A BATTLE ROYAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1917, Page 2

A BATTLE ROYAL.

From Lens to St Quentin. (Received April 10, at 1 p.m t )3 ~ London, April 9 Mr Phillip Gibbs, writing on Monday, says at dawn to-day, oar armies began the great battle, wbioh if fate is\ kind, may be the beginning of the last great battles of the war. Trcops attacked on a wide front between Lens and Sc Quentin, including Vimyridoe. a grim hill dominating the plains of Douai aud the German positions around Arras.

DeipUe bad weather at tha oataet, which did not afford the airmen visibility, obliging the troops to struggle ahead in a heavy rainstorm. The first attack was guccaasfnl and tbe enemy lost much ground, retreating to etrong rearguard lines where they are now fighting desperately* French Report. -•*. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

and Renter), London, Aptil9 A French communique) stages in spite of bad weather tbe artillery is active on several sector?. GormuD attacks north west and south of Rheima , failed. We advanced somewhat in the region of Maisons da Champagne. VIMY R!UGi Cf.PTUBEU. 6,000 Germans Priionered. [LONDON TIMES SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.] (Received April 10, at 2.20 p.m) London, April 9 Vimy Ridge has been captured with 6,000 prisoners. Thirty equare miles hae been gained of a depth of four thousand yards of a twelve mile front. GERMAN SUCCESS 9,500 Prisoners T&ken (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.) London, April 6 Germ.in official—Four British aercolanea, which reached Thou), ware chased and all destroyed. Apart from this the enemy lost eight machines and three of ours are missing. During the capture of the bridgehead at Tobnly, in tbe fighting at Stockbod, we captured 130 officers, 9,500 men, 15 gun*, 150 machine-guns and mine-throxoi’s. Oar airmen blow up extensive munition ciapou in V>,rd.tr Valley, Big Russian Less (Admiralty, per Wiieless Press.) London, April 6 Russiau official—Aftor-faeavy artillerying, including chemical shells, tbe Germans occupied portion of the trenches eastward of Piakfcarnen, south of Riga, bur ware driven out.

Ten Russian aeroplanes bombed ths • .railway buildings at Katy, southwest of Svinauki. French aeroplanes at Dobrodja twice bombed a battery northward of Garvau. Our seaplanes successfully bombed fortifications at the Bosphorus, In the fighting on the left of tbe Stockhod on the 3rd and 4tb, which ended in our crossing to tbe rieht bank, the troops defending the bridgehead lost severely. Only a few score of men from two regiments reached the right bank. Both the commanders were killed. The third regiment lo3t half its effectives Some wonndeds from two other regiments survived.