HAIG'S THIRD THRUST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 5

HAIG'S THIRD THRUST.

WJPLETES HINDENBURG'S : It2SERVE3. ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO B3TREAT. IMPORTANT BRITISH SUCCESSES. APPALLING ENEMY 10SS3S. Londortj April 20. Correspondents at the front say that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's third thrust has opened splendidly, compelling von Hindenburg to farther deplete his famous strategic reserve, which he is recklessly using as the only alternative to retreat to the still unfinished Dracourt-Queaut line. The weather has been fTne, and the fighting fierce north-east of Gavrclle, yielding important successes. The Huns are continuously, but unavailingly coun-ter-attacking with appalling losses. HAIG'S MASTERLY METHODS. There havo been many French tributes to 'Sir Douglas Haig's masterly method of minutely collating all the possible elements of success before launching a well-defined tout strictly limited offensive on a chosen front. Other French correspondents dwell on the ■signal evidences of 'British determination and valor in every corner of the battlefield. POSITIONS ENLARGED. ENEMY'S SECOND LINE PENETRATED. London', April 29. A French communique states:—lsolated operations in the region north and south of Couroy and north-west of Rheims appreciably enlarged our positions. There was a somewhat lively artillery duel in Champagne. Between Frunay and lAuberive our detachments penetrated far into the enemy's second line. At several points in Upper Alsace lively grenade contests ended to our advantage, , . A FLUCTUATING STRUGGLE. FOiRTOUS COUNTER-ATTACKS. London, April 29. Reuter's correspondent at headquarters states that the British First and Third Annies were engaged to-day in an attack extending from the Scarpa valley northwards to east of Vimy. The main goal was the Oppy line, a hastily constructed northerly extension of the Hindenburg line. The fighting iwas of the fiercest. It was a fluctuating struggle, with ttie most desperate attacks and counter-at-1 ta.eks. There was nothing at the »Somme to compare with the number and furyl ox the. present counter-attacks. I He instances the counter-attack at Gavrelle, which was the fifteenth since the ■Germans lost the position. Once, near Oppy, five waves advanced blindljv facing the appalling lire in massecr ran'ks. The survivors persisted through the field-gun, Maxim, and rifle fire till they utterly collapsed. Often the British rifles decided the rout. There were I frequently deadly personal grapples in whicL the 'bayonet was U6ed, but more often it was the butts that iwere used. WHAT HINDENBURG SAW. j A BITTER EXPERIENCE. | London, April 29. The Paris Journal's co-respondent at British headquarters writes: "Field Marshal Hindenb urg waß here a week ,ago. He saw his host troops driven from the impregnate Vimy Ridge; he saw the Bavarians, worn out, give place to Brandeirburgers and Pomeranians; he saw ibis lines here hacked to pieces and then shaken, torn apd indented by the British guns; ho saw his defence crumble before a young, well-trained army's ardent drive; he saw Gavrelle heaped up ■with thousands and thousands of Herman corpses—ten times the Prussian Guards counter-attacked the village and ten times they fell back defeated. Hindon'burg came, ea.w, and went away con'' quered." ENEMY ATTACKS BROKEN. London, April '29. iSir Douglas Haig reports: Strong nocturnal counter-attacks orf our new positions north of Arleux-en-Go-(belle werb tiroicen. Fighting continues in places northward of the Scarpa. ;i _, i USUAL GERMAN REPORT. - ■ i®!v f . ■ —>— London, April 29. (AS #itcl«ss German official report says: The enemy's principal thrust northward of the Scarpa yesterday was against positions between Achivelle and Roeux, where the battle was most violent. The British forced their way into Atleuu,. Oppy, and positions near Gavrelle. We regained in a hand-to-hand struggle our former positions! with tlio exception of Arleux. There was a desperate battle also southwards 'of the Soarpe lowland, where the British attacks failed heavily. k. NEW FRENCH 20-INCH GUN. Paris, April 29. General Malleterre states that Germany's famous 420-nxillimetre fort demolishers have been surpassed J>y the latest French 520-millimctre guns, which are practically 20-inchers.