MONDAY'S ATTACK.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1917, Page 1

MONDAY'S ATTACK.

[Pan Pbess Association. —Coi'ybight.]

Karvailous ififork. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Rsn'isr.) LONDON, April u. •Mr Phillip Gibbs, in a further ae count of Monday’s attack, emphasises the stiff fighting at Blasgy, where t-no defences were exceptionally strong. Tile troops of the old Eiiglish regiments smashed their way through perfect nest of formidable works witn the assistance of “Tanks,” wliacn knocked out the machine guns. •The Scottish corps’ attacks at me famous railway triangle were held i m i for a time by machine guns, where the enemy works were not yet destroyed. Meanwhile the British barrage- still moved ahead. Word was sent to the rear, and the barrage crept hack, willing perilously close to the Scots, but not too close. The grjmcrs with marvellous accuracy found the triangle and reduced the defences. The Scots surged forward over the chaos of timber and barricades, ana reached their goal.

A Great descriptive. LONDON, Apirl 11. Mr. Beach Thomas says:—The days of great, battle' continues without cessation Describing the advance of the British he says: No shell pitched among them so clean wore the heavens swept by our aerial observers and so muddled were the German gunners. We saw our lield guns galloping into the enemy villages and later the spare horses coming in the opposite direction with German guns. We saw tlio Germans 1 family hoist by their own petard our liquid fire descending like gilded rain on the heads of the- terrified army. As the prisoners came down the goodnatured Tommies filling water-bottles jokingly enquired after Kaiser Bill and Hindonburg.

All the records of curtain fire were excelled at Vimy. Our airmen reported that tra ins and lorries were hurrying forward with strong supports for a counter attack. Quickly every heavy gun was directed on the new target. The unique spectacle followed nf the advancing Germans cut off by a curtain of fire and no more was seen or heard of them.

Our present position is that we are up against Hindenburg’s line south of Arras to St. Quentin. We turned his line east of Arras and we have blown the whole of his defensive system north east of Arras above the Srarpe the enemy retiring to the reserve line before Douai. French Report LONDON, April 12. A French official message says mat active artillcrying took place in the St. Quentin region. The enemy south of the Oise river, after a bombardment drove one of our detainments north-east of Eycraur-Souscocliy. A counter attack promptly evicted them. A Snow Fa l LONDON, April 11th Sir Douglas Haig reports ‘tliax a heavy snowfall throughout the day rendered observation impossible and impeded operations. We heat off two counter attacks in our new position# near Moneliy mil Lepreux. Prisoners taken at Moneliy le Pi'eux state that they were ordered to hold the village at all costs. Further south we penetrated to the neighbourhood of Buldecoui’t heavy snow fall throughout the.day rcnand were counter-attacked by large enemy forces which were forced hack on their own fines. Our artillery inflicted heavy , losses on the attackers.

fpY resting LONDON, April 11. AiWoadquarers cirrespondfjn.t says that the splendid success of the offensive at Vimy created most interesting tactual. The situation is fraught with tremendous possibilities the enemy iierug forced hack on the pivot of liis previous retreat in a manner creating n dangerously sharp salient. German Report LONDON, April 12. A wireless German official says that near Fampoux and northward of the Scarpe English infantry attacks, and several cavalry attacks near ltoenx, failed, and that fighting near Moacliy and Wancourt favoured us.

Gorman Fears , LONDON, April 11. Tlio “Daily Chronicle’s” correspondent at Amsterdam anthoritivcly states that the Germans fear disorders, which were hitherto isolated, will become general—an outbreak at Hamburg being especially likely. .extraordinary measures have bo.cn taken to cope with the situation, police and soldiers being placed in possession of corner houses commanding all the important streets, with machine guns installed. Recalled. AMSTERDAM, April 11. German deserters -report that me German Crown Prince has been deprived of liis command and re-called to Berlin. General Falkenhayn is now Chief-in-Oommnnd in Flanders, with tieauquarters at Thoilt. Norwegian Requast 'CO PENHAGEN, April 11. The Government has asked Germany for the safe conduct of a thousand submarined Norwegian mariners from England. Germany has replied that she will only onnsent if Norway guarantees that none of them will fo-enter the danger soue.