vesterday strong English attacks northward of Passcbendaele. The firing increased in violence in the evening. We repulsed an attack between Inchy and Bourlon. Tho prisoners taken since Friday number 3000, and we have captured" 100 guns.

ALLIES’ WAR COUNCIL. PARIS, Dec. 3. The Alles’ War Council commenced proceedings at Versailles. M. Clemenccau (French Premier), M. Piehon (Foreign Minister), Air. Lloyd George, Mr. Balfour, Signor Orlando (Italian Minister of the Interior). C.aron Sonnino (Italian Foreign Minister), and Colonel House attended. The Allied military staffs also hold a war conference at Versailles. The Vest of the hundred delegates were split into technical committees. ENGLISH MEMBERS RETURN HOME. (Received Dec. 4, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. Air. Lloyd George and the other members of the Allies’ Conference havo returned to London. AIR MACHINE TYPES. TO BE STANDARDISED. (Received Dec, 4, 11.25 a.ra.) PARIS. Dec. 3. Tbs War Council lias decided immediately to standardise certain types of air machines, rejecting all others.