FURIOUS BATTLE AROUND BULLECOURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 7

FURIOUS BATTLE AROUND BULLECOURT

FLAMING HELL OF BLOOD AND .SHELLFIRE TWELVE COUNTER-ATTACKS BEATEN BACK BY . AUSTRALIANS (By Telegraph—Preas Association—Copyright). . London, May 17. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes that since Sunday there havo been twelve counterattacks against tlio Australians alone. Each was broken. The men fought like w\\d boars and sprang at one another's throats -when the bombs woro finished. Bullecourt was held against all attempts; tho counter-attacks were beaten back with heavy enemy losses, and tho troops are now awaiting fres-h assaults in this flaming hell of 'blood and shellfire. Now that tho old Hindcnburg line has been breached at Bullecourt and Waucourt, further north, the enemy is trying "to strengthen a. new liuo through Montigny, Dvo'couvt, and Queaut. 'if he f'nlls"back to this line, it means tho loss of important ground, including Lens and Oppv. Ho will not do this except in tho most cxtremo danger to tho existing positions,' which, however, aro gravely menaced.. The enemy is using forced labour on this rear line. Prisoners say that British prisoners of war arc being employed upon it, under tho British shellfire.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRUSSIAN GUARDS REFUSE ORDERS TO ATTACK. ' London, Mar 17. German prisoners state that after the thirteenth failure to retake Bullecourt a brigade of Prussian Guards refused to attack, and was sent to the rear for disciplinary measures.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. FRENCH REPORT ON THE FIGHTING ON THE BRITISH FRONT. m „t. .-. t, . ■ , „ . . ' Paris ' March 17.' The Petit Pansiennes correspondent reports startling fluctuations on the British front yesterday. Fighting went\on without Ithco or mercv in and around Bullecouirt. One of the German counter-attacks reached part of the southern line; and 250 Gernaus, drunk with fury, jumped into tho trench, yelling "Victory!" Suddenly the scene changed. Whilst part of tho Australians were falling back, keeping the enemy at bay, yet drawing them further on, another body of colonials hurled themselves boldly from beyond the trench and turned the flank of the assaulters. Then the Tetreating Australians charged, while a copious barrage prevented fresh Germans from intervening from Hiencourt. The melee was implacable, and ended only when tho last enemy had fallen. Two hunched were left dead, and tho remaining fifty,were pulverised while fleeing through the barrage.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. WESTERN EDGE OF BULLECOURT VILLAGE REACHED. _ London, Slav 17. Sir Douglas Ha.ig reports; "During last night's fighting at Bullecourt wo made further progress through the village and reached tho western edge "— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Beuter. BULLECOURT WHOLLY CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH Tho High Commissioner reports:— London. May 17, 10.35 p.m. A British official report says:—To-day W6 completed tho capture of Bullecourt. LIVELY FIGHTING ON THE FRENCH FRONT. (Rec. May 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 17. A French conununique reports: "Fresh enemy attempts to retake the'ground we gained in the Laffaux Mill region failed. The struggle, which was of the liveliest nature at certain points, turned everywhere (o our advantage. The enomy suffered heavy losses, and we took more prisoners. Our barrages inflicted heavy losses on throe German assaulting detachments, which made several fruitless attempts to reach our lines in the Royere Farm-Epine do Chevrigny sector, northwest of. Braye-en-Laonnois."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Tteuter. APPRECIABLE PROGRESS EAST OF CRAONNE. (See. May 18, 7.30 p.m.) v London, Mav IS A French commumque says: "We completely re-established our line'north of the Lauffaux mill, and appreciably advanced east, of Craonne and Hill IDS «outh of Berry-au-Bac."—Aus.-N.Z. 'Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED BY THE FRENCH. Tho High Commissioner reports :— •-«■ n. . «•1 '■ -\ l ..m, ■~ May 17, 2.50 p.m. A French official message staUs:-"The night was marked by new attacks in the region northward. of Moulin de Laffaux. German efforts to retake tho ground gained failed. We gained further advantage." 1 GERMANS ADMIT THE LOSS OF ROEUX. (Rec. May IS, 5.5 p.m.) ,-„.., , , London, May 17. A German omcial message states: "Owing to strong English counter-attacks we gave up ground captured at; Boenx. We repulsed English attacks northward of the Scarpe. South-west of Kemcourt during- Mav we took prisoner 2300 English. On this front wo advanced our lino some hundreds of metres near Vauxaillon. Eastward of Laffaux we captured an advanced position west of, and near to, Braye, .During May we took prisoner 2700 French."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ■•