"THEY'RE OFF!"

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1917, Page 5

"THEY'RE OFF!"

HOW, THE ATTACK COMMENCED. FORMIDABLE POSITIONS TAKEN. CANADIANS' HEROIC WORK. •i. Received April 10, 5.30 p.m. London, April 9. Mr. Philip Gibbs' second dispatch describes the lirst attack as follows:—At 5.30 p.m. the guns had almost ceased, and there was a strange solemn hush. Then came the cry, "They're off!" and the 'bombardment broke out 20 times greater than before. The Germans were shelling Arras, and green lights rose along the whole sweep of the German lines as signals of distress. Arras and the eastern suburb of Slangy, on the Douai road, were soon in our hands, and we were fighting forward on the higher ground beyond. The British advance was not hurried, though the enemy's shrapnel was searching the line of the attackers. 'Pile first prisoners came back in 13 Ininuten, and nlready the British wounded brought back reported: "Wo aro through four lines. The German dead are lying thick, whilst the living aro surrendering!" Tint British went stolidly through the enemy trench system to Fouchy. In tlfi marshes below the river was a scarpe four miles east of Arras. The enemy's trench system south of Arras was enormously strong. The. infantry went through it without much loss, after heavy fighting, and reached an observation ridge, whence the enemy had for 2J years been directing the artillery fire against the British and French positions. With the help of tanks we took two formidable positions south of Tilloy called "The Harp" and "Telegraph Hill." Wo captured the whole system of trenches north of the river, from the Searpe,to Whitehouse Wood. Further north the Canadians, along the Vimy ridge, achieved heroic success by gaining this dominating ground, which was the scene of some of the fiercest Franco-German battles, and the great wall defending Douai. We had taken over 3000 prisoners before noon. ENEMY LINES. PENETRATED EVERYWHERE. ! London, 'April 9. I Sir Douglas Haig attacked at 5.30 | this morning on a wide front and penetrated the lines everywhere from southward of Arras to southward of Fins, progressing satisfactorily at all points. We stormed the villages of Hermies and Boursics, in the direction of Cambrai, and penetrated the Havrinconrt Wood. We captured Fresnoy-lc-Petit\, in the direction of St. Quentin, and advanced to a line south-eastward of Le Verguier. A considerable nu,mber of prisoners were taken. A French communique states that in .spite of the bad weather, the artillery was active in several sectors, German attacks north-west and south of Rheims failed. We advanced somewhat in the degion of Maison-dotChampagne. GERMAN REPORTS, SUCCESSES CLAIMED. Received April 11, 15.5 a.m. London, April 9. A' wireless German official message states:—The battle at Arras, which commenced this morning, continues, with minor engagements between Albert roads, Cambrai, and Peronne, iaking the course we intended. Seventeen enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons were downed on Sunday. Wo penetrated the Russian positions northward of Fochani, destroying trenches.

[ OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. j SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS. \ Received April 10, 7.20 p.m. London, April 10. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Operations continue successfully in accordance with our plan. Our troops even-where stormed the enemy's defences, from Henin-sur-Cojeul to the southern outskirts of fiivenchy en Gohelle to a depth of two to three miles, and the advance continues. The enemy forward defences on this front, including the Vimv ridge, which the Canadians carried, were captured early this morning. They comprise a network of trenches and the fortified localities of Neuvillevitasse, Telegraph Hilt Filloylezm, Offitines, the observation ridge at St. Laurent, and Blaguy le St. Weill's, and La Folie Farm. Subsequently we advanced and captured tho rearward defences, including, besides other powerful trendies, the systems of fortified localities at Feukhy jC'iapel, Fouchy, Hyderabad redoubt, and I:_iheis Helus. Up till 2 o'clock in the afternoon 5516 prisoners, of'whom 111) wen; officers, passed the collecting stations, many more not being counted. Of these many belong to Bavarian divisions. The captures include guns), numbers of trench mortars and machine guns. Further progress was made in the neighborhood of Hayhrencourt Wood. We captured the village of Dimicourt, and in the direction of St. Quentin the villages of Pontru and Leverguior. Aerial activity continued on Sunday with great energy, there being several successful bombarding raids. The machines co-operated with the artillery with excellent results. Two of the enemy's airships were destroyed and Hi others downed. Ten of our* aeroplanes are missing. A wireless German official message states that all day long there was heavy fighting on both sides of Arras, the enemy having penetrated parts of the position. A French communique says that at the Somrne and the Aisne there was vigorous artillerying. The enemy particularly retaliated north of the Aisne ami against Rheims, which was intensely bombarded, and there were maov civilian victims, • ' 'V