WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GEBMANi! SLASHED ON 12 j MILES FHGNT. TO THREE MILES BRITISH PENETRATE PROM TWO NEARLY 7000 PRISONERS AND , MANY GUNS. LONDON, April 0. British official.—Operations continue successfully according to plans. Wo everywhere stormed the enemy's defences from Henin-Sur-Cojeul to ' the southern outskints of Givcnchy-.'ii-Helle to a'depth of from two to three miles. The advance continues. The enemy's forward deforces on this front, including the Vimv 2'idge, which was carried by the Canadian troops, were captured early this morning. These defences comprise a network of trenches and the fortified localities Neuville.St. Vaast, Telegraph Hill Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, Observation Ridge St. Laurent, Blagny-les-Tilleiils, and La Folie farm. ! Subsequently, we advanced and captured the enemy rearward defences, including, in addition to other powerful trench systems, the fortified localities of -Feuchy Chapel, Feuehy, Hyderabad Redoubt,, Athics, and Thelus. Up to 2 p.m., 5816'prisoners (including 119 officers) were put through our collecting stations, and many move were uncounted. Of these a large number belong to Bavarian divisions, who suffered heavy casualties inthe fighting. Captured war material includes guns, r.nd numbers of trench mortars and machine-guns, which have not been counted.

A GAIN OF SO SQI3MCZ MILS 3

EXCELLENT ARTILLERY WORK.

SUCCESS BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

LONDON, April 10.

Correspondents at British headquarters state: The Generals commanding avoided the errors of Neuve Chapelle and Loos. Owing to the splendid artillery preparations, the casualties in the opening stages were unexpectedly light. The majority of the British wounded were struck by shrapnel during the German bombardment prior to the actual attack. It is too early to speak of a great victory, but the opening success is beyond expectations. The British are generally established in the third German line. The day's fighting represents a minimum gain of thirty square miles. The Harp Redoubt would have been a difficult problem but for the tanks. These at 7 o'clock calmly wallowed through mud and shell craters to Telegraph Hill,, whence they exented a powerful moral influence on the Harp garrison. There was very hard fighting at Arms between the angle in the railway lines to Douai and Lens. THE GERMANS' VERSION. LONDON, April 9. Wireless German official. —The battle of Arras, which commenced this morning, continues. There have been minor engagements between Albert and the roads to Cambrai and Penonne, taking the course we intended. Seventeen enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons Avere downed on Sunday. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. Received" 11.10. LONDON, April 10. A French communique states: The enemy'artillery is less active north of the Oise, to the south of which we progressed. East of the lower forts of Kochy there is a fairly lively artiller 1 struggle, also in the region north-pap- 1 of Soissons, principally in the Laf faux sector.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN LINE

BRITISH STILL PUSHING ON. "V LONDON, April 10. Sir, Douglas Haig reports:— In the direction of Gainbrai, we have ish advance surprised them. Prince bourhood of Havrrncourt Wood, and have captured Demicourt. In the direction of St. Quentin we captured Pontru evdremier.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Aerial activity was continued yesterday with great energy. Several successful bombing raids were made by us, and our machines o-operated with the artillery with excellent results. Two hostile machines were destroyed and fifteen driven down. They probably crashed to earth. Two German kite balloons came down in flames. Ten of our aeroplanes are missing.

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE

FIGHTING.

IRRESISTIBLE RUSH BY BRITISH

POSITIONS CAPTURED WITH GREAT SPEED.

LONDON, April 9

Mr Gibbs, in a second despatch, describes the first attack. At 5.30 the guns had almost ceased and there was a Strange solemn hush. Then came the cry "They're, away! " and the bombardment broke out twenty times greater. The Germans were shelling Arras. Green lights rose along the whole sweep of the German lines —signals of distress Arras' eastern suburb, Blangy, on the Douai road, was soon in our* hands and we were fighting forward on higher ground beyond. The British advance was not hurried, though the enemy's shrapnel was searching the lines of the attackers. The first prisoners came back in fifteen minutes and already British wounded reported that we were through four lines. German dead were lying thick, and the living were surrendering. The British went stolidly through the enemy trench system to Feuchy and in the marshes below the river Scarpe, four miles east of Arras. The enemy's trench system south of Arras was enormously strong, but the infalitry ;: wcri:'t through it without much ldss.' A'fteF-ncavy*' fighting they' reached 'O'bs'ervatioh'Ridgfe,' wheti'ce the eh-" em'y for-2ip years'' had 'been directing artillery tire?:against; the 'British and French! With the help 6f tanks we took two formidable positions south of Tilloy-est-Mofflaines : called "The Harp" and "Telegraph Hill." We captured the whole system of trenches north of the river Scarpe to Whitehouse wood. VIMY CAPTURED BY CANADIANS. FIERCE FIGHTING IN PLACES. WHOLE BATTALIONS SURRENDER RAPIDITY OF ADVANCE SURPRISE THE GERMANS. Received 8.45. The .Es.tit„ Parjsien^., describing the; Canadian,; sugc y ess at Vimyj states the .put up a tremendous barrage. Jn" the, assaulting troops, also extending the Are curtain to the enemy's rear, and isolating the Germans, who, realising escape impossible, did not offer a prolonged resistance. Whole battalions surrender- ■ ed, although thene were fierce struggles to the death at certain points, especially at Cojeul and Telegraph Hill. Ihe , British caught several hundreds of the enemy on the banks of the Scarpe and cut down those refusing to surrender. The Canadians rested momentarily on Vimy slopes after the capture of the first two lines, then dashed to the summit, and th e Germans' threw down their arnib.

Marcel Hutin says: According to the prisoners, the rapidity of the Britsh advance surprised them. Prince Rupprecht expected ten days' delay.

NINE THOUSAND MEN AND FORTY GUNS CAPTURED.

MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED,

GERMAN SUPPORT LINE

REACHED.

Received 9.25

LONDON, April 10

General Haig reports severe night fighting at the northern end of Vimy' Ridge, where the enemy retained a footing. W e ejected the. enemy, who attempted a counter-attack but failed. We cleared the eastern slope of the ridge, repulsing counter-attacks. We advanced and seized the village of Fampuax and the neighbouring defences northward and southward of Scarpe. We prisonered on Monday over nine thousand men and took 50 Tuns. We drove the enemy from the high ground between Leverguiver and Hagicourt. Fighting continues on the whole battle front south and eastward ■tf Ypres, and reached the support line, and immediately the enemy were ejected.

GREAT BRITISH ADVANCE |

ON TWELVE-MILE FRONT.

VIMY RIDGE CAPTULIED.

SIX THOUSAND PRISONERS.

LONDON, April 9

Vimy Ridge has been captured by the British troops, who have taken six thousand prisoners and gained thirty square miles by a depth of four thousand yards on a twelve-mile front.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

KING'S CONGRATULATIONS,

ON VIMY VICTORY

Received 11.10

LONDON, April 10.

The King has telegraphed to General Haig: "The whole Empire repoices at yesterday's successful operations. Canada must be proud that the coveted Vimy Ridge has fallen to her troops. I heartily congratulate you and all who -have partaken in the splendid achievement." GERMAN INTERNAL AFFAIRS REFORM ADOPTED. Received 8.45. AMSTERDAM, April 10. Berlin announces Prince Friederich Karl's death. The Prussian Ministers have unanimously adopted the Kaiser's reform programme.

RUSSIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS

RUSSIAN RENUNCIATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. AS PART OF PEACE PRICE. Received 9.25. PETROGRAD, April 10. : The . Provisional • Government has announced, the relinquishment of Russia's, claim to Constantinople as part of the peace price. ■•■; /; ;•.! ■] g LABOURITES AND THE WAR. ' ' i— i: "••••../. no separatle' peace' likely. Received 8.45.' PETROGRAD, April 10. M. Kerensky officially declared that Liliukoff's statement that Russia desired Constantinople does not represent the Provisional Government's point of view. Kerensky, ,who is vicepresident of the Council of Soldiers and Workers' Deputies, further declares the Labourites, while realising that Russian defeat will mean the defeat of' Russian freedom; - are willing only to conduct a war of defence, and 'renounce absolutely any' desir e for Constantinople, and by ' a majority' tiave' ; asked "the Government to express its readiness to conclude peace when all the Powers agree to relinquish the ideas of annexation and indemnity. Kerensky adds: "If the German Socialists think we will make a separate peace they are bitterly mistaken."

GENERAL CABLES V.C. HERO MISSING. Received 8.45. LONDON, April 10. Lieutenant Robinson, cabled on April 5 as having been awarded the Victoria Cross, is missing.