FRENCH WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1917, Page 5

FRENCH WORK.

HUN BRUTALITY. Paris, April 2G. The Petit Parisian states that at Combrai the Kommandantur compelled by threats and blows the inhabitants, including the majority of age<l women in the adjoining communes, to work in tlio first line trenches to assist the enemy under fire. ' —• i AT GAVRELLE. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. London, April 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the enemy last evening endeavored to retake cur new positions in the neighborhood of Gavrelle. Our artillery barrage caught the advancing troops, completely repulsing them. THE VALIANT WORCESTERS. NO THOUGHT OF SURRENDER. London, April 20. Mr Beach Thomas, describing the Worcesters' experience, says that a successful German counter-attack swept back their neighbors, leaving the Worcesters isolated. Successive advancing waves of 3000 to 4000 Worcesters swept over them, but the Worcesters were well entrenched, and had no thought of surrendering. Though agonised,by thirst, and with a hurricane of shells bursting overhead, they held out for 30 hours, believing the Oermans would ultimately be driven back. After 14 additional liours their hopes were realised, and the advancing British found the Worcesters unable to speak, with their tongues swollen and lips parched, but still defiant. ENEMY ATTACKS. i SMASHED WITH HEAVY LOSSES. _ London, April 20. A French communique states:—North of at)>e Aisne the enemy vainly refattt' 111111 " ,l to drive us from the plateau iof * ' last evening. tAf'?er <i violet bombardment the enemy but unsuccessfully, at- ■■ »• K front of two kilometres west 9*.>eviiy_ v The attacks were smashed ■ u| e our lines with very heavy losses. Another attempt in the region of Hurtcl.oise farm failed similarly. j ' ENEMY TRENCHES. ~ FULL OF DKAu. Paris, April 28. The newspaper Matin states that the enemy trenches on the Scarpe are full of dead, the losses being 20 per cent, of the effectives. A Pomeranian division was almost annihilated, and one Prussian regiment mown down to the last man. The Prussian Guards units have been replaced by exhausted Bavarians. The British losses were relatively small, the m&iaiitir aufferina from WgOE*,v^.ua(&.