WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 May 1917, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

New British Attack—Gain at three Points — Bombardment of Zeebrugge—Russians Denounce the Kaiser.

The British have attacked the Wodan sector of the Hindenburg line in the region of Bullecourt, 10 miles south-east of Arras, and operations were at the same time undertaken astride the ArrasCambrai road and north of the River Scarpe, In each instance the objectives were gained. The French have also repulsed a series of determined counterattacks extending along the A|~~Sb:front into the Champagne.

%here has been further fighting on the Macedonian front. The French captured positions west of the Vardar River, and the British repulsed Bulgarian counter attacks on the Doiran sector. An unofficial message reports an entensive aerial and naval bombardment of Zeebrugge, The executive of the Russian revolutionary body known as the Council of Workmen and Soldiers Delegates has issued a manifesto convening an international Socialist peace conference. The president of the Council states that as long as the German people refuse to overthrow the Kaiser and the old regime, the Russian bayonets will be turned against them.

TUESDAY Bullecourt Held—Blow at Hindenburg Line—Plot Against KaiserRussia's Reorganised Plans. The Australians have repulsed two further, counter-attacks on their positions, making at least 12 in 10 days. The greater part of the village of Bullecourt is now in the hands of the British, who have also made progress in the western part of Roeux, due east of Arras. The Bullecourt-Queant redoubt is the hinge on which the Hindenburg line turns, and the capture of Bullecourt, which practically solates Queant, is described as the first serious blow against the enemy's new defensive system, and a decisive defeat for the Germans. It is-reported that an infernal machine was discovered in the Kaiser's residence in the Tiergarten, the beautiful western park of Berlin.

WEDNESDAY

British Take Roeux—Bullecourt Gains Held—Zeppelin Destroyed at Sea—Bombardment on Italian Front.

. The British have completed the capture of Roeux, a village six miles east of Arras, which has been the scene of much desperate fighting during the past month. The Australians are still holding Bullecourt and repulsing counter attacks. There has been an increase in artillery and aerial activity in the New Zealand sector.

An Italian bombardment which has now extended over several days is reported from the Isonzo front.

A Zeppelin which attempted to approach the British coast was pursued by naval aircraft and destroyed. The British aircraft took the Zeppelin 50 miles from the Dutch coast, and brought it down in flames.

THURSDAY

Italian Advances — Gains on the Carso—Enemy Failure at Bullecourt — German Chancellor on War Aims.

c^Fhe bombardment which was l-^yted from the Italian front r«^ been followed by infantry attacks. The Italians made con~ siderable progress on - the hills east of Gorz and in the northern sector of' the' Oarso Plateau 1"

The allies have made.further gains on the Balkan front, including the Struma River sector, where French and Venizelists advanced together.

■ The Germans attempted, byfour strong concerted attacks, powerfully supported by artillery, to drive the British from Bullecourt and the section of the Hindenburg line to the east of the village. The attempt was quite unsuccessful, although, the German command was prodigal of men.

The French have maintained their line north of the. Aisne against an attack on a wide front.

The German Chancellor, replying to interpellations in the Reichstag, declined to state the German war aims at present, on the ground that it would not serve the interests of the country.