LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 208, 22 May 1918, Page 7

LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE WEST

VALUABLE WORK OF THE AUSTRALIANS VON MACKENSEN'S PART IN NEXT BIG BATTLE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. ,1 London, Mav 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"A local operation at Vilje-sur-Ancre was completely successful. The Australians carried the- German positions in and around the village, of which they took possession, capturing 360 prisoners and twenty mn-chine-guns. Our casualties were light. Wβ successfully raided a post southwest of Meteren, inflicting casualties on the enemy. "We made a successful raid in- the Albert sector and repulsed an enemy raid north of Hinges. The .hostile artillery has increased considerably on the AlbertBucrruoy front"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ; ■ (Eec. May 21, 8.20 p.m.) . London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: '"The French carried out. a successful night operation east and north-east of-Locre, gaining aJI their objectives; on a front of four thousand yards, and taking over four hundred prisoners. Local fighting this morning northward of Albert resulted in a few of our men being posted as missing. We rushed a German post eastward of' Hebmterne, taking prisoners and two machine-guns. There is active hostile gas shelling northward of Bethune."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutei-

I HAIG'S TRIBUTE TO THE LABOUR UNITS (Eec. Mav 21, 8 p.m.) London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig has issued a special order paying a tribute to the devotion, endurance, and gallantry of tho labour units under most trying circumstances at the beginning of the present battle. The discipline and spirit, he says, enabled them to render most valuable- assistance to the rest of the army."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeutar, THE AUSTRALIAN COUP AT VILLE-SUR-ANCRE GERMANS CLEARED FROM AN AWKWARD SALIENT. (Eec. May 21, 11.40 p.m.) London, May 20. Beuter's correspondent at British Headquarters says:—"The Australian captures at Ville-sur-Aucro exceeded -iOO, while- the casualties inflicted were very heavy. The Germans were- forced back from mi awkward little salient they, had created, and are now probably back upon the railway. Over thirty machineguns were taken between Ribemont and Dernacourt. The heavy fighting mentioned in previous dispatches related to a French attack on a front of from three to four thousand yards, apparently pivoting on the Locro hospice, and extending eastwards. It is'reported that tho operations succeeded. Over 300 prisonors were collected. Every yard of ground the Allies take in this locality represents an important gain, inasmuch as it pushes the enemy from the chain of hills runaing vest of Mont Kemmel."—Router. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. London, May 20. A French communique states:—"There is only intermittent artillery firing north and south of tho Avre."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Ren.. May 21, 8 'p.m.) London, .May 20. A French official communique states:—"There is lively artillery activity in tho region of Hangard, and south of the Avre. Our detachments penetrated to the enemy's third trench system north-wost of Reims, in tho direction of Dernicourt, and caused much destruction."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Eec. May 2), 9.30 p.m.) London, May 20. A French official communique etntes: "Artillery actions, which were occasionally violent, are reported south oi' the Avre und at somo points in tho region of Montdidier and Lassigny. , '—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. THE AMERICAN FRONT LENGTH OF LINE GREATER THAN THE BELGIANS'. Washington. May 20. It is officially announced that the: Americans now hold n greater length of front-line trenches than the Belgians, who until recently ranked next to the British. It is also officially intimated that as the result of arrangements for forwiirding troops this year there is a' possibility that moro than two million will be siiiit overseas, and allowing for casualties, the American forces will number close upon two million before the end of the year. The fact that American troops aro brigaded with tho British enables British supplies to bo used, thus affording ii groat increase in shipping room for the transport of troops.—Aua - N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. May 21, 9.30 p.m.) ' London, May 20. A wireless German official report states: "Tho British entered Ville-sur-Ancre, but failed to advance further aiong the Ancro Valley. Attacks against Morlancourt uroko down with sanguinary losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cnblc Assn.-Reutcr. VON MACKENSEN'S ROLE TO COMMAND THE "ARMY OF MANOEUVRE." (B«c. May 21, !).3O p.m.) London, May 20. The United Press correspondent states that it is reported that Von Mackensen is on the West front commanding tho German "army of manoouivi-e," which will bo flung into any opening which Von Hindenburg may niako whon tho offensive ie renewed. Von Hindenburg has now projjably over one hundred shock divisions awaiting ordora, übout forty of whioh are entirely frosh.—Aite.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (| THE WAR OVERHEAD (Bee. May 21, 11.10 p.m.) London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig, in his aviation report, statee: "We bombed on May 1!) the enomy railway stations, aerodromes, dumps, and billets, dropping over seventeen tons of bombs. Severe air fighting occurred eastward of tho liiid, where largo hostile forinntions attacked our bombers. We brought down twentyseven of tho onemy's machines, and drove down three others. Twelve of oiii-s a.re missing. There whs vigorous'mutual night bombing. Onr night-fliers dropped fifteen tone} of bombs on the Chanlnes, Douai, Don, and Marcoing railway etatione, and on tho St. Donie-Westrem aerodrome."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn!Eeutor.