WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

TERRIBLE STRUGGLE TOR

BULLECOURT.

A VERITABLE INFERNO OF

ARTILLERY

PARIS, May IS,

When attempting to retake Roeux on Tuesday Gorman batteries showered shells at the rate of 60 a minute for 16 hours. A British officer, describing the fusillade, says; “What a butchery it was! At the chemical works, although the bombardment was lengthy, the actual fighting was short and fierce. The Germans pouftid shells into our lines as if concentrating every gun they possessed on this small sector. The number of gas shells they used was greater than ever. Our men'lived in their gas masks for T2 hours The whole of one German division, mostly Bavarians, came against us, marching shoulder, to shoulder.

“Our machine-guns mowed down the first rank, our rifles accounted for the second and third, but the remainder swept over like an avalanche, leaving many of us, safe and uuwounded, in the rear. We counter-attacked in style characteristic of an irresistible series of charges. Our field guns swept the German columns in open ground, while our men in the enemy ’s rear attacked, and the German's were surrounded with a circle fire until it became a veritable butcherv.

KAISER AND HINDENBURG

DIFFER,

LONDON, May IS

Advices from (Sweden state that the Anglo-French offensive lias provoked deep emotion in Germany, owing to heavy German losses. A sharp disagreement over the conduct of operations has arisen between the Kaiser, and General Hindenbnrg. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, May 18. Wireless German official. —We repulsed, after hand to hand fighting at midnight,'"ah English attack on the road. We evacuated Buliecdurt ruins 1 undisturbed by the enemy, who established themselves there twenty-four hours later. We repulsed ' French attacks on Braye, Craonelle and Craonne. Northward of Sapigneul w*e stormed a trench eastward of La Royede farm.® After six days’ artillerying, an attack on both sides of Makovo failed. Wireless German official. —There is intense artillery activity between Acheville and Gavrelle. English attacks on both sides of the Arras-Douai road and eastward of Mpnchy failed.

We captured a trench near Braye. We repulsed attacks at Winterburg, We downed aeroplanes yesterday.

GERMANY'S INTERNAL TROUBLES.

DIVIDING THE ' SPOILS

GERMAN PLANS REVEALED

NEW YORK. Mav IS

The New York Times Hague correspondent reports that the Die Post states that revelations have been made of Germany’s intentions to divide Alsace and Lorraine between Bavaria and Prussia. The plan represents' the demands of the Central Party. The correspondent learns that there would be furious jealousy in Saxony and other States which have not received such a good bribe. Meanwhile Austria is sulking. She may ,bc offered the Polish throne for the Archduke Karl Stephen.