WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

ALLIES* SUCCESSES,

TRENCHES FULL OF GERMAN DEAD Received April 25, 0.25 p.m. London, April 24. A French communique statea: The day was chiefly marked by artillerying along the whole front, in the regions of St. Quentin, Oise, Corby, Juvincourt and Champagne. Explosions were observed in a certain number of batteries. We brought back four 105 millimetre mortars, captured during the fighting on the plateau at Cheinin des Barnes, hitherto not counted in our gains. Near Moronvillers our light troops penetrate 1 the German trenches and found them full of corpses. A Belgian communique reports heavy artillerying. A wireless German ollicial message states: All day there has been fighting for Gavrelle, and new English attacks are proceeding along the Arras-Cambrai road.

EXTRAORDINARY INTENSITY. GERMANS ATTACKING IN MASSES WITHOUT REGARD TO LOSS. Received April 25, 6.45 p.m. United Service. '( London, April 24.' The battle 1 is reaching extraordinary intensity, the Germans counter-attack-ing in masses, without regard to cost. Forty German aeroplanes were down' ed on Monday.

DESPERATE RESISTANCE. DREADFUL SACRIFICES. ENEMY HITTING BACK HARD. London, April 24. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: The enemy's resistance in the most desperate since the Somme, the Germans being willing to make dreadful sacrifices to defend the northern approach to Hindenbiirg's line. A battalion of Rheinlanders were annihilated at the chemical works at Fanipoy'

Received April 25, 9.15 p.m. London, April 24. Mr. Philip Gibbs states-that, the Germans are also fighting desperately to regain -the key position at Monehy. An airman discovered four thousand Germans at Bois Dasaft, intending to attack. The British batteries filled the wood with gas shells, and the German casualties were horrible. The Germans are fighting with better spirit than at the Viiny battle, no douat because they are fresh troops only jun flung into the firing line, The second phase in the battle of Arras is iii our favor. We have taken many prisoners, and our losses are much lighter than those of the Germans. We are now confronted with the main German armies, who are no longer fighting rearguard actions, but we are standing tq battle and striking uay;* hard,

GERMAN OFFICIAL MESSAGES LIFE OR DEATH STRUGGLE. Received April 25, 5.5 p.m. London, April 24. A wireless German official message is as follows: On the Arras battlefield British troops standing on French territory yesterday delivered their second great thrust to break through the German lines. For days they have been hurling masses of shells of every description against pur positions, and early on the morning of the 23rd the artillery battle increased to great strength. Soon afterwards the English thrusting troops, led often by tankß, burst forward on a thirty kilometre- front behind this wall of fire. Our fire forced them in many places to withdraw with heavy losses. At other pointß the battle sways backwards and forwards with great bitterness. Whenever the : enemy gained ground our brave and eager infantry drove him back. The suburbs of Lens, Avion, Gavrelle, and Gemappe were the hottest places in the fierce struggle. Their names will be associated with deeds of heroism by their regiments. Further attacks of particular intensity with new masses followed fron- the evening on both sides of the Scarpa. The strength of this attack also brokedown under our fire and hand-to-hand fighting. The enemy gained a few hundred yards on the Cambrai-Airas road, and the ruins of Gemappe remained in his hands. The German soldier at the front knows that every man and woman /home is working to support him in this life or death battle.