BRITISH ATTACK ON THE HINDENBURG LINE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3083, 14 May 1917, Page 5

BRITISH ATTACK ON THE HINDENBURG LINE

"SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS" AT THREE POINTS ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED, WITH SEVERAL " HUNDRED PRISONERS The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 12, 1.55 p.m. Official;— Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Last night and early this morning we undertook very successful operations and delivered attacks on the Hindenburg line in the neighbourhood of Bullccourt, astride the Arras-Cambrai road, and northwards of the Scarpe. Wo gained all our objectives, and hundreds of the enemy were made prisoner. Eastwards of Lempire, local fighting during the night resulted in our favour. Eastwards of Ypres wo carried out successful raids and took several prisoners." GERMANS LAUNCH HEAVY COUNTERATTACK. (By Telegraph—Prass Association—Copyright). London, May 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The Gormans attacked l yesterday evening eastward of Arleux, and southward of the Souchez River. They were repulsed by our artillery and machine-gun lire. Wo drove off a later attempt, assisted by flame-throwers, southward of the Souchez River. We successfully conducted a night raid eastward l of Ypre s."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) May 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy early this morning launched a third attack, using fiammenwerfer (liquid fire), southward of the Souchez River. After three hours if severo fighting the weight of repeated assaults compelled our posts to withdraw from a portion of our front, but by our counter-attack in the afternon wo recaptured the whole of the lost trenches. The enemy's losses in these three attacks were heavy. Our positions aro unchanged."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. FRENCH SUCCESS AT CHEVREUX CENTRE OF RESISTANCE CARUIED. London, May 11. A French official communique states: "We carried the centre of resistance in the region of Chovreux. Counter-attacks with grenades broke down under our fire. Wo repulsed a stronger attack in tho salient north of the California Plateau, after lively fighting, in which the enemy suffered serious losses. There is a lively artillery duel on tho' Cerny-Hurtebiso front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan.-Reuter. ■•■•-.- HEAVY FIGHTING AT CERNY-EN-LAONNOIS. (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 12. A French official communique states: "After a violent bombardment in the region of Cerny-en-Laonnois the enemy launched attacks on both sides of the village, but his waves were shattered by our artillery and machineguns. The enemy gained a footing along 200 yards of trenches west of the village, but wore immediately driven out. Violent cannonading is proceeding on this part of the front. We brought down five of the enemy's r.eroplanes. Four others were seriously damaged. _ "Our batteries brought a destructive fire to bear on the German organisations, and blew up a. munitions depot north-east of Juvincourt. On the left of the Meuso the artillery duel has been violent all night. Our detachments penetrated the German line north of Bezonvauz and various points in Alsace, and took prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE GERMAN REPORTS (Rec, May 13, 5.5 p.m.) •'.„'-'_.-• London, May 12. A German.official report states: "The artillery of both sides has reached its greatest violence the wholo of the Arras front. British advances at Fresnoy and Rooux, and between Monehy and Chorisy, failed. Wo sanguinarily repulsed an attempt to storm Bullecourt by an encircling movement An artillery battle is proceeding on the Soissons-Laon road, on both sides of Craonne, along the Aisno-Marno Canal, in Champagne, and somo points in tho Argonne. We repulsed strong attacks between Wintcrburg and Berry-au-Bac-Corbeny road, and also at Prosnos. We brought down eighteen of the enemy's aeroplanes."—Aus.-iN./. Ca;>lo Assn.-Rcutoi. (Itec. May 13, 11.10 p.,„.) . London, Mav 1"2. A Gorman official report states:—"Dense masses of the English last night attacked after an artillery bom bardmeu t of tho strongest kind on both sides of the Arras-Lens, Arras-.Douai, and Arras-Cambrai roads. Tho enemy succeeded in penetrating our hues at some points, but in counterattacking we throw them hack with lieavy losses. Fighting continues at Roeux railway station. . Fresh fighting has developed between Achevillo and Queaiit. Tho artillory battle continues on tho Aisuo and in Champagne. We forced back the French at Bovel-10-Rjdge, near Corny, after bitter hand-to-hand fighting, and maintained our improved lines against attack. We repulsed attacks against the/hills eastward of Berry-au-Bac. We brought down fifteen of the enemy's aeroplanes.—Aus.-N.Z, Q»bte 'Assn.-Reruter.

THEIR BACKS TO THE WALL GERMAN WAVES SWEPT TO DESTRUCTION. (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) ... ■ , , , Tl . , London, Hay 12. . A correspondent at Headquarters says: "Tho Germans are making frantic efforts to regain the initiative. Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria is hard pressed, with his back tight against positions which, if lost, would bo fatal to his plans. Ho-is launching att.ick- after attach at Hindeuburg's ■ bidding against the British, with little result. Tho Germans hurled their storming troops heavily between Gavrellc and the Benches River, but tho British artillery and machine-gun barrages, in spite of the darkness, tore the attackers to pieces, and throw them back. A strong attack by the Germans eastward of Arleux failed, with considerable losses. In the evening, blows against our positions southward of the Souchez River by tho Prussians, aided hv liquid fire, were again struck, but by tho light of their own devilish, machine they were mown down and defeated. The Germans attacked fiercely eastward of La Coulotte, lighting continues."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. UNDERGROUND STRENGTH OF THE HINDENBURG POSITION Psris Mst lit The "Gaulois" states that the Hindenburg position is no longer merely two or three parallel continuous trenches, but a fortified zono composed of a. series of centres of resistance like subterranean fortresses, behind a rampart of advanced trenches.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NO MILITARY REASONS FOR EARLY PEACE DECISION LIES WITH THE BRITISH DEMOCRACY. ' London, May 10. Colonel Repington, military expert of "The Times," writes: "There are no military reasons for expecting an early end of tho war. The Empire must, legislate for a long war. The.deciding factor will now bo the resolution of the belligerent peoples. Will tho British democracy allow history to say that they failed 1 in the eleventh hour P All dopends upon the answer."—The "Times." ' GRIM 'AND FANTASTIC SCENE MASKED MEN FIGHT DURING A GAS ATTACK. ... Le Journal" describes a grim scene during the reeiprocal gas atttacks on the western slopes of Fresnoy. Whole regiments of masked men fought at dead of night amidst the black vapours, which made a fantastic and extraordinary scene in the moonlight. In tho hand-to-hand encounters, the combatants discarded their arms and flew.it each other's throats, making efforts to tear away each others' masks. There were few prisoners, and fewer wounded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assm,