WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH COMMUNIQUE,

Received 10.10

LONDON, April 27,

Since April Kith we have captured, between Soisscns and Aubcrives, 130 guns.

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED

WITH HEAVY LOSSES.

LONDON, April 27

The High Commissioner cables: General Sir Douglas Haig reports an unsuccessful enemy minor attack during the night in the neighbourhood of Fayet northwest of St. Quentin, which was beaten off with loss after sharp fighting, leaving prisoners. We captured Quarles 011 the eastern outskirts of Hargicourt. The enemy fled hurriedly abandoueding rifles and equipment. There were successful local operations 011 the Arras-Cambrai road. A spur between Eoeux and Gavrclle, and important enemy positions, have been captured.

A BOY KERO

STUCK TO HIS OBSERVATION POST.

WHEN SURROUNDED BY GERMANS.

Received 10.10,

LONDON, April 27,

The hero of the battle of Lagnicourt is a boy lieutenant of London, whose name is unknown. He remained at his observation post when encircled by Germans, and while the enemy attacked and captured a bat'tery, transmitted their dispositions to headquarters, enabling a counter-at-tack to b e launched, which annihilated the Germans and recaptured the guns.

A HEROIC CATHOLIC PRIEST.

CAPTURES SIX GERMAN GUARDSMEN.

Received 10.10

LONDON, April 27

Father Clune, bother of the Bishop of Perth, a white-bearded padre in the New South Wales Battalion, who was famed for haunting the front line trenches against orders on the pretence of carrying important letters, took prisoner and brought in sixstalwart Prussian Guardsmen.

ROUT QF THE GUARDS.

AUSTRALIANS’ FINE CHARGE,

LONDON, April 17

The largest and one of the boldest raids yet known in this war was attempted hy the Germans yesterday

morning against the Australian troops opposite them. The Third Guard Division was specially brought up and squeezed into the German 'front near Queant, and then the troops of two Guard divisions and another division besides attacked. Men from 16 different battalions are amongst the prisoners in Australian hands. This force came suddenly out against the advanced posts of the Australians with instructions to cut them out, push through to the guns, seize the village of Noreuil, and hold it for 24 hours till th e guns had been destroyed by special parties, and till they had ransacked headquarters for papers, when they were to withdraw.

This large picked force, by sheer weight, surrounded several advanced posts, and though driven oil elsewhere broke through the village of Lagnicourt, and reached some of the more advanced field-guns. The gun crews dismantled these gun s in order to prevent their immediate use by the

Germans. The GermaaS were in process of placing charges under some of the guns when the local commanders, without waiting for orders, counter-at-tacked.

The Australian infantry—mostly from Queensland and New South Wales — advanced magnificently, sweeping the guardsmen before them. By eight o’clock the Germans were retreating by hundreds, utterly broken, the Australians enjoying such shooting as they have never before had against the Germans. The supporting troops were standing up watching the fight, as if it were a football match. In the height of the retreat tw r o Australians ran out from the rest to collect 70 prisoners. These two never thought to take their rfles with them, and the only weapon they had was a book. One platoon of Germans marched in fours with their hands up. B‘y the middle of the morning all our guns had not only been recaptured, but with the exception of five all were firing on the Germans, who had retreated ad best they could through the gaps in their own wire entanglements, while our great guns laid down on them such a barrage as has seldom before been seen.