WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 May 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY. <

French Again Attack—Dominating Positions Won—Germans Fighting Desperately.

The French have been successful in aperies of attacks extending from Craonne into the Champagne. They captured Craonne by a brilliant operation. The Germans made repeated and determined counter - attacks, throwing new divisions into the battle, and their losses were proportionately heavy. The French held all gains.

~-^ffiya British have strengthened M^v old which they obtained on liie* Hindenburg line at Bullecourt, 10 miles squth of Arras. There is no activity on the Russian front at present. German agents are intriguing for peace, and the Provisional Government has had to meet opposition from the revolutionary body representing workmen and soldiers on account of the Note addressed to the allies promising ' not to make a separate peace. * This body has now recorded its confidence in the Government and accepted the principle of the Note.

TUESDAY Hindenburg's Line—French Gain a " Section—British Maintain Footing Australians in Post of Honour. The offensive north of the River Aisne has made the French masters of a crest 20 miles long dominating the^ Aisne Valley. It has also made'another breach in the defences of Laon. The tctal prisoners is now 6100. The Germans made a desperate resistance, and the importance they attach to the ground^is shown by the number of counter-attacks, in which they lost very heavily.

The British maintain their footing on the Hindenburg line, The Australians occupy the post of honour' and, although hard pressed, they have maintained themselves, and -repulsed 13 counter-attacks.

Six British aeroplanes fought a German squadron 15 or 20 strong. After five German aeroplanes had been brought down, the remainder fled. The British sustained no loss..

The best feature of the Russian situation is 'the increasing willingness of the revolutionary body representing the working men and soldiers to co-operate with the Provisional Government.

WEDNESDAY Driving in the Wedge—Action on Hitidenburg Line — Australians Gain a Mile—Venizelists in brisk Action. The Australians, who gained a footing on the Hindenburg line near Bullecourt, have forged ahead a mile into the German lines, and have almost surrounded - Biencourt. Correspondents say the Australians simply refused to retire, however desperate the situation. The 'French have repulsed numerous and determined counter-attacks en their new positions dominating the Aisne j Valley.' ■/ Greek troops who 'joined the allies under the standard of M. Venizelos have been in action on the Macedonian front against Bulgarians. They fought bril--w. liantly, and, in conjunction with the French, won positions on a fronts of over three miles, and repulsed counter-attacks. An Amsterdam report states that allied airmen again bom~v-£ harded Zeebrugge on Sunday <T',yfeht. "£^/" The United States Government has called up nine regiments of engineers fqr service hi France.

THURSDAY * attack qn WQdan Line—Scotsmen enter Bullecourt—German Peace Conditions. There has been heavy fighting at both ends of the Wodan sector of the Hindenburg line. Scottish regiments captured a portion of Builecourt, thus increasing the British hold on the line, and linking up with the Australians, who entered the Qerman trenches .near. the village.' " The air fighting on the western frqnt is still at maximum intensity. The Germans are using a new type of battleplane, but they, are unable to prevent the allies commanding the air, "The majority gronp of- the German Socialist Party has, through the Labour Parties of Scandinavia, suggested terms of peace to the Prussian, revolutionary I>ody known as "the Council &f Workmen: ajid ' Soldiers'; jieiega't'e^"