HILL IN THE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3068, 2 May 1917, Page 5

HILL IN THE BATTLE

LOCAL ACTIONS IN THE WEST ATTACK BY THE FRENCH i TIE U-BOAT MENACE MR. LLOYD GEORGE WRESTLES WITH THE PROBLEM A comparative lull in the great conflict on the Scarpo River is disclosed in-to-day's dispatches, which refer mainly to isolated actipns. On the French, front activity has increased. A smart attaok by the French infantry, following -upon a violent bombardment, resulted in substantial ground being gained. In Mesopotamia, the 18th Turkish Army Corps—General Maude's special entrenched some miles beyond Samara, a fact which points to a resumption of the British attack in - tho immediate future. There is no news of material import from the other main fronts. Mr. Lloyd George . has spent a-long day at the Admiralty,'taking stock of tho British anti-submarine measures, and conferriug with the officials. There is a serious crisis in Turkey, where events point to an oarly ebullition of popular feeling in favour of peace negotiations. Enver Pasha, the Kaiser's chief mainstay in tho East, is one of the best hated men in Turkey. In Austria, events are shaping themselves for a great popular demonstration against tho war, especially in Hungary, while . in Germany matters are drifting towards-a similar crisis. The Socialist leaders there have informed tho Government that they will not be able .to guarantee peace and order in the Fatherland after May 1. LULL IN THE BATTLE OF THE , .. V ■ SCARPE .■•:";* SMALL LOCAL OPERATIONS RECENT ATTACKS WRECK VON HINDENBURG'S SCHEMES i ' '" . .- ■ . . ■ : The High Commissioner reports:— " ' ■ London, April 30, 12.40 p.m. Sir DcWlas Haig reports , : —"Between Monchy-le-Preux and theScarpe, in a, small local operation a few prisoners were taken, and the position was improved during the night. Northwards of Ypres a successful raid was carried out, eighteen prisoners' and a machine-gun being captured." ATTACKS Otf NEW BRITISH POSITIONS COMPLETELY EEi a PULSED. i 1 ■ (By Telegraph—Press Aesooiatiou—Copyright). (Itec. May 1, 7.25 p.m.) . .. . . . .. ...-.• ' London, May 1. Sir Douclas Haig reports: "The enemy's attack on our new positions between Monchy-le-Preux- and the Scarpe Rivor were completely repulsed. Hostno Serv is active on both banks of the Snipe. There is great aerial nrHvitv Bombs were effectively dropped behind .the enemy's lines, where several'fires resulted, and a large explosion was observed. Three trains were hit The enemy fought hard to protect the points attacked and twenty German aeroplanes were brought down. Fifteen of ours are missing. - Aus.tN.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT . .VARIOUS ATTACKS REPULSED. ■ London, April 30. A French official communique states: Throughout tho night there were violent mutual artillery actions south of St. Quentin, in the region of Trovon Hurtebise, and Craonne. Our batteries continued their destructive fire against the Moronvillers massif. Our barrage and machine-gun nro repulsed several attempts against tho trenches m the Hurtebise region and at Les Cambrettes. Tho enemy aeroplanes at night time bombed the regions of Dunkirk Nancy, and Belfort. There were no casualties, and the damage They also bombed Chalons and Parnay There were no civilian victims. Our aeroplanes heavily bombed the railway stations and bivouacs at several, points.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ,•■''• (Rec. May 1, 7.25 p.m.) \ . >■ .-.,./', London, May. 1. A French official communique, states: "There has been violent artillery firiuß between St. Quentin, the Oise, and Chemin des Dames. After violent artillery preparation in the Champagne region, the French infantry, in the afternoon; attacked the German lines on both aides of Mount Oorn.llet They carried several lines of fortified trenches between Corpllet and a pomt eouth of Beine to a depth ranging from 500 yards to 1000 yards. They also pushed forward their lines north of tho north-eastern slopes of High Mount as far as the Nauroy-Moronvillers Road. Violent artillery, firing continues. Our aeroplanes bombed the enemy'e aerodromes at Colmar, Halseim, and Frascaty, six railway stations, and bivouacs."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteuter. THE GERMAN COMMUNIQUE . London,.' April 30. 'A.' German wireless official message states: The British four times assaulted the village of Oppy, «*ich remains ours. The estimate of tho British, losses on Saturday was over 6000, in addition to 1000 prisoners ana forty machine-guns. Ten tanks were' destroyed. •>.„■, We repulsed French attacks at Berry au Bac and Bnmont;. Northward of Reims there is strong artillery action between Soissons and Sutppes. On Saturday we brought down eleven aeroplanes, and on Sunday twentyth'ree, in addition to three balloons.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. , HINDENBURG'S VANISHING STRATEGIC RESERVE . "' London, April 30. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Paris states that Hindonburg's total reserve strength in the West consisted of forty-three divisions, of which number thirty-three have been more or less put out of action, completely thwarting Hindenburg's intended attack on Italy. Hindenfourg was furious over the loss of Vimy Ridge, and visited Lens and! severely lectured the com-manders.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • GERMANS ECONOMISING IN GUNS AND SHELLS .London, 'April 30. iteuter's correspondent at headquarters states that the latest captured enemy documents urgently emphasise the necessity for strictly economising shels of all types, and also urge that unworthy guns should be used against bin targets that do not require very accurate shooting. That is a. complete reversal of the state of things when the Germans wore overrunning Europe entirely by virtue, of their preponderance in artillery.—Rcutor. GERMAN-SWISS FRONTIER STILL CLOSED. . , ; . ; . Zurich, April 30. The German-Swiss frontier', is still closed, presumably in order to hide tlin movements of troops hurrying west for the reorganisation of the shattered divisions.-Aus,N.Z. Cable Assn. .. ' .. " ' (Rec. May 1, 9.20 p.m.) . London, 4piil 30. German newspapers have not reached Holland for six days. Travel-, lers have beeu informed,that tho frontier was closed for twenty days, consequent on great military traffic—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' FRENCH AIRMEN'S ACHIEVEMENTS Paris, April 30. Between April 5 and 16 the .French brought down twenty-five aeroplanes, and, in addition, thirty-sis wore seen to fall, and were probably destroyed. Tho French aviators carried out 1440 flights Between ApriJ 12 and 16.—Aus.I N.Z. Cable ; Assn. / . ' ■ .