GERMAN FRONT BROKEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1917, Page 5

GERMAN FRONT BROKEN.

ANOTHER FOUR MILES. Renter Service. Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. London, April 15. A headquarters report dated the 10th, states that the latest British captures include great pyramids of slag near the months of the coal pits at Lens, which the Germans had converted into fortresses. Altogether the German front is broken along another four miles. FRENCH SUCCESS. 21 AEROPLANES DOWNED. Received April 10, 5.5 p.m. London, April 15. A French communique states:—Xortli and south of the Oise we conducted night reconnaissances, and everywhere found the enemy (Tenches occupied. East of Maisons de Champagne our reconnaissances penetrated the German trenches, which were found to be utterly wrecked. On the right bank of the Mouse, two German attacks upon the Bois de Cauriers and in the direction of Lea Chambrettes were broken. We downed 21 aeroplanes, while fcur more were compelled to land badlv damaged. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS ENEMY DISPERSED. Received April 16, S p.m. London, April 15. A French communique states:—Violent artillery actions have taken place at St. Quentin, north of the Aisne and in Champagne. Our batteries caught and dispersed the enemy elements north of Stancourt. GERMAN GUNNERS NONPLUSSED. BIG ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT OF ' BRITISH. A DESPERATE HOPE. Received April 17, 12,50 a.m. London, April 16. Correspondents give a graphic description of the attack on Lens. It was evident ftti Friday that the enemy was quitting the town in - the speediest manner, but Saturday's event's showed he had still maintained a ring of strong machine-gun redoubts. Consequently, when the attackers to the south disappeared in the street near Bois lieriaumont, the utmost caution was necessary. They wriggled through back gardens until they reached another street behind the wood, which they .attacked from the north. The German machine-gunners were nonplussed. The British meanwhile ( posted machine guns which enabled them to snipe entire crews from the new vantas;» pojuts. The enemy on Sunday threw the entiro weight of the inner, defence in a desperate hope of checking the advance until the guns and stores were removed. The destruction of the coal and iron mines was completed. Everywhere the same methods were used which sought to hamper pursuit. Further south the pioneers were exploding craters in tlie roads and eastwards blocking the streets with debris from the houses,