HEAVY FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16311, 13 August 1917, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT.

Press Association—By Tel.^Gopjngbt.

Austmlian and N.Z. Oablo Afisn. and Reuter. Received 5.5 p.m., Aug. 12th; LONDON,- Aug. 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—This morning's attack eastward of Ypres was on a, front iof_two miles, southward of the Ypres-Roulers railway. v)n the right heavy fighting occurred Yor high ground. astride the Ypres-Menin road. Some progress was made. Fighting continues in the centre and on the left Overcoming resistance, we gained the whole of oiir objectives. Westhoek and Weehoek ridge axe completely ours. We also established ourselves, in Glencorse Weed, aad inflicted heavy casualties. There is great aerial activity. Our rifle and artillery fire beat bacK six v assaults for the possession of important greasd captured eastward of Ypres, and after fierce fighting all our positions were maintained. We gained ground in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Menin road. We raided trenches southward of Afmehtieres. A hostile counter-attack eastward of Monohy le Preux was stopped by machine gun fire. We captured two machine guns, and a number of prisoner's. MR GIBBS' VIEW OF WESTHOEK. Mr Gibbs telegraphs:—There was heavy fighting this morning south-east of Westhoek after nightlong artillerying. Later fighting became lno'ro difficult, as rearward macliine guns took advantage of the check caused bur troops by a wire tangle in woods. We gained the main points attacked on our left, and indeed more, for our men impetuously advanced and had to le recalled. On our right the' fighting, was more desperate, and less progress was made.

FRENCH REPULSE ATTACKS.

CAREFULLY PREPARED. French of St. Quentih sustained reciprocal artillerykig prevails. In the region of Fayet, in the afternoon, we stopped two attacks between Mefinenchet mill and Cepy farm. The artillery due] was continued violently on the PantheonEpino de Chevrigny front. Prisoners state that the morning's attack was prepared with the greatest eare, with the object of capturing Ihe trenches we canned ©n July 30th. HEAVY FIGHTING OX THE MBUSE. After artillery preparation -the enemy attacked trenches east of Maisons de Champagne. Our fire broke all assaults except in the centre, where the assailants gained a footing. A terrific struggle ended in our favour, the whole lino being restored on both banks of the Meuse. Violent artillery act.imi s occurred in the region of Hill 304, and in the Mort Homme-Bezonvftus sector. LOST GROUND RECOVERED. French communique.—-North of St: Quentin we regained the greater portion of the elements in which the enemy obtained a footing on tho 10th.

Irtlfi'ni .. . , BETTER STAND BY RUSSIA. ■" ;;r: ' r '' • THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. DISCUSSED M BRITISH LABOUR. MR HENDERSON RESIGNS FROM GOVERNMENT.

A LITTLE GROUND LOST; In Champagne, after artillery preparation, the enemy delivered a simultaneous attack east and west of Mount Comillet. Our fire stopped dead the assaulting waves With heavy losses" North of Mount Corhillet the enemy penetrated our advanced litre", but 3 counter offensive recaptured the fine, wif£. the exception of fifty metres. GERMAN REPORT. A-TVFiTRB ATTACKS STOPPED. Admiralty.—Per Wireless Press. Received 6 p-.-fir., Aug. 11th. German official.—After intense drum fire enemy infantry attacked wide sectors eastward and south-eastward of Ypres. Deep masses of English also twEfncKed From the Monchy 1© Preux road as Jar as tie Arras-Gainbrai road. We desfeictiveiy bombarded the points of assembly, and* everywhere repulsed the advancing waves with severest losses. We captured Freneh trenches northward of (St. Qiientin on a front of 1200 metres. Enemy counter-attacks failed. CLAIM*? "RVrVYVrfcRY 05. WESTrTdEK. German official.— strong Enszlish attacks on ait eight kilometres front between Frezenberg and Hollebeke at first brolce our line. A coun-ter-attack ejected the enemy near Wosthoek, after a bitter stmsrcrle. We downed iiinetesa aeroplanes on the west front. NEW BRITISH JPOSTTIdNS. PARTLY LOST AGAIN. Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn. and Renter. Received 11.40 p.m., Aug. 12th. LONDON, Aug. 12. Sir Douglas Hadg reports :—The enemy re-attacked this morning our new positions northward of the YpresMenin road, and pressed us back slightly. We" gained ground on the right bank of the Steynbeck, la tho n'eignibourhood of the Ypres-Stadeh railway. ARMIES IN THE AIR. There has been intense aerial .activity, 'amd severest figiitiug betwieen large formations all day long. We downed sixteen enemy machines. Twelve of ours are missing. FRENCH KEPT BUSY. ■REPULSING ATTACKS. French communique.—There is lively artillerying in Belgium. I German attacks east of Fayet ana ! north of St. Quentin were broken. AiftilSerying in Champagne has slackened. German attacks at Mont Haut and Mont Blond were repulsed. .. . I SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. | SENDS ENCOURAGING MESSAGE.

TO OVERSEA® DOMINIONS. Sir Douglas Hr>ig sends thp following message to all overseas Dominions :-J" " Our armies, drawn from every part of the Empire, bring to tho fourth year of the war a steady confidence iiist : r"i r <l bv n"sk achievements, and a-u unfaltering resolution tliat they will fight until the enemy is overthrown."-