WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE SPRING OFFENSIVE. , STARTED WITH AR.IUS BATTLE. HEAVY FIGHTING. j New York, April 0. | Mi*. Simms, the war correspondent, states that the spring offensive is believed to have started with the FinsArras battle. The tanks created consternation. The fighting was heavy ami the Canadians were involved. The main objectives have already linen gained. The airmen hovered overhead, rendering immense service. Marvellous work by the artillery protected the infantry which against sleet and the German bombardment with great gallantry. Mr. Simms expresses the opinion that the present battle is greater in intensity than the Sommc operations. A TITANIC CONFLICT. , . 'API 01', THE ATTACK, fv issues involved, v London, April 9. Philip fiibh? report., that an att.ie.-. ui a 12-mile front was made during a rain-storm and the enemy retreated to a strong rearguard line, where they are fighting desperately. The offensive aims at wrecking the northern end of Hindenburg's line. Sir ■Douglas Haig was too quick and frustrated Hindenburg's plans for tho retreat. A titanic conflict has begun. Mr. Gibbs, writing on Monday, says:— ''At dawn to-day our armies began the great \battlo, which, if fate is kind, may be tho beginning of the last great battle of the war. The troops attacked on a wide front between. Lens and St. Quentin, including the Vimy Ridge, the grim hill dominating the plain of Douai and the German positions around Arras. ■ "Despite the bad weather at the outset, which did not afford tho airmen visibility, and obliged the troops to struggle ahead' in a heavy rain;,trom, the first attack was successful and the enemy lost much ground, retreating to strong rearguard lines), where he is now .lighting desperately."

MANY PRISONERS. N GREAT ALLIED GAIX 1. TLAGIO AXD OTffiHTF-UL SIGHTS, London. April ft. Tlio Vimy Tlitlge lias been captured, 0000 prisoners taken, 30 square miles gained, a .depth of 4000 yards on a 12rnile front. Continuing his story of the offensive, Mr Philip Cihbs says:—The attack (ovei'r a I'2-milo front south of Given-chy-cn-Golielle. It is - sledge-hammer blow, threatening to break the northern end of the Hindenburg line, which is already threatened at St. Quenlin. As soon as the enemy was forced to retreat east of Bapaume and Peroune ho hurried up divisions and guns northward to counter our attack there, meanwhile preparing a new line of defence southward. lie hoped to escape from there before oui new attack was ready. We have been too quick, and his plans have been frustrated. » Thus another titanic conflict, on which everything depends, commenced, to-day. I have Been fury, but this is the beginning of the most tragic and frightful sight men have ever seen. With infernal and indescribable splendor, the preliminary bombardment of several days reached Its height yesterday. In Arras was hell itself, the enemy flinging high explosives on the city. Clouds of shrapnel burst overhead and scattered shells exploded all round the country. Our bombardment swept Vjray from ridge to ridge. Above the Arras-Cambrai road was one continuous roar of death, every battery firing steadily. There was tragic irony In the remembrance that the eve of the new conflict was Easter Sunday. bells behind the battlefield were ringing out the message of the risen Christ, but there was no of God. As I went up the road towards ■the front trenches 1 saw fighting men | stand ill a hollow square and bow their heads >as the chaplain conducted the Easter service, and peasants within shelling distance were ploughing their fields elsewhere. The only preparation for the advance was the concentration of infantry necessary to attack the great natural fortresses facing Arras defended by German massed guns. Our artillery supply columns moved up in an endless tide, and at the roadsides men could be seen, with stacked rifles, writing letters home. Before dawn they were in the midst of the battle.

Ff ERRORS AVOIDED. K ■■ SUCCESS BEYOND firtSOTA. TIONrf FRUITS OF THE FIGHTING, '■ jEec^ive/ 1 April 11, 12.5 a.m.' j (London, April 10. Correspondents at the British' headquarters r.ay the generals commanding avoided the errors at Neuve Chapelle and Loos. Owing to the splendid artillery preparations, the casualties in the opening l stages were unexpectedly light, the majority of the British being wounded by shrapnel during the German bombardment prior to the actual attack. It is too early yet to speak oi a great victory, but the opening success is beyond expectations, and the British have generally established their third Gorman line. The day's fighting represents a minimum gain of 30 square miles. The Harp redoubt would 'have been a difficult problem hut for the tanks. These at 7 o'clock calmly wallowed through the mud and shell craters to' Telegraph Ilill, whence they excited powerful moral influence on The Harp garrison. There was very hard fighting at Arras Between the angie oi the railway lines to Douai and Lens,