WESTERN ATTACKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACKS.

EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS. HINDENBURG'S TACTICS BADLY UPSET Received April 10, 8.30 p.m. ' London, April 15. Colonel Repington writes:—The extent of our front and the numbers engaged in the armament and equipment of the- new offensive surpass all records. Hindenburg apparently thought that by h'ithdrawiiig some 10 miles and devastating the intervening space, he would give the submarines tune to harm us, gaining further time by further withdrawals. This might have succeeded had lie not inaccurately gauged our offensive capacities. The transfer of German troops from Russia to France has begun. The Germanvare already as thick as peas on the British front; indeed, thicker than anywhere else, numbering 00 divisions. MORE GROUND GAINED. | GERMANS' DETERMINED -ATTACKS. HEAVY LOSSES. j Received April 16. 0.40 p.m. London, April 15. Sir Dough? Haig reports that as a rpsuttof the fighting north-west of St. Quentin we gained ground eastward and northward of Grlcourt, and also progressed in the neighborhood of Saitrincourt -wood and eastward of Lievin, approaching the outskirts of Lens. Later particulars show that the German losses in their attack on the Bap-aume-Cambrai road were heavier than at first reported. The attack was pressed with great determination under our heavy fire. Three hundred prisoners were taken and 1500 dead counted. During severe air fighting we destroyed and downed 15 German machines; 10 of ours are missing. CAPTURE OF LENS. ENEMY'S DESPERATE EFFORTS. London, April 15. The fall of Angres was implied in the outflanking of Lievin, which has now been captured. The Daily Chronicle correspondent at headquarters, telegraphing at 4 o'clock on Sunday morning, says:— "British patrols have entered Lens. The enemy left rearguards in the redoubts and made frantic efforts to remove the guns, numbering 150, in the network of mines and pitheads at Lens End Lievin. He had blown up the roads and orders were given to destroy the mines by firing charges i;ito the pits ami flooding them."