WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

I CAPTURE OF LACNICOURT. CLUMSY SYMPATHY, Sydney, April in. Captain Bonn, referring to the Germans' extravagant claims us to captures at Lagnicourt, says tliat the fieruians for some reason are intensely anxious to a fleet public opinion in Australia nt this juncture by expressions of clumsy sympathy with the Australinns. They eagerly seized anil published letters written during the Soinnm winter in order to make it appear that the Australians are anxious to desert the Alibi. Captain Bean sayn ice Prussian Guards were ordered to cut through the Australians to reach the guns and seize the village of Noreuil, hold it for twenty-four hours until special parties had destroyed the guns, and ransacked headquarters for papers, then to withdrew. Large picked forces by sheer weight broke through the village of Lagnicourt, and reached some advanced field guns when the local commanders, without awaiting orders, counter-attacked, and, by the middle of the morning, nil the guns were not only "recaptured, but, with the exception of five, which the Germans bad managed to destroy, were firing on the retreating enemy, THE MIGHTY PUSH. DECISION MAY TAKE WEEKS. United Servuc. Received April 19, 5.5 p.m London, April 19. It will probably be weeks before a decision is reached in the present mighty battle, though the strategic effect is already considerable. The newspaper Matin says that Hindenburg, who was preparing attacks on Riga and Italy, was forced to frantically rush troops westwards. Marcel Hutin describes the episode of the French occupation of the southern slopes of Moron Villers, which were regarded as impregnable, compelling the Crown Prince to bring up 200,000 reserves, but the second German position was carried in the face of the most desperate resistance. Time after time the enemy's counter-attacks were decimated. INSPIRING TERROR. . ATROCITIES M FRANCE Paris,- April 18. The commission investigating the German atrocities in reconquered France roports systematic methods to reduce the citizens to servitude. \ omen and girls were raped, homes, towns, industries, trees and implements destroyed with the evident object 'of inspiring terror. Some places were wrecked, and beds, chests, and everything available carried away. Loathsome, unprintable acts were done on the altars of some churches. THE NEW TACTICS. FRENCH SUCCESSES. Received April 19, 5.5 p.m. London, April 18. The French attack in Champagne illustrates a fresh value in the new tactical method practised by the British at Arras, namely l , constant enlargement oi the front as tho attack progresses, with great strength wings south when the objective is reached. There is no danger of the salient inviting outflanking. The method enables a better contact of troops, and facilitates artillerying. NOCTURNAL ATTACK. GERMAN ACCOUNT. I. Received April 19, 7.40 p.m. London, April 18. LAI wireless German official message states:—A nocturnal attack brought the enemy a, small gain of territory near Braye on the Aisne. A second French attack, after a failure this morning, is now in progress on both sides of the Craonne. Fresh fights began at Chatapagne this afternoon. FRENCH OFFENSIVE. CONTINUED SUCCESSES. ; ; Received April 19, 10.50 p.iri. " : London, April 19. A French communique states that South of St. Quentin, after the liveliest bombardment, the Germans attacked east of Gouchy. The first attempt was Btopped dead by fire. The second was more violent and resulted in fractions of the enemy penetrating our advanced trenches, but these were all killed or captured, and by an immediate counterattack our line was completely restored. We vigorously ocntinued our offensive ftt various points between Soissons and A'Eerive, despite persistent bad weather. Our operations west of the attacking front were brilliantly successful. North of Chavonne we captured the village of Ostel and, drove back the enemy a kiloifaetre northwards. We captured Bray-en-Laonnoise, and all ground eastwards to the vicinity of Courteeon, under the vigorous pressure of our infantry and the numerous fife of our artillery. The enemy in disorder, abandoning much 1 material aid depots st fon<L '