WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 7 May 1917, Page 2

WAR NEWS.

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

ANOTHER TERRIFIC THRUST. LONDON, May 3. Sir Douglas Haig's message regarding the British advance indicates the opening of the fourth phrase of tixe battle of Arras. The attack on a thirteen mile front represents an attempt to break the Wotan switchlinc, which joins the Hindenburg Line at both extremities wife Vimy and Oppy. Gravelle, Roeux and Gumappe are in our hands, and Sir Douglas Haig is able to threaten the whole of the Wotan defences. It is evident that Sir Douglas Haig is forcing the Germans to give battle between Drocourt and Qeuant before the enemy defences arc completed. Corespondents at the front report terrific fighting in the streets of Bullecourt The Germans violently counterattacked at Chcrisy, but the overwhelming effect of our artillery was more than even manifest. Fighting was more desperate in the vicinity of Gavrellc and also towards the north-western approaches to Queant. The latest indications are that Sir Douglas Haig has captured Cherisy, also Fresnoy with a strongly entrenched line a mile in length. There were san-

gumary enemy losses. Mr Robinson reports that the Hindcnburg line has been penetrated at Bullecourt. Wireless German official. —A fresh attempt to break through the Arras front failed with very heavy British losses. AMSTERDAM ,May 3. Dutch correspondents in the north of France state that there is a general expectation that the Germans will further retreat before the British heavy pressure. The Germans arc endeavouring to keep the British occupied before Armenticrcs while their defences are being prepared further to the rear. Mr Philip Gibbs reports: Close and fierce fighting has been in progress since the darkness before dawn. Our troops succeeded splendidly at many points despite great resistance of fresh German regiments and intense artillery fire. The most important gains were in the direction of Cherisy and Bullecourt. The advance on Cherisy was rapid and was not seriously checked. The progress at Fontaine was most difficult'owing to the strength of the enemy’s defences and an abominable barrage. Reports from this sector are vague It forms part of the old Hindcnburg line. Certainly the fighting has been stubborn.

Anglo-Scottish troops encountered enormous difficulties south of the Scarpc where the enemy’s guns command every inch of ground, but they undauntedly : fought their way forward slowly. There was great fighting at Rocux, Gavrello, : id Oppy, particularly at Gavrelle, where the British encountered masses of Germans. The battle ebbed and flowed. An old windmill beyond the village changed hands four times, the men fighting hereabouts as though the mill was worth a king’s ransom, for the mill is one point which may decide the battle It has become the symbol of victory or defeat, like the windmill at Pozieres. Fresh Prussian Guards reserves hold Oppy village and the wood. Our men ' penetrated the wood in the face of a hail of machine-gun and shell-fire, but massed German counter-attacked fiercely, and the British withdrew to the outskirts of the village. Meanwhile the trenches between Oppy and- Arleaux were stormed, linking up with the Canadians, who had made a great and successful attack on Fresnoy, surrounding the village aiul trapping the garrison in a most gallant manner, earning high praise oven from the Prussian officers.

Mr. Beach Thomas reports that the British, advanced on a front with many intentional gaps. There is a tremendous struggle in the reeking marshes and on the slopes of the Scarpe Valley. The Britishers to the southward emerged on the old German defences and bobbed along the loose end of the Hindenburg line. Further southward, others frontally attacked with fury, which immediately won the aim at this part of the main Hindcnburg line, passing over piles of enemy dorpses killed days previously when retreating over their own wire. An outstanding feature of this farflung battle, which is but dimly discernible from the hilltops, was the stubborn defence and toughness of the fighting and the intensity of the British artillery. Wounded and prisoners gave a vivid picture of the confused and terrible struggle, saying there wire no regular trenches and it was difficult to distinguish the British and German guns. Later in the day it was ascertained that the enemy wings on the extreme north and south had been driven in. Fresnoy was captured with nearly a mile of the strongly-fortified Oppy trench to the southward. There was similar success fifteen miles away, near Bullecourt. where the new and old Hindenburg lines join. Bitter fighting occurred jnn the plain below the Vimy Ridge, where the Prussian Guards concentrated and attacked in heavy masses. Our mv'* torriblv mauled those at-

tacking Fresnoy. They also heavily

shelled Oppy Wood, which our troops penetrated despite machine-gun rookeries above and bombs below but they could not hold the wood against powerful attacks and wildernesses of wire stretched from tree to tree, making an inexplicable medley. Every tree resembled a fortress, being full of machine-gun snipers. LONDON, May 4.

Mr. Beach Thomas, in a later report says: The Germans continue to fight desperately regardless of losses. Thousands -have been killed. Every British and German battery on the whole front has ben firing at high speed continuously for the past twelve hours.

We have won the Hindenburg Line on both sides of Bullecourt, but very strong fighting continues in the village. Two lines of British and two lines of Germans are doubly sandwiched fighting hand-to-hand. The two middle lines are facing both ways. LONDON, May 4.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was fierce fighting all day from westward of Queant to northward of Fresnoy eastward of the village of Vimy.

The enemy, again employing large reserves of men and guns, delivered repeated counter-attacks practically along- the whole battle front, but suffered heavily from concentrated artillery and machind-gun fire before the attack and during the assault. Our troops despite obstinate resistance, this morning penetrated the sector of the HimiesSsurg line westward of Queant, maintaining themselves there all day against constant powerful counter-attacks. Further progress was made in the neighbourhood of Cherisy, astride the Road, and /on the right bank of the Scarpe, where positions which changed hands frequently and were defended with great determination, are now in our possession.

On thp left of t-he battle front, we captured Fresney and positions to the southward and northward on a twomile front. We also gained a footing in the trench system northward of Oppy. We progressed at other points. Fighting continues. Besides the enemy’s severe losses in killed and wounded, several hundreds were prisonered. There was great aerial activity. Ten German aeroplanes were downed and four kite balloons destroyed.