STUBBORN FIGHTING IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 7

STUBBORN FIGHTING IN THE WEST

BRITISH COUNTER-BLOWS RECOVER LOST GROUND EXPECTED GERMAN OFFENSIVE DIES DOWN | ' ; / By Telegraph-Press Aesochition-Copyright. London, May 9. Tho British have recovered'all the "round in the neighbourhood of Voormezeelc. A new German attack at Kemincl has begun—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT . - London, Mav 9, 2.15 p.m. Sir Douglas Hnig reports:-"The'situation in the La Clytte and "V'oormezeele sector has been restored. The Germans- to the north of Kcmmel -pressed us back slightly at ono point. The fighting-continues."—Aus.-i\.Z.-Cable Assn.•Reuter, ; , ... . .-, " ■•' ' •' "'■ - ■• (Rec.May 10, 8.25 p.ni.) ■ ■ ■■-" ■ '..c- -n ' i'tt--'•" ', ''„„„■ :•'.,-..".London.,Mn.v, 9, 3.15 p.m.) -■-Sir Douglas-Haig-reports:-'The;hrst of the.successful Anglo-French counterattacks ■on the La Clytto-Voormezeole sector drove tho enemy out of portions of the'front hue where ho had obtained a footing, and re-established our original positions. We took,several prisoners. The enemy, reatt'acking northward oi Kemmetoii the morning of May 8, pressed tho line in slightly at one point, where fighting continues. Two German divisions participated in Wednesday morning's attack. Our artillery and infantry inflicted heavy casualties on both during the counter-attack. We mndo further progress bclween the Sonimc and the Ancrc, and improved our positions here. Wo repulsed raids at Lens and Merris. The enemy's artillery has developed considerable activity on tho Albert sector."—Aus.-N.SJ. Cable Assn.-Kcuter. , •' 9 STUBBORN FIGHTING . ' " (Eec. May 9, 8.20 p.m.) „,, 1T ~ , t, , , , , i London, May 9. i . lh .\United Press correspondent states:-"Making a stubborn counter-attack Inst mght, the British recaptured the. original line south-west of Dickebllscll which they were driven after fighting all day on Wednesdav Today, however, they were compelled to retire slightly on' the extreme flank of this smal battlefront, owing to machine-gun fire. Fighting continues about a small pocket of Germans in a strong point east, of Millekruis. Otherwise (lie situation thereabouts is unchanged; = The French withstood an attack almost completely on (he British right, stopping the stormor.s on part of tho banks 6f tho Yvverbeek Stream w.iieh they were unable to cross owing to field-gun fire. After .their first attack the. Germans,did not renew the struggle against the French The' whole line, according to the latest advices, is intact. The Germans undoiibledl.rhoped'that the operation would enable them to gain ground-where they could launch a bigger attack to turn Scjierpenberg. The Germans at three o clock this morning ban-aged the area north-eastward of Amiens, but an hour later it had apparently quietened down, without an infantry engagement Their machine-guns iorccd back tho British slightly from the positions they had won on Wednesday w-hen they advanced northward ffoin'fhp trenches in the cemetery ■near JJucrjuoy. —Aus.-i\.Z..Cable Assn. . .. '

~V ."■■'.■ ON THE FRENCH FRONT ''•"". (Kec. May 10, 9.25 p.m.) ■• n i ».'.", ' London, May 9, 3.15 p.m. A French official communique states:—"There is lively reciprocal artillery activity north and south of the Avre."-Aus.-N;.Z. Cablo.Assn.-Eeutcr. AMERICAN HEAVY GUNS IN ACTION r , ~•',.■,,' . Washington, Mav-9, On the. American front the American heavy artillery, fired for the first timo on tiie front north-west of Tout. ' ' ' • ' Mr. Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, announced that thero was no shortage of light or heavy Browning machine-guns. , It is announced that the.strength of the National' Army in America and abroad m June will be 1,247,00C.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.