NEW GERMAN ATTACK OPENED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 5

NEW GERMAN ATTACK OPENED

DOUBLE THRUST ON BRITISH FRONT •ENEMY CAPTURES VILLERS-BRETONNEUX By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, April 24. The German offensive has been resumed at Dranoutre, and also in tho Albert sector. The Germans were driven back in the Albert sector.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The new offensive includes the whole Australian front south of Albert. Heavy attacks are proceeding.—Aus.-N.Z., Cable Assn.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT ~.„,_. London, April 24, 1.55 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There was increased hostile artillery action yesterday afternoon and evening on tho bulk of the front, particularly in the Sonimo and Ancre sectors, the Scarpa Valley, and the sectors north of Bethune, and north and north-east of Baiiloul. The Germans at dusk attacked north-west of Albert, but were met with heavy rifle nnfl machine-gun fire, and driven back. Strong hostile attacks later in the evening near Dranoutre (5 miles west of Messiues) were repulsed by tho French .liter sharp fighting. The French and British artillery inflicted sevore losses. Tho enemy's artillery was active during tjie night, and a heavy bombardment was opened early this morning along practically the wbolo of the British front from northward of Albert to the junction with the French south of the Somme. Strong infantry attacks aro in progress in the Albert sector and between the Somme and the Avre. There was heavy hostile eheliing early this morning between Givenchy and Eobecq. Our artillery dispersed concentrations in the neighbourhood of Merville."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. (Eec. April 25, 11.30 p.m.) , . London, April 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We , repulsed other attacks on the north bank of the Somino and northward of Albert, taking prisoners. We recaptured our post north-west of Festubert (lost on April 22). The garrison strongly Tesißted, and lost heavily. We took prisoners and machine-guns. Wq repulsed a strong attack on our now positions eastward of Eobecq, and maintained our line intact. Wβ also secured prisoners in minor enterprises eastward of Nienpe Forest and in the neighbourhood of Metoren. The enemy has captured Villors-Bro-tonneux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. CAPTURE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX. ■ (Eec. April 25, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After a violent bombardment this morning the enemy attacked the whole of the British front south of tho Somme, and tho French on our right. The attack was repulsed, but was renewed later ia strength on our positions in this sector. The onemy obtained possession of Villers-Bretonnenx, w.heTo tho fighting was Bevero and continues."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assri.-Reuter. ENEMY DRIVEN BACK TO HIS TRENCHES (Roc. April 25, 7.15 p.m.) London, April 24. The United Press correspondent states: following those relating to the bombardment on tbe entire front to our junction with tho Frenoh suggest heavy fighting between tho Sonime and the Avre. Moreover, almost simultaneously Von-der Jlarwitz's artillery was aotivo cast of Amiens. At dawn the British positions on both sides of the Lawo and north of Bethune were deluged with high explosives, and the linos north-west of Albert were similarly sheiled. When the Germans leaped out 'of the trenches and advanced the British rifles and machine-guns got full into them, and tho enemy, discouraged, darted back to the trenches. The British guns scattered concentrations of the enemy north-west of Merville."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN OUTFLANKING MOVE. (Eec. April 25, 11.55 p.m.) < Paris, April 24. A military expert predicts that Von Ludendqrff intends a, double stroke simultaneously, attacking with' the first southward of Arras an 3 with the 6econd between Villers-Bretonneux and southward of Moreuil, with the object of outflanking tho Picardy positions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Issn. MORE MACHINE-MADE DEVILTRY ffiec. April 25, 11.55 p.m.) London, April 24. A mysterious suggestion was raised in tho House of. Commons that tho Germans in the most recent fighting were nsing .1 new explosive or chemical. Mr. J. D. Gilbert sought a statement regarding tho nature of the wounds. Mr. J. I. Macpherson said that consequent on Mr. Gilbert's information he had instituted urgent inquiries, which were not yet completod—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn. . /TWO ATTACKS AT WIDELY SEPARATED POINTS (Eec. April 25, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 24. Eeutor's correspondent at British Headquarters, jn a dispatch (April 24, even,ing), says:—Two of the enemy attacks were launched this morning against important tactical positions on parts of tho lino widely asunder. The first was against Dranoutre, at tho foot of Mont Kemmel, which tho French troops had been defending. Tho enemy gained an initial advantage, Tiuf sulTered—so heavily that they wero unable to press their attack home, and the situation was restored. A second attack was launchod on Villers-Bretonnoux, and was followed by a violent bombardment of gas'shells. Two of tho enemy's divisions assaulted from tho direction of Doinnrd Road and penetrated our line at points. Thoy gained a footing on tho outskirts of Villers-Bretonneux. The battle ia still iD progress. The enemy's objectivo has certainly not been gained. Coinciding with this operation an attack was delivered against the French between Castcl and Saillos, near Hangard, but this failed to attain its known objectivo, In tho morning the enemy endeavoured to push forward his line south of the Cluronce liiver, but was reprised. So effective was our riflo and machine-gun fire that tho enemy was beaten back without giving battle. In the attack on VillorfiBretonneiix threo German tanks were seen advancing along tho road, with infantry following.—Eonter. ENEMY SQUEEZED IN UNCOMFORTABLE TRIANGLE London, April U. Mr. Terry Ttobinson writes: "The German are uncomfortalj'ty flqneozed in tho triangular corner of Aveluy Wood, between the Ancro and the ruilwny, two miles north of Albert, Last night >they endeavoured to get elbow room. After heavy shelling, successive waves forced us back four hundred yards from tho railway, and proceeded to dig in 911 the other side. After smart manoeuvring our Lewis guns enfiladed thorn, inflicting sanguinary losses. Our counter-attack completely drove them back to their old uncomfortable positions. During tho night wo assumed tho offensive as far as Bouzancoiirt, driving back the enemy on a thousand yards of front to a depth of twohnndrcd and fifty yards, gaining a bit of the best position in the Albert aroo. Tho enemy is liwivily shelling the Kem-mel-Ypree area."—"The Timce." AUSTRO-HUNGARTAN. .REINFORCEMENTS IN BELGIUM. Washington, April 23. Official dispatches from Berne say thai; Anstro-lfungariaii reinforcomente aro pouring towards Belgium.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assii. London, April 21. Reports from Vienna state that Austro-Hungarian troops have gone to the West front.—"The Times." (Eec. April 25, 11.55 p.m.) Amsterdam, Aprfl 24. Austrian papers confirm the Teporrs that Austrian troops aro in Belgium. Tho presence of Italian troops in Pieardy is regarded as meaning that tho Entente Powers aro preparing for a supreme countor-effort. Critics urge an immediate Austrian, offensive in Italy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn,

ON THE FRENCH FRONT (lice. April-25, 7.13 p.m.) London, .April 21. A French communique stales: "Holivccn tho •Sonimo and the Avro tlio enem3''s bombardment became very violonl during (.ho night on the. Franco-British front, notably in the region of Villere-Bretonneaux and Hiingard-en-Santorro. Our artillery energetically replied."—Ann.-iN./,. Cable Assn.-ltviilrr. THE GERMAN REPORT (Beo. April 25, 11.55 p.m.) London, j!prfl 25. A wireless German official report states: "We stormed Vlengelhoek Hill, north-east of Bailleul, repulsed English attacks west of Bailleul, and frustrated strong advances north-west of Bethune. Von der Goltz's troops took the railwny junction at Syviuge."--Aus.-i\'.Z. Cablo Assn.-fiouter. GERMAN CLAIMS IN RECENT OFFENSIVE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PRISONERS AND ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED GUNS. Amsterdam, April 24. In the Beichstag, Hie War Minister (General von Stein) claimed that the German break-through in tho West was forty miles deep. A hundred thousand British prisoners and fifteen hundred guns were captured. Moreover, tho Germans had thrown the French across tho Oise-Aisno Canal, and had defoatod the. British at Armentieres, capturing twenty thousand men and two hundred and fifty guns. The Minister dwelt on tho difficulties of bringing up Gorman reinforcements. The enemy had again found vantage points, of which lio was making use, thereby necessitating the continuation of tho buttle.—Renter. THE "FIFTH'S" BREAKDOWN AT ST. QUENTIN QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. (Roc. April 25, 7.15 p.m.) t it. tt T, London, April 24. _ in the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law, replying to questions about the withdrawal of tho Fifth Army at St. Quontin, said that there vru not the slightest justification for the suggestion that this portion of tho lino was taken over contrary to the judgment of Sir William Robertson and Sir Doujrks Haig. The arrangements wore made entirely by tho English and French authorities. It was not true that Sir Douglas Haig had protested against taking orev this extra portion of the line from tho French.—Router. 3,000,000 AMERICAN TROOPS IN A YEAR Adjutant-General M'Oain staled to tho Military Affairs CommitteVtnat" it there are sufficient ships it will bo possible to have 3,000,000 United States troops m France within a year.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. FRENCH SHELL' SILENCES LONG-RANGE GUN. (Bee. April 25, 7.15 p.m.) A French shell destroyed the entire crew of the long-range gun, which has not ■bombarded Paris for forty-eight hours.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.