WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

fPsB Press Association. —Copt bight.]

BATTLE OF ARRASHaig’s Report (Australian & N.Z.- Cable Association and Eeuter.) * LONDON, May 6. % Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is, nothing to. report. Ten German aeroplanes were brought down yesterday. Sir Douglas Haig’s latest report show that the German attacks on the Hindenburg line eastwards of Dunecourt were particularly severe. The enemy has thrown in heavy forces which we repulsed after fierce fighting. We repulsed two counter-attacks this morning which were endeavouring to recover tho section southward -of Soucliez River which we captured last night. We drove'"off raids south want or Acheville and westward of Hudluch. Wet-'successfully raided south-east-ward at Loos. We have brought down eleven German aeroplanes yesterday. Two Brit" ish machines are missing .

French Report [KEUTEB’S SERVICE. —COPYRIGHT.] London, Mnv.7 A French comxmmique-statse: We were were brililantly successful north-east of Soiyons and Chemin des Dames despite the desperation of the Germans who reek lessly employed great contingents. We attacked a salients in the Hindenburg line south-east of Auxailone anl carried a position on a front of six kilometers inflicting exceptional losses. Many counter-attacks were shattered. Germain columns marching in the direction of Chearnzy and Chamouille were caught and shattered by heavy baiieiies. We captured the whole plateau in the region ,oL Chemin des Dames, from east of Cernyen l’Donnes tv »asu of Craonne. We reached ridges dominating the valley or Arrette and the forest of Vaueleure. Hitherto over tuu* thousand prisoners were counted in addition to a thousand yesterday.

German Report (Admiralty —per Wireless Pies®) May 7. German official—A new 'battle is in progvess on the heights north of the Aisne.

A wireless German official states: W® repulsed strong English advances southwards of Lens, the Scarpe, ana Queant.

In a fruitless. English attack on ; three kilometer front between Fillets, Plouich and Gonolieu the enemy suffered heavy losses. The French artillery on the Aisne has the greatest power yet recorded in the operations . Renewed attacks were made by fresh French divisions yesterday morning between Ailette and Craonne on a front of thirty-five kilometres. A hand to hand struggle continued until late at night. The enemy Were entil'd ly repulsed. We oeupy - v the northern slope of Chemin des Dames. The French occupy Chevreuy, and Winterhurg height where the positions were completely destroyed. We prisonered several hundred.

French attacks eastward of Laneuville and south-west of Nauroy were unsuccessful.

The enemy lost fourteen aeroplanes. LONDON, May 7. A wireless German official message says:—j"Contrary to to-day’s report Chevreux still remains ours.

Another View. \ Capture of Craonne. [BBUTER’B SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 7. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says the Germans are still holding out round Fort Malmaisoki which is the only part of the Aisne hieghts now in their possession. The ground captured by the Freuen at Craonne was most important to the enemy’s scheme of defence. They them fore fought with the utmost determination. Their reckless expenditure of life was due to a stem order to hold tlie first U’ n e at any cost. The gunners in Craonne fortress, had held out for a fortnight against a tremendous bombardment from the great crescent of hidden batteries. : Finally a famous French Corps sur--1 rounded Craonne village and fought tliei’V way across. Chemin des Dames and joined hands with their comrades who were already established at Hurtice farm.

GREs.T BOfriBIKG. Australian Galiants^y. LONDON, May 6. Correspondents at British Headquarters say the feature of the past twenty-four-hours has been tho succession of intense German counter-attacks fn tne vicinity of Bullecourt where the Australians arel iteiap.'tiously maintaining and extending the breach in the ITindenburg line. The fighting has now become a great bombing match, wherein the A-nzavs excel. The German machine-guns at present dominate the ruined village of Bullecourt. , . The struggle is ebbing and flowing but our artillery are rendering ut» enemy’s tenure very costly. The-Australians have repulsed thirteen desperate counter-attacks since Thursday inflicting the heaviest losses. Ono counter-attack was delivered in four directions* simultaneously. On another occasion a large party of Bodies as they emerged from a dugout were blown up by another bo»ci«? section who had been reduced to “Jumpiness” by the Anzac’s pressure,