WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE ARRAS BATTLE. CONSTERNATION IN GERMANY. Amsterdam, April 11. Reports from Cologne show that the Arras defe.it has produced consternation throughout the empire, Newspapers are not allowed, to publish the British reports of victory. The public only have the Gorman communique, which concludes with the words:—"lf Germany has to evacuate France and Belgium the occupied terri- 1 tory will be turned into desert." TREMENDOUS POSSIBILITIES. INTERESTING TACTICAL SITUATION. Renter Service. Received April IS, 955 p.m. London, April 11. A headquarters correspondent says the splendid success of the offensive at Vimy created a moat interesting tactical situation, fraught with tremendous possibilities. The enemy was forced back 011 a piAt of his previous retreat in a manner cveating a. dangerously sharp salient. DECISIVE OPERATIONS. GERMAN OPINION. United Service. Received April 12, 9.55 p.m. _ # London, April 11. Tlie Vossisclie 2eitung describes the Arras offensive as the commencement of decisive operations, and declares that the Germans rely on the strength of the uncompleted Brocourt-Quean or J? " ne > which links the southern oeigfried line, forming the Hindenburg nne. FORMIDABLE FORTIFICATIONS. A DETERMINED STAND. Paris, April 11. Al. Marcel Hutin, referring to the .Arras battle, says that the formidable nature of the fortifications, which ineluded extensive wire entanglements, armored cupolas, machine gune shelters, and guns of every calibre, manned by an extraordinary number of well-selected troops, indicate Prince Rupprecht's determination to maintain the'position at all costs. Over a hundred battalion majors and commandants were engaged in the battle. The prisoners taken are equal in strength to an entire division. ARRAS SAFE. FROM GERMAN OPERATIONS. London, April 11. The capture of the village and height of Monchy le Preux la Bergereto to-day completely relieves Arras from the German operations.

NEW ZEALAND MINERS. WIN IN GALLERIES DIGGING. United Service. Received April 13,12.50 a m. London; April 11. The special corps of Now Zealand miners took part in the extraordinary and extensive mining which preceded the hattle of Arras, and there was strong rivalry between the various corps for the record length of galleries dug. The New Zealanders were first with the Scottish a hundred yards behind.

CAPTURE OF VIMY. FIGHT FOR THE CREST. Paris, April 11. A correspondent of Le Journal states that the Vimy battle began in the moonlight and was fought in three stages. The slopes were captured within seven minutes, the fight for the crest lasted an hour, then the battle commenced for the plateau, which was conquered in broad daylight. ' HEAVY FIGHTING. GERMAN VERSION. Received April 12, 2.10 p.m. London, April 11. A wireless German official states: We heavily repulsed strong British forces on a wide front on both sides of the ArrasCambrai road, and fresh fighting lias developed here since the morning; also between Bullicom't and Qnarant, the enemy bombarding St. Quentin and La Fere. Grenade, shrapnel and artillery fighting is daily increasing in violence. From Vailly and Rheims a quick countev thrust frustrated a French eastward of Berry an Bac. OPERATIONS IMPEDED. HEAVY SNOWFALL. Received April 12, 7.10 p.m. London, April 11. Field Marshal Sir Douglas 'llaig reports:—A heavy day-long snowfall rendered observation impossible and impeded operations. We beat off two counterattacks on the now positions near Mou-chy-le-Preux. Prisoners taken at Hon-chy-le-Preux state that they were ordered to hold the village at all costs. Further south we penetrated the enemy lines ill the neighborhood of Bullecourt. Large, enemy forces coun-ter-attacked and forced us back on our own lines. Our artillery inflicted heavy gg the attacking tropja.,