BATTLE OF ARRAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 April 1917, Page 1

BATTLE OF ARRAS.

The Second Phase.

Harder Than Ever

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Renter),

LONDON, April 23. Air. Phillip Gibbs Says the Battle of Arras has entered on its second phase, which is harder than the battle of April 9th. This morning before o o’clock the English Scotch and Welsh attacked east ward of Arras between Gavrelle, Gemappe, Fontainel, and Croisellcs which is the last switch lino hereabouts between us and the main Hindenburg lino.

So far tho day has been in our farour.

We gained important ground ancl inflicted great losses and prisonered one thousands of the enemy. In the neighbourhood of Fontaino everywhere there was hard fighting as the enemy were awaro of our attack as soon as the guns were moved up.

The Germans were told to hold in. at all costs and they brought up many new batteries, and massed machine guns in tho villages anti trendies covering the lino of our advance.

The fighting prgressed at all points Sometimes our men are beaten Oacit, then, re-attacking, they go forward. 'Gavrelle is certainly ours, thus breaking the so-called “Oppy Lino.”, Northward of the Scarpe'wo are now beyond Gerappc southwards of tho Scarpe, though fighting i s proceeding around /the village on the extreme right. The enemy suffered a disaster northward of Croisellcs, where we prisonered and killed many. At the outset the enemy resisieu fiercely. Last night was terribly cold, ana our men who lay in the shell holes and shallow trenches suffered severely.

A GREAT ATTACK

Battle Progresses

Brilliant Episodes

LONDON, April 24

The British bambordment which was steady throughout the night, broke into a hurricane of fire at dawn, our artillery barrage was brilliantly successful. Directly (the r(ttack commenced, but tho Britishers had hardly risen from their shell-holes and ditches (bc/cre the German counter-barrage started, and a furnace blast of maclnna gun fire from two small woods in front of Mnchy and Gennappe also commenced.

The enemy trenches below Monchy ;vas defended by enfilado firo from redoubts rdong the Cambrai road. When the Britishers swept down the Gei mans quickly fled to the cover of the wood at Baisaitsari. The Britishers elsewhere along the Scarpe were held up for some time by intense machine gun firo and had to await a “Tank-” Still further north the Scottish battalions kuieldy advanced towards Iteux passing tho fortified farm and eheitjicsl works where the enemy - lost very heavilv in hying to escape the ruins. The capture of Gaverelle was the most brilliant episode on the left suae •f the attack. The Germans sot great store by Gemappe, which is a heap of bricks, deriving its importance from its position upon tho Cambrai road. The Third Bavarian Division held the village, where there was deadly hand to hand fighting. The 101st Pomorarinn Regiment wore in tho neighbourhood of Fontn.niele, Sori and Sellcs. The I’omerinnans for several days had been heavily bombarded and their nerves were so shaken that they came out of their dugoute and five hundred surrendered without attempting gito fight. Between the Cojiul and Sensce rivers where the British adavanced along a curved line following the shape of the rising ground, we took at least. izOO prsoners and a battery of field guys'. .