FRESH ADVANCE AT BULLECOURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 7

FRESH ADVANCE AT BULLECOURT

SPLENDID DASH OF THE AUSTRALIANS ENEMY'S LOSSES AFFECTING HIS PLANS The High Commissioner reports:— c-'-n i w • * ".m , ... Lo P do ". May 7, 12.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Early this morning, on the Hindenburg line east of Bullecourt, after some sharp fighting, the position was improved? We made further progress, taking a'number of prisoners. Southwards of Oppy a hostile bombing attack, delivered after artillery preparation, was successfully driven off." '■ A THIRD COUNTER-ATTACK -BROKEN UP. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). (Rec. May 8, 7,30 p.m.) c- nK i v■ ' ' * won. , • London ' Ma 3' 7 - _ fc>ir- Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy, employing considerable forces, this afternoon launched a third,' counter-attack on our new positions southward of the Souchez.Rive-r. The first wavo of tho assault reached tho'slope fronting our trenches, where it was destroyed by riflo and machine-gmi fire. The supporting waves were caught by our artillery barrage and broken up. No German reached the trenches. A strong body of the enemy was caught in the open in tho vicinity of Bulleconrt by our artillery ' and machine-guns, which inflicted'heavy casualties. Seven German aeroplanes were brought down on Sunday. Three of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AUSTRALIANS AGAIN IN THE VAN , „ , London, May 7. A correspondent at Headquarters writes: The British, at 3.45 this morning, delivered another attack, against Bullecourt, progressing especially on the tight flank. Tho Australians have thrust a salient' into the German lines approximately a mile deep to the eastward of the village and northward of the town of Riencourt. Thus the town is hemmed in to the west, east, and south —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A DEEP AND EFFECTIVE THRUST ~ _. ~ „.,'. ,; ■ , . New York, Mav 7. Mr Simms, the United Press correspondent with the British armies in the field, says: "lhe Australian troops forged ahead for miles into the German lines early this morning. At tho moment, of cabling a great hole was being maintained, against all tho enemy's counter-attacks. The chief point of penetration is around Riencourt. The Australians began at dawn, and the salient was pushed forward yard by yard to a depth of a mile in the face' of most violent resistance. The thrust carried them east to the village and north from Erly, which is now hemmed in by British on all sides except the north. More than a hundred prisoners were taken in the general attack here. Elsewhere- along the British front there are no major actions, but the artillery action is of the most violent . character.—Aus -N Z Cable Assn, THE UNCONQUERABLE SPIRIT OF THE BRITISH (Rec. May B', 6.20 p.m.) Mr. Philip Gibbs pays a tribute to the unconquerable spirit of tluf British at the Battle of Arras. "In many cases," he says, "the' men ignored the orders to retire, and held out in small parties when their comrades had been withdrawn.- There was a notable instance with the Australians at Bullecour* Many of tho Australian lads refused to go back, although stay'ino- meant certain death or capture. The Australians are out to finish th'is business with the least possible delay; and their confidence in victory amounts to pure frith But the same spirit runs throughout our Army."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HEAVY FIGHTING ON THE FRENCH FRONT VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS BY THE GERMANS. . P in.-, • . . , T London, Mav 7. A. French official communique states: "Last night marked fresh "Gorman reactions in the region north-east of Soissons on the Chemin des Dames where four now divisions have appeared since yesterday. Violent counter-attacks, preceded by an intense bombardment, were launched against our nositionq it •Fro.dn.ont Farm, Cerny-Hurtebiso front, and the hefghts atC* nnoand Vauclerc. Dwpcrate fighting ended in our favour. We maintained our positions everywhere Masses of Germans were mown down, and the enemy sustained considerable losses. During these engagements we increased the" number of prisoners to over 8206, making a total of 29,000 taken since April 16." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' (Rec. May 8, 8.20 p.m.) ii? i ie • i • i l London, Mav 8. A l'renclt official communique stat Ps . "riiii-ino- fl,n A.,-., +i,„ „„„„,.. -i:.i not renew his attempts northV the L.ffauT Zl IVji£ tho'cLm! des Dames. The artillery duel was continued furiously in the direction otl o WhCre °» *«*« »»»'«•" their positions "According to statements by prisoners, four fresh regiments which participated in the fruitless attacks that were mado by the onemv last evening on this plateau suffered very heavy losses. North-west of Reims wo appreciably extended our positions south of Sapigneul."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. " „'

HOW WE ARE SHATTERING THE ENEMY VON HINDENBUEG DOWN TO HIS LAST RESERVES. (Rec. May 8, 10.20 p.m.) v „ • Uondotlj May 8. French. Headquarters reports fro'.n Champagne show that von Hindenmirg Jias been forced to utilise every available man in <tho trenches in tho uiampagne and the Artois regions. Two-thirds of, the German Army are now in l>ranee, namely 143 divisions. Voiv .Hindenburg's reserve was 44 divisions, approximately 450,000 . men. There are already 33 reserve divisions engaged, half of -which were withdrawn to he re-formed on account l. ~' e , losses sustained. The Germ an casualties in France during April totalled 200,000. , A telegram from Paris states that nearly half the German forces on the Western front are opposed to the British, though tho latter's line is only one-third of the length of the French line.—Reuter. GERMAN STAFF THOROUGHLY EMBARRASSED , ■ Paris, May 7. M. Marcel Hutin writes in the ''Echo do Paris":—"Tho French attacks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mark the complete and irremediable miscarriage ot the German design upon Paris. Prodigiously violent counter-attacks only ended m fresh massacres. General von Ludendorffis thoroughly embark rassed. and endeavours to reassure the German people by lies and verbal sub-terfuges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assa. . • -. • THE GERMAN REPORT London, May 7. Admiralty, per Wireless Press: A German official report states: "Near Lens and Arras the artillery fire increased to great violence last evening. The battle is spreading further eastwards past Bullecourt. On the French front we repulsed a strong advance in the afternoon between Fort de Mahnaisoii and Braye. Violent attacks developed, in the evening and night, northwards of Laffaux, and between the Soissons-Laon Road and Ailles (that is, along the Ghemiu des Dames), We maintained our positions by bitter fighting, and inflicted heavy losses. Fierce French attacks between Ailles und Craonne failed. We recaptured the northern slope of Winterhore height, and recaptured Chevreux. Fourteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rcc. May 8, 10 p.m.) ,r, . , .~ . , ' London, May 8. A German wireless official message states-.-"The British attacks at Roeux, and between lontames and Eiencourt, were repulsed with sanguinary losses, lighting continues at,Bu]lecourt. Strong French attacks on both sides of Craonelle failed.■ —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn-Reuter. RAIDS ON ZEEBRUGGE / (Rec. May 8, 6.20 p.m.) Aus.vX ™ re ° U Zeebru gg^o» r Sday a nigiit.-