WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 May 1917, Page 2

WAR NEWS.

GERMANS' FRANTIC EFPORTS.

MUST FIGHT OR MEET DISASTER

ONE OF THE BLOODIEST EPISODES

IN HISTORY.

LONDON, April 29

Mr Phillip Gibbs reports: Hard fighting began on Saturday morning on both sides of the Scarpe on difficult ground against stubborn reserves of the enemy, who have further increased their concentrations of men and guns in order to hold us back, whatever the cost, from the Hindenburg line. The results of the battle must not be reckoned by the number of prisoners or the ground gained. The real results consists of the supremo valour of our men in assaulting enormously strong positions, and then, though almost spent, by fighting and beating back successive waves of counter-attacks. The fighting was of the worst possible kind owing to the extreme difficulty of attacking high slopes defended by machine-gun redoubts and isolated positions,, exposing the attackers to enfilade fire. The English gallantry was splendid. Companies ami >ons showed fine initiative. The C dlan capture of Arlcux was the nesult of hard fighting. The German shell fire south of the Scarpe was the heaviest since the opening of the Somme offensive in 1916. They employed many new batteries of heavy guns. The strength of the German resistance is surprising. They have been forced back mone quickly than they expected upon the Hindenburg line, and arc now throwing in their main 'reserves to prevent us breaking the line and imperilling thcin retreat. The Germans must do this or - suffer real disaster. Already the F line is insecure. Our hea. ->e falling in

storms over Queant, wiiicli is the actual bastion of the Hindenburg position. According to prisoners the enemy losses recently were terrible. One Pommeranian company lost eighty men in four days paying a fearful price for Hindenburg's strategic plan, but they never fought more fiercely in this war. This battle is one of the bloodiest episodes in this war, The weather is fine and hot, and perfect for aeroplanes.

NEWFOUNDLANDERS AT ARRAS

LONDON, April 29

Mr Robinson tells how the Newfoundlanders in the Battle of Arnas, added new lustre to their reputation for pushing the furthest. During an advance in a difficult section they had to fall back from, an overwhelming counter-attack, holding the German masses till the British fire cheeked the advance. Then came the Newfoundlanders' opportunity and the next half-hour saw such slaughter of Germans as has only been v. ..tnessed once or tw T ice in the battle. It is believed no enemy escaped. Between 1200 and 1500 were piled round a German trench.

A SPLENDID OPENING. HINDENBURGj FORCED TO EXHAUST HIS RESERVES.

LONDON, April 29

Correspondents at the front state that Sir Douglas Haig's third thrust opened splendidly, compeling Hindenburg to further deplete his famous strategic reserve, which he is recklessly using as the only alternative to retreat to his still unfinished Drocourt Queant line. The weather is fine. The fighting is fierce north-eastward of Gavrelle, yielding important successes.

The Huns are continuously and unavailingly counter-attacking, with appalling losses.

FRENCH TRIBUTES. LONDON, April 20. There are many French tributes to Sir Douglas Haig's masterly method of minutely collating all possible elements of success before launching a well-defined and strictly limited offensive <on a chosen front. Other French correspondents dwell on the signal evidences of British determination and valour in every corner of the battlefield. WILD STORY OF SAVAGERY. HOW THE BAVARIANS WERE WIPED OUT. LONDON, April 29. Mr. Beach Thomas tolls a wild barbaric story, which is verified by experienced officers. ,\ Bavarian battalion, 700 strong, drove out some of our men holding a captured trench and pursued them so keenly thel the Lincoln Regiment was n},i e j 0 e ,,|. them off. The retreating par',y .hereupon turned and faced their ( .. sners. The combat became one of eh ■rental savagery. Scarcely a rreui the ;,;. 0 r shooting. The rifie became ?e - an ,» club. Both sides relapsed lo 1" ;.;.[-. before gunpowder. Pome even ;h-ew away their rifles and wrestle-- the death. They picked up stones and shouted war cries suitable ■ <":!«' Stone Age. Not a Bpvarian ; Very few surrendered.