WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 May 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

Haig Strikes Again—British gains on the Scarpe—Stubborn German Resistance—Australian Transport Torpedoed — American House Adopts Conscription.

Fresh British operations are reported on both sides of the Scarpe River, east of Arras. Considerable progress has been made, despite stubborn resistance The British have captured Ar-leux, seven and a-half miles north-east of Arras, and a portion of Oppy, further south-east. The French have repulsed a number of weak attacks at various points on their, front. Th^£Ssench offensive has yielded siiJjpssfcApril 16, 175 heavy guns ana 20,780 prisoners. The Australian transport Ballarat was torpedoed and sunk at the . entrance to the English Channel while carrying Victorian reinforcements to France. All / „ the troops and crew were saved, '^perfect discipline being maintained. It is stated that Italy will shortly launch a great offensive which may decide the issues of the war in the Near East. The American House of Representatives has adopted conscription by 397 votes to 24.

TUESDAY German Line Insecure—Success of Latest Thrust —Enemy. Drawing on Reserves—Peace Propaganda in Austria. The British are continuing the new attack north of the River Scarpe, and have captured the enemy's trench system to the south of Oppy, seven miles northeast of Arras, on a front of a mile. British heavy shells are falling in storms over Queant, which is an actual bastion of the Hindenburg position. The British again hold the mastery of the air, and aeroplanes are . harassing the enemy day and night. The German losses in purely fighting machines are enormously greater than the British. French detachments penetrated the enemy's second line at "^^^-several points in the Upper Alsace. In an interview given to American journalists, Marshal Joffre advocated that small American units should be sent to France as the men are obtained, and trained ithere, in preference to waiting till a large fore© was trained in the United States.

WEDNESDAY French Again Attack—Gain in the Champagne — Fortified Trenches Carried—Further Food Riots in Germany. The French have renewed their attack in the Champagne, and have carried several lines of fortified trenches near Mount Cornillet, a strong position east of Rheims, on which they gained a footing in the earlier fighting. They have-also won ground on the slopes of High Mount. The British have repulsed a German attack south of the Scarpe River. It is stated that General Hindenburg's total reserve strength on the western front consists of 43 divisions, of which 33 have been more or less out of action. Neutrals report further serious disorders in Germany, particularly in the Westphalian steel districts, owing to the cost of food. Soldiers fired on ! the crowds, and many persons were , wounded. A Hungarian correspondent of the London Morning Post alleges -ijMg*' the shadow of revolution aßffgs over Hungary, and that - "tSs rarrny is ri^e for revolt.

THURSDAY Heavy Ggrman Losses — Energy's Reserves Depleted — Strikes in Rhine Province — New Peace Overture Forecasted. A. correspondent estimates the German casualties in the recent fighting at anything up to 200,000 Thirty-two had to be thrown into the fighting, reducing the reserve in the west to 130,000. The French have maintained their recent gains in the Champagne, despite fierce counterattacks. Jialf the munition workers in the" "^hine province—the most 'important manufacturing woiince in Prussia—are on strike. T-h'e most serious disturbances ire at Essen, which is isolated, foo work was done ]n 'Austria on jQ[ay Pay- and l^iass in,eethl^ s adopted identical resqiutjoris de 7 plarin'g for peace witljqut annexations Of. indemities,