DEADLY BRITISH ARTILLERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1917, Page 5

DEADLY BRITISH ARTILLERY.

SMASHES ALL DEFENCES. CAPTURE OF KEY POSITION. CAVALR-Y CHARGE BROKEN FOE. Received April 13, 1 a.m. London, April 12, An eye-witness gives a thrilling description of the capture of Monchy, the key '.pf the position between the rivers Scarpe and Sense-e, standing on the edge of a plateau one hundred feet above the surrounding country. Tin* correspondent says that there was ghastly evidence of the British bombardments. Machino gun posts, reinforced with concrete two feet thick, were destroyed by a single shell, and the trenches smashed into shapeless ditches. The Germans tore up lftils with which to make barricades, and used farm carts, ploughs and brick heaps as cover, but all the precautions were useless, as targets a yard wide were bit from four miles. Dead Germans were everywhere. To facilitate the defenco of Monchy the Germans planed a series of machinegun' batteries around tne outer houses, and in a wood and chateau, To the north were two sunken roads, which radiated in all directions, which were full of snipers and machine gunners. The capture of Tampoux, 'however, covered the flank attackers while the enveloping movement was developed. Heavy snowstorms enabled the large force to advance between 'Scarpe and the Douai road without the enemy realising the significance of the movement. Meanwhile the artillery crossed ■Scarpe, near Roeut, and advanced upon Monchy. By dark the British bombing parties v;ere : on the "fringe of the village. The troops were so tired with the 30 hours' continuous fighgting that they quickly dug in and slept throughout the night in shallow trenches despite the snowstorm, but ready to re-attack. At dawn they charged the hill, cheer-ing,-and Monchy was captured in twenty minutes, the remnants of the garrison collapsing when at close quarters. The infantry for the first time had the satisfaction of seeing the cavalry charge the broken foes, driving thera ter-ror-stricken over the fields. The steady reduction in the German strongholds behind the breached line proceeded so rapidly that the Lancers and Dragoons were able to drive ahead en masse. The tanks were of great service in clearing machine-gun pockets, and driving the Germans into the open. Parties of Lewis gunners, pushing on, hastened them to surrender. The survivors were foodless and sleepless since Monday, being wet and chilled to the bone. ENEMY DEMORALISED. GERM AIT GENERAL CAPTURED. WEEPS WITH SHAME. London, April 11. Correspondents at British headquarters draw attention to the demoralisation of the enemy. A single division took 24 guns and another 2(i. Even a detachment of cavalry, which took little in the general operations!, charged at one spot and took four heavy howitzers.

The number of machine-guns and trench mortars captured is so numerous that no attempt has yet been made to salve, much lags to count them. In addition to the Canadians taking 3200 prisoners, a neighbouring EnglishScottish brig.ule took 2000 prisoners. Among the Canadian prisoners was a German general commanding a brigade, whose" unit was taken almost -without casualty. The brigadier wept with shame at the capture of himself and staff without resistance, particularly as the unit inflicted no casualties.

STIFF FIGHTING AT BLASGY. GUNNERS' MARVELLOUS ACCURACY Received April 12, 0.45 p.m. London, April 11. Mr (Philip Gibbs, in a further account of Monday's attack, emphasises tho stiff fighting at Blasgy, where the defences were exceptionally strong. The troops of the old English regiments smashed their way through a perfect nest of formidable works, with the assistance of the tanks, -which knocked out the machine guns. The Scottish troops' attack on. the famous railway triangle was held up for a time by macTiine guns, where tho enemy's works were not yet destroyed. Meanwhile the British barrage still moved ahead, and word was sent to the rear. The barrage crept back, coming perilously close to the Scots, but not over close. Tho gunners' marvellous accuracy found the triangle, reduced the defences, whereupon the Scots surged forward over a chaos of timber and barricades and reached their goal. GERMAN OFFICIAL alleged successes. 'Received April 12, 9.5 p.m. London, April 11. A wireless German official message states that near FnmpouM, north,wards of Scarpe, English infantry attacks and several cavalry attacks near ltoeux, failed, The fighting near Mouthy and Wancourt favored the Germans,

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. VVIOLENT DUEL. -v London, April 11. A French communique states that tlipre is artillery activity in the region of the Sonnne and OUe. Lively grenade fighting occurred during the night towards Maison de Champagne. There was a somewhat violent artillery duel in the Boise de Pretre. IN ST. QUEOTIN REGION. Received April 12, 9.55 p.m. London. April 12. A French official message "state? that artillerying is proceeding in the St. Quentln region. The enemy south of the Oise, after a sharp bombardment, drove back one of our detachment? north-east of Evemeuil-Souschouchy, but a coun-.tor-attack promptly ejected theig.