Wiped Out

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1917, Page 1

Wiped Out

A Grim Story-

LONDON, April 29

Mr Beach Thomas tells a barbaric story which is verified by experienced officers. A Bavarian battalion seven hundred strong drove out some of our men who were holding a captured trench. They pursued them so keenly that the 'Lincoln regiment was able to cut them off. The retreating party thereupon turned and faced their pursuers , andtthe combat became one ot elemental savagery. 'Scarcely a man thought of shooting and tho rifle became a spear and club. Both sides relapsed to update before gun-powder. Some even threw away their rifles and wrestled to the death. They piciceu up stones and shouting war cries suitabe to the sttone age. Not a Bavarian escaped, very few surrendered. Gallant Newfoundlanders. LONDON, April 29

The Newfoundlanders in the battle of Arras added ne wlnstr© to their reputation. Pushing farthest in the advance. A difficult section they had to fall back from an overwhelming coun ter-attaek holding the German masses till the British fire checked the advance. Then cam© the Newfoundlanders oppprtunity. The next half hour saw such slaughter of the Germans as lias only bo witnessed once or twice in battle. It is believed that none of the enemy escaped. Between twelve t and fifteen hundred dead were piled round the German trench.

Air Success

LONDON, April 29. M*v Beach Thomas writes: —Our airmen have never before hit the Germans so hard. They are harrassdng the enemy day and night. We have brought down more ot our opponents than will suffice us. The enemy loss in purely fighting machinery is enormously greater than ours. We hold again the mastery of the air, but whether we keen it depenws on the activity of factories at home.

German Report LONDON April 29. A German official message says • number of fighting aeriplanes unsuccessfully houghed torpedoers off the Flemish coast and also at Zeebrugge harbour on April 2Gth. We downed a British aeroplane an* a French aeroplane. Official Report. WELLINGTON, April SO. The (High Commissioner reports uom Londoii on April 29th at 11 p.m.: British official reports state:—This morning the enemy’s tranche system to the south of Oppy was captured on a front of a mle after heavy fighting. There were several unsuccessful enomy counter-attaeks since yesterday morning. Wo have made 976 prisoners. Brazil Neutral. IHO DE JANIERIO, April 20. The Government has proclaimed its neutrality in the German-American war.

Successful Thrust

Easterly Strategy

(Australian & N CaMa Association). LONDON, April 29. Correspondents on the British front state that General Sir Douglas Haig’s third thrust opened splendidly, compelling General von Hindenburg to further deplete his famous strategic j serve, wjiicli he is recklessly using as tho only alternative to a retreat to the still unfinished Drocourt-Quenat line. Til# weather is fine and the fighting fierce northward of Gavrelle, and is yielding important British successes. The* Huns are continuously and iwavailingly counter-attacking with appalling losses. There arc many French tributes to Haig’s masterly method' of minutely collating all possible elements for success before launching a well-defined and strictly limited, offensive' on a chosen front. Ollier French correspondents dwell on tile signal evidences of British determination and valour on every corner of the battlefield. Haig’s Report. LONDON, April 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There severe fighting, wherein we had the advantage, all day long from the Scarpe river to the Aclioville-Vimy road. We captured Arleuengouelle and enemy’s positions oil over two miles of front north and south of tho village. We also made progress north-east Gavrelle and the western slopes or Greenland lITI between Gavrelle and Hoeux. Southward of the river we gained ground northward of Moncemy le Preux. The enemy in many violent counter-attacks, with considerable t forces, suffered heavily from artillery and machine-gun fire. Heavy figuring in the neighbourhood of Roeux and Oppy continues. Several hundred were taken prisoners. LONDON, r April 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports that we captured a trefnch system south of Oppy on a mile front. There has been heavy fighting and stubborn resistance with several unsuccessful counter-attacks. Wo took 976 prisoners.

Terrific Fighting

PARIS- April 29,

Correspondents indicate that the British are engaged in terrific fighting and have already secured a portion of the village of Oppy, where the Germans show a most determined resistance, throwing in new divisions. Many German prisoners arriving from the battle front north ~ Gavrelle are indicative of the British successes there.

German Claim.

LONDON, April 29,

Wireless German official:—On the battlefield of Arras to-day the British for the third time failed completely in tlie attempt to break through our lines. Strong attacks on a thirty kilometre front on both sides of the Scarpe failed.

Austrian Desires.

LONDON, April 30

The Morning Post’s Amsterdam correspondent states that German political circles are perturbed by the Vieima ‘ ‘Frcndeiibhitt’s” ' semi-official statement that Austria does not desire .annexations. The “Kolnisclie VolkZeitung” issues an official disclaimer, pointing out that Germany entered the war to protect Austria, and enlarges on the necessity of territorial re-arrange-ments on the eastern frontier and also in the Balkans in the interests of Germany’s future safety. It appeals to Austria to defy the Socialists menace and thus preserve an unbroken military frontTli© Ontral News Amsterdam corres pondent says much direction is directed pondent says much attention is directed to Germany at Hertlings mission to ‘Austria. It is understood he has been specially chosen by the Kaiser to disuade Emperor Charles from “No annexation” policy as revealed in the Frenden blatt. It is well-known that Emperor Charles fully endorses Premier Czernins pacific tendencies. The Daily Telegraph’s Milan con vspondent states that advices from Vienna show that the newspaper first pointed out that the policy of not annexing R.uisian Territory did not preclude Austria from annexing Serbia and Mntenegro but later acting on official inspiration announced that Austria was prepared to renounce all annexation. It was even hinted that Austria might restore Tfentino and Trieste if Italy induced the Allies to open peace Pourparlers.

Liberty lean. LONDON, April 29. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Petrogrna correspondent says the so-called Liberty War Loan is the first test of the Government's stability, and everywhere it is meeting with success. Over £15,000,000 was subscribed in' four days at Petrograd and Moscow alone, which is more than twice what the old regime raised for the same period. The Extremists oppose the loan. • but the Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Congress support it-

Submarine Claim. AMSTERDAM, April 29. Hen 1 Helfferon addressing the main Reichstag Committees stated that the Germans had submarined during February and March 1,600,000 tons of shipping, whereof 1,000,000 tons was British, despite England’s defensive measures and America’s assistance of late.

hi Norway. CHRISTIANIA, April 30. A semi—official article in the “Dageladit” says that German ship's daily have the protection of the Not «,-• gian Navy in territorial waters. The Germans in return not merlv sink Norwegian ships, but seize vessels outside the so-called danger-zone. The Government, intends to protest sharply. In America WASHINGTON, April ,29. The House, by 270 to 98, adopted the amendment to the Army Bill embodying President Wilson’s conscription proposal and eliminating preliminary volunteering. , VIENNA, April 29. Americans have been granted, four weeks from future relations to quit Austria. Those preferring to remain will not be interned so long as their conduct justifies their freedom. WASHINGTON, April 29. The Senate- passed the Conscription Dill by 81 to 6. Registration • under conscription begins within a month of the passage of the Bill. WASHINGTON, April 29. The House adoped conscription by 397 to 24. . WASHINGTON, April 29 The Senate rejected an amendment to ; the Army Bill authorising it to call up 500.000 volunteers, by 69 to 18. ; Senator Harding’s amendment pm,;* mitting Colonel Roosevelt to rqise fo«gp£ infantry divisions for service in Erancb - * was adopted by 56 to 39. A Senate enactment prohibits the sale of liquor at army posts and training camps or to anyone in uniform uu- . der any circumstance. . . ' The British Enfield rifle has been adopted for the United States Army.

Miscellaneous STOCKHOLM, April 29. The police dispersed ten thousand women parading the streets demanding cheaper food; Also naval and military food demonstrations. The participators accepted the Admiral’s advice and returned to tkeir ships and barmens. LONDON, April 30. Over 1,000 clerks employed in the Royal Arsenal dockyards at Woolwicn will strike to-day unless granted a ss. weekly advance. LONDON, April 29. There was no meeting of the Imperial ...Conference to-day.. City circles anticipate that one result of the preference decision probably he State subsidies to steamship lines to assist in the development of the Empire’y resources. MELBOURNE, April 30. Hon W. M. Hughey commenting on the Imperial Conference’s decision said: Imperial preference has been part of Australia’s policy fPrr years. Presumably the conference’s decision meant that Britain intended to give preference to Australia. ,