TERRIFIC GERMAN ATTACK ON THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 5

TERRIFIC GERMAN ATTACK ON THE BRITISH

FORWARD LINE FORCED BACK GROUND RECOVERED, WITH DISASTROUS LOSSES TO THE ENEMY. i Rec. May 17, 9.50 p.m.) ', London, May 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Fighting continued yesterday to our advantage in the western portion of Bullecourt. Severe fighting is progressing northward of the Scarpe/'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. London, May 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After a heavy bombardment on both banks of the Scarpe the vijemy launched a nowerful counter-attack early this morning, 'between Gav'relle and the river, '"ho enemy pressed forward -under a destructive fire from our artillery and machine-guns, and for a short period, by weight of numbers, forced us back from out forward positions. Our immediate counter--I attack regained all the lost ground, with the infliction of exceptionally heavy losses to the enemy. A number were taken prisoner. We made progress on the flimienburg line north-eastward of Bullecourt, and repulsed a raid south-eastward of Ypres."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. ENEMY DESPERATELY FIGHTING FOR THE INITIATIVE London, May lti. Correspondents at Headquarters state that the Germans are making utmost efforts to regain the initiative. This morning they heavily attacked the British positions on the Scarpe, northwards to the railway. The British have retrieved most of yesterday's loss at Bullecourt, establishing new posts westward. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANOTHER HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH 'ENEMY'S EFFORTS OF NO AVAIL. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, May 16, 3.15 p.m. A French official message states: "In the region of tho Laffjiux mill, after a violent bombardment on a front of t"Vo ami a half miles, the enemy delivered a powerful attack this morning. We maintained our positions, despite repeated efforts to dislodge us. Fighting continues at various points." i FIERCE FIGHTING ALL DAV. (Rec. May 17, 9.55 p.m.) London, May 10. A French official communique stales: "The Germans during - tho daytime continued their attacks north ami north-west of LaH'aux Mill as far as the Soissons-Laon railway. They were sanguinarily defeated, despite the strength of their oflensives and the violenco of their attacks. We brilliantly counter-attack-ed at eouio points whore tho line momentarily had been bent, recovering the whole of the lost ground. Tho Germans lost heavily in attempting to arrest our progress by fresh attacks, which were shattered by our curtain of machine-gun , fire, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter.