FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 146001, 6 December 1917, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

ARTILLERY ACTIVE. OK THE BRITISH FRONT. LONDON, Dec. 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artilbroke up concentrations eastward of Gouzeaucourt and in. the neighbourhood of Moouvres before the attack could develop. The enemy’s artillery has been active in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie, and there has been considerable hostile artillery activity northward of Armcntiercs, south-east of Tprcs, and in tlie Passchendaclc sector.

Our aeroplanes on Monday bombed and machine-gunned villages in enemy occupation on the battle front. They also bombed villages west of Cambrai, and co-operated with the infantry in the fighting east of Ypres. They brought down two enemy machines. Two of ours arc missing.

DESPERATE GERMAN THRUSTS. REGARDLESS OF LOSS. * LONDON, Doc. 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes; Throughout Monday the enemy continued his thrusts between Marcoing and La Vacquorio. He flung in at least six divisions on a narrow front, not counting the cost, never weakening the pressure, even where he made no advance. Wc have thus forced upon the enemy a battle more decisive than any of those preceding. In view of Germany’s weakening manpower, the Germans seem to be toroing decisive fighting in the open country, possibly for political reasons. Prisoners state that they had been promised peace if they won this battle. The struggle is as fierce as the second battle of 'Vpres. The enemy lias taken the offensive, is forcing the pace, and fighting all out. Our men yield ground only after a butchery of the Gormans. The most desperate resistance is whore a body of Britishers lias been temporarily cut off nr outnumbered. I ha ve talked with wounded Guardsmen lying in trucks, the. railway tarpaulins and blankets being their only protections against the frosty blasts. They told, how they fought through the houses, over broken walls, and in (lark cellars. In such fighting some bodies of troops must necessarily he cut off, and must light to the last to enable the others to fall back safely.

MORE ATTACKS EXPECTED. LONDON, Dec. 4. The United Press correspondent believes that the most critical moment in the Canibrai battle is past, but docs not think that Marshal Hindcnburg will allow matters to stand where they now are. Severe fighting is most probably ahead. Hindcnburg undoubtedly will fling more men over the barricade of Gorman corpses strewn around the Gambia! bulge. Thus far the attempt to flatten out General Byng’s jump towards Canibrai has been a total failure. Prisoners declare that Uhlans were held in readiness to exploit the hopedfor break through. Reinforcements continue to arrive, and artillery is increasing, this being fetched from other parts. In Flanders on Sunday at the time of the loeal advance in the region of Passchendaelc the enemy counter-barrage was nine minutea late, and much lighter than in previous fighting in this area. Obviously the British guns had knocked out the Prussian guns, or the latter had been withdrawn. The situation to-day, apparently, is that Prince Ruppreclit’s sword arm is actuated by Hindcnburg, and the latter will wage battle as long as lie can find troops to respond. Every British officer and Tommy is most confident that Prince Rnpprceht will bo unable to make much headway, regardless of the amount of strength he develops, and despite the advantages of fighting out from a chain of fortresses, with undisturbed roads and railways, against the British, who are fighting in the open and behind whom lies the devastated Somme battleground, roadless and railwayless save for the soldior-built routes.

The Huns’ human avalanches have been checked, and if Prince Rnpprecht persists in fighting, he may find that the bulge which he is prodding is a hornet’s nest.

A GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, Dec. 4. AVirelcss Gorman Official. —AVe threw back the English in many waves northward of Gheluvolt, Violent. Sighting occurred between M a renin g and the Pcronnc-Camhrai road. AA’e stormed La A r acquerie, and repulsed counter-attacks. THE FRENCH FRONT. ♦ LONDON, Dec. 5. A French communique states; There have been violent artillery actions on the right of tho Mouse, and in the A r osges. UNITY OF ALLIES’ ACTION. PARIS, Dec. 4. M. Pichon announced that the Allied Conference had produced happy results, particularly assuring unity of _ action, economically, financially and militarily. The decisions arrived at guarantee the Allies every satisfaction. : The creation of a supremo inter-AHied Naval Committee was decided upon, while unity of military action has been certainly realised by the Allied general staff, which is working according to programme. Diplomatically, also, there is unity, and a complete agreement has been reached on all matters necessary to ensir'c victory.

THE POSITION EASTER.

WORST GERMAN ATTACKS BEATEN. ENEMY BATTALION CUT UP. ’ I (Received Dec. 6, 8.33 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Mr. Gibbs says; A German battalion at La. Vacqne.rie advanced in dense order without, any attempt at concealment. Tile ranks withered under our steady lire.

Wo made repeated counter-attacks westward from Gonnclien, and the artillery put out of action many guns m the Banteaux Ravine, whom there was a largo concentration of German artillery. Some British soldiers, cut off and’ taken prisoner in Friday’s fighting are coming hack. They have boon hiding in the enemy’s lines. In once case 40 escaped from a- German barbed wire enclosure, swam the canal, and regained tlioir comrades. It is too soon to claim decisive results. hut anxiety about our clotcncc lias lifted perceptibly, and to-day the British commanders are breathing more easily. The Germans have struck their heaviest blows, and the menace of Gorman success seems to have passed.

The enemy’s plan was well thought out. He was cunning in bringing up troops secretly and not launching the attack until our morning patrols had gone their rounds and reported all quiet, but, after the first surprise, the enemy was punished in a dreadful manner. Tlie grim valour of our men has now broken the assault.

INCIPIENT GERMAN ATTACKS. STOPPED BY BRITISH GUNS, (Received Dec. 6, 12,4.3 p.m.) LONDON, Dee. 5. The United Press correspondent reports that prisoners state, that two new German divisions are coming up, and will be thrown in shortly, meanwhile there is a lull in the enemy attacks. The British artillery broke an attempted attack around Moeuvres. The enemy _ahso massed for an attack between La. Vacquerie and Gonnelieu, hut our gun (ire smashed them before tho kick-off. NEW FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE. ON THE WAR COUNCIL, (Received Dec. 6, 11.40 a.m.) PARIS, Dec. o. M. Clomenceau, dasiriug to General Eoch in Paris, has appointed General Wnygard supreme head of the War Council.