FRENCH TACTICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1917, Page 5

FRENCH TACTICS.

I TYPICAL INSTANCES. ' London, April 24. Mr. Campbell gives a typical instance of General Nivelle's tactics in the capture of the Braye height and Soupir. The plateau is densely wooded, with ravines 600 feet in height, with a network of trenches. A division feinted a frontal attack, and next day five battalions at different points worked their way through the woods and outflanked the Germans, who fled so hurriedly that (.hey had no time to bring up the gun teams.

The French captured 60 guns and many machine-guns, much material and 2000 prisoners. The hurried character of the retreat was shown l)y uneaten cooked meals and half-iiniahed letters. FRESH GUNS, ENEMY'S LARGE RESERVE. London, April 24. A message from headquarters says that the. Germans continue to throw in a largo reserve of fresh guns. Probably tho battle may assume a decisive character and they arc resisting desperately. This is exactly what the British wanted. The Uermanß are certainly now accepting battle in the open. Correspondents comment on the greatly increased German artillery fire during the second phase of the Arris battle. The German gunners are returning shell for shell and the ground is alive with snipers, many of tho British being shot from behind after entering the German lines. The heaviest British losses are duo to the barrages and machine-guns, not to the infantry, who, pert erred surrender to hand-to-hand encounters. The fighting disclosed the immense strength of the Epliy line, which was shielding the Hindcnburg line, but the capture ol Gavrelle puts us astride the former.

HINDENBURG FORESTALLED. Paris, April 24. t Documents seized on prisoners established the fact that the German High Command had selected for attack the front on which the French took the offensive on April 16, thus seriously upI setting Utodenburg's plans.