WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

(Psb Pbess , Association.—Copybight.]

IN THE WEST.

Quiet at Bullecourt. [BETJTEB’S BEBVICE. —COPYBIGHT.] r LONDON, May 18. Correspondents at headquarters report tliat all is quiet at Bullecourt with the infantry., Northwards of the Scarpe a small action fa progressing near Gavrille, apparently favouring us. The recent rain has* turned the battlefield dust into mud. A German Attack

And Resulting Butchery Tams, May lb. In attempting to retake Koeux on Tuesday, the German batteries showered shells at the rate of sixty a minute for sixteen hours. A British officer, describing the action, says: “What a butchery it was at the chemical works. Although the bombardment was lengthy, the actual was shoijfc and fierce. The Germans poured shells on our lines as if they had concentrated every gun they possessed on this small tatx-cor. The number of gas shells is greater than ever. Our men lived in their gas masks for twelve hours. A whole German division, mostly Bavarians, came against us, marching shoulder to shoulder. Our machine guns moweci down the first rank, our rifles accounted for the second and third, hut the remainder swept over like an avalanche leaving many of us safe and unwounded in the rear. We counter-attacked in a- characteristic irresistible series of it'harges.i Our field gtins swept the German columns in the open ground, while our men in the enemy’s rear attacked, and the Germans were surrounded with a circle of fire until it became veritable butchery.’V -

Official Report WELLINGTON, May 20. ' The High Commissioner reports from London at 2.10 p.m. cwi May 19th:— 'lSir Douglas Haig reports that northeastwards of Gouzeaucourt, we carried out a successful raid last night, bringing hack prisoners and a machine, gun. Eastwards of Loos and north-east-wards ‘of Armentieres and eastwards vi Ypres hostile raids were repulsed. WELLINGTON, May 1 20. The High Commissioner reports from London on May 19ith at 3.10 p.m.:French official.—Yesterday evening, following a violent bombardment westward of Braye frem the crest of Chevregmy as far as the Oisne canal the Germans attacked. Our barrage and machine guns broke the waves of assault which failed to reach our positions, except at one point westwards oif the front of the attack, where some fractions of the enemy took foot in our advanced positions. Twenty prisoners were taken. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON, May 18 Sir Douglas Haig reports that the hostile artillery way mire active at Gavrelle and Lens. Our artillery successfully engaged German troops on the Arras-Cambrai Road and north-east of Fresnoy. - Girmars Report LONDON, May 18. Wireless German , official.—We re-, pulsed after ha'nd-to-hand fighting ;u, midnight an English attack on tlio Gavrelle-Fresmes rood. We evacuated Bullecourt ruins undisturbed, the enemy esablishing himself there twenty-four hours later. We repulsed French attacks at Braye, Craor.elle, Craonno . and northward of Sapigneul. We stormed a trench eastward of Laroyere Farm. After six days’ artillerying, 'attacks on both sides of the Makovo failed. • LONDON, May 19. German official.—There has been intense artillerying between Acheville and Gavrelle. •English attacks on both sides of the Arras-Douai road and eastward of Moncliy failed. We captured a trench near Braye and repulsed an attack at.Winterberg. We brought down ten aeroplanes yesterday. 1

Uonscription. OTTAWA, May 18. In the House of Commons, Sir Robert Borden (Prime Minister) announced that a selective draft would be adopt ed by Canada to provide for 50,000 to 100.000 men to reinforce the divisions at the front. : Submarines Sunk. LONDON, May 18. Tlie “Exchange-Telegraph” Paris correspondent sates that between May Ist and sth, twelve German submarines were sunk. The sinkings were mainly due to the now appliance now in use by the British Admiralty. French Shipping PARIS, May 19th. A French official message gives the following returns in connexion with the submarine blockade for tho week ending May 17tli. Arrivals 952 Sailings* i.. 991 Sinkings over 1,600 tons 3 Under 1,600 tons Nil Unsuccessfully attacked 4 Spanish Ship Attacked MADRID, May 19.' A submarine shelled tho Spanish steamer patrico, killing the chief engineer. The crew abandoned the ship. The cabinet is preparing a protest at this outrage.