EXCEPTIONALLY FIERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1917, Page 5

EXCEPTIONALLY FIERCE.

' AERIAL AuHiiiVEMEJsTS. Received April 25, B.IQ p.m. London, April 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Further information regarding Monday's battle shows that ihe lighting was exceptionally fierce, seven German divisions being engaged on tiie Croisilles-Gaurelle front. Several points of tactical importance changed hands more than once, but all remained ours except a few buildings north of Keux.

Our massed artillery shattered frequent counter-attacks, while those penetrating our barrages were cut down by rifle and machine-gun fire. One British corps took prisoners belonging to four divisions. We advanced on the whole front.

There was considers bio fighting today, though somewhat less fierce, at a number of points on the battle front. Our progress continued between the Sense river and Monchy on the Le Preux line.

We advanced to within a few hundred yards of Fontaine, Le . Croiselle Cherisy. Counter-attacks by strong forces in the neighborhood of Gavrelle in the afternoon were broken by our artillery and driven back in disorder. Over 2000 prisoners have passed to the rear since Monday morning; the others are yet uncounted. There was a greater amount of air fighting on Monday than on any one previous day. Aeroplanes attacked the enemy's machines wherever found, going far behind the lines, bombing railways, munition dumps and aerodromes, and compelling the enemy to give battle. Fifteen German machines were destroyed and 24 driven down. A large threeseater was brought down in our lines. Two of our machines are missing.