THE WEST.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7922, 23 August 1917, Page 3

THE WEST.

ALLIES ENTER LENS. DESPERATE FIGHTING. Reuter Message. LONDON, August 22. Reuter’s headquarters correspondent says: The Canadians around Lens launched another attack converging on the western environments of the town at 4.30 this morning. Dawn broke with a thick haze. When the infantry went over the top they saw masses of shadowy grey figures advancing. The Germans had planned an attack for the identical moment as ours.

Probably one of the most desperate hand-to-hand conflicts of the war ensued. An eye-witness says that the Germans fought like cornered rats. In the struggle in the shell-torn, wireencumbered No Man’s Land bomb and bayonet were the principal weapons. Gradually the Canadians beat back the Huns. Fifteen minutes after the clash the enemy was making his last stand on the parapet of his trench. He then retreated as rapidly as possible into the ruins of Lens. Almost immediately a furious machine-gunning started. The northern part of the Canadian attack made good progress. The centre and southern portions were more fiercely resisted. CANADIANS’ SUCCESS. Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 22. Mr P. Gibbs says the Canadians’ attack has tightened the line around Lens. Some are already within the city, having penetrated places in the vast defensive system, but are not yet beyound the outlying houses. TRENCHES CAPTURED. COUNTER-ATTACKS BEATEN OFF. (High Commissioner’s Report). LONDON, August 22. British official: This morning we captured a line of trenches skirting west and north-west of Lens on a front of 2000 yards. Heavy fighting continues. At noon two strong German counter-attacks were beaten off, while a third southwards of the tow T n was broken up by our artillery. POSITIONS MAINTAINED. FRESH GAINS. Reuter Message. (Received This Day, Noon). LONDON, August 22. Marshal Haig reports: We have maintained the positions captured yesterday morning on the outskirts of Lens. We have further progressed at certain points, and secured additional ground north-westward and northward of Lens as the result of heavy fighting, wherein we repulsed strong counter-attacks.

There is artillery activity eastward and north-east of Ypres.