WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

fPiSB Pbess Association.—Coptbihot.]

BATTLE OF ARRAS.

A Grim Struggle. Great Gallantry. (Australian & N Z. Cable Association atd Reuter) LONDON, April 29. v Mr Phillip Gibbs reports that liaru fighting'began on Saturday morning on both sides of the Scarpe over difficultground, and against stubborn reserves of the enemy who have further ‘increased their concentrations of men and guns in order to hold ns hack at whatever costs from the Hindenburg line. The results of the battle must not bo reckoned by prisoners or ground gained. The real results consist in tOio supreme valour of our men in assaulting enormously strong positions, aim then, though almost spent, by fighting and beating back successive waves of counter-attacks. ike fighting is of the worst possible kind,‘owing to the extreme difficulty in attacking gthe high slopes, which are defended by machine g.un redoubts, and our isolated position exposing the attackers to onfiilade fire. The 'English gallantry was splendid. -Companies and platoons. showed fine initiative. Tlio Canadians’ capture of Arl*ux was the result of hard fighting. The German • shell-fire south of the iScarpe was the heaviest since the opening of the Somme offensive in 1916. They employed many new batteries ol heavy guns. The strength of the German resistance was surprising. They had been forced back more quickly than was expected upon the Hindenburg line, and are now throwing in their mam reserves to prevent us breaking the line and imperilling their retreat. The Germans must do tins or suffer a real disaster. Already the Hindenburg line is insecure. . . Our heavy shells are falling in storms over Queant which is the actual bastion of the Hindenburg position. According to prisoners the enemy losses recently were terrible. One Pommeranian company lost 80 men in four days. The enemy are paying a fearful price for the Hindenburg strategic plan"* but they never fought fiercer in this war. ) This battle is one of the bloodepisodes in history.