WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

CAPTURE OF LAGNICOURT AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME. Paris, April 16. The Petit Parisian states that four German divisions participated in the counter-attacks on the Bapaunie-Cam-hrai road, attempting to recapture important points. Jt was tiie most ambitious programme undertaken for months. Hitherto they have merely attempted to stop tlic Allied advance." The fighting was extremely fierce. When Liignieoiirt was partly V'\t important supported by formidable artillery, rushed into the flame and smoke, captured the village and re-established the line, CAUGHT IN OWN TRAP. SHOT DOWN IX HUNDREDS. Received April 17, 0.40 p.m. London, April 17. A correspondent states that the captured six-inch naval gun, mentioned in the communique, is being employed effectively against \ the Germans. The other booty include*! great quantities of eight-inch shells, bombs, high explosives, and steel rails. Describing the counter-attack at Lagnicourt, the correspondent says the Germans were caught in their own wire, which was not cut in that direction. They were, forced back, and while they ran wildly up and down trying to find a passage our men, firing with deliberate aim, shot them down in hundreds. The intensity of the rifle fire was unequalled since the days of the Marne, many of our men firing a hundred rounds. The desperate Germans doubled to the right of the attackers, holding up their hands. GALLANT AUSTRALIANS. ■MEMORABLE FEAT.

GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. Sydney, April 17. Captain Bean, cabling on the Kith, describes the Australian attack on the Hindenburg line as a feat which will live in history as long as history lasts. Under machine-gun fire, through such wire fortifications as had hitherto been unknown, they seized two lines of trenches, and captured the village of Reincourt aiid pushed 2000 yds beyond the Hindenburg line. Here the wonderful effort) spent itself, as the ranks had been thinned to a handful, of men, who were unable to keep dqwn the machine-gun fire and sniping. The Germans, who had been heavily reinforced, drove them hack. Though the Australians did not succeed, their extraordinarily gallant attack had a marked effect on the progress of the troops elsewhere. Their counter thrust cut up tin" Prussian Guards at Lagnicourt upon their own entanglements. The Australians killed no less than 1500 of them. London, April IC. Correspondents describing the recapture of Lagnicourt, say that the German victory was short-lived. Our men rested, re-formed, and, stiffened with supports, went forward again under cover of a barrage. They advanced .by alternate companies, one halting and firing whilst the other advanced on the principle of the flanking fusihule. When the positions were reoccupicd after three hours' absence 1500 German corpses lay among a much larger number of wounded, while 300 prisoners were taken. On the most conservative estimate, the Germans lost two-thirds of a division. The authoritative explanation given of the retirement of the Australians after piercing the Hindenburg lines is that a sudden snowstorm prevented aircraft observation and artillery co-opera-tion." The Evening Standard states that the Australians suffered in a check experienced at Bullecourt on Easter Monday. They broke the Hindenburg line and went 2000 yds, but were then caught in a snowstorm and deprived of aircraft observation and artillery co-operation, and were forced to retire. The Australian rille fire at Lagnicourt inflicted most appalling slaughter on the Prussians, who screamed and sought to escape like rats from a trap uHtil they dropped! AUSTRALIAN LOSSES.

GERMAN STATEMENT. London, April 16. * Tlio Bigli Commissioner reports as follows:—A German official message says: To the sanguinary losses the Australians have suffered must be added the loss of 475 prisoners. Fifteen machine guns have been brought in; also, 22 guns have been captured or rendered useless by explosion, London, April 10. 'A 'wireless German official report says: On the north bank of the Scarpe and north-east of Croiselles our thrust drove tack the enemy. At Lagnicourt, to the sanguinary losses suffered by the Australians must be added 475 prisoners, 15 machine guns and 22 guns. French attacks near Vaucaillon and Chivres failed. There is intense artillery work between Soisson, ami Eheims, where infantry fighting developed on wide sectors. The French storming attempts on the Lorraine 'Plain at the Burgundy gate failed. Between and Verdun the enemy lost eleven acroplans yesterjday.