WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

ANOTHER FRENCH ADVANCE. AEROPLANES BUSY. Received May 1, 9 p.m. London, May ]. A French communique states: There lias been violent artillerying between .tit Quentin, the Oise and Chemin des Dames. After violent artillery preparation in the Champagne, the French infantry, in the afternoon, attacked the lines on botii sides of Mt. Cornillet, and carried sever, al lines of fortified trenches between Cornillet and South Beine-, to a depth, ranging from 500. to 1000 metres. Wo also pushed forward our lines on the north and north-eastern slopes of the High Mount, as far afs the Manrov-Moron-villers Road. Violent artillerying continues. Our aeroplanes bombed the aerodromes at Col man, Halseim and Frascaty, also six railway stations and bivouacs. THE " MOPPING-UP " BATTALION. iATJSTRALIANAS AT LAGNJCOOIRT. WE'LCOME FIND OP BEEJt AND CIGARS. ENEMY'S APPALLING CASUALTIES. Received May 1, 7 ,p,ni. London, April 30. Mr Philip Giblbs says that sunshiny spring weather lias replaced the cold and wet, and mud 'has become dust. Describing the Asustraliahs> fight at Lagnicourt, he states that iit counter-attack-ing they found many German dug-outs and great stores of beer, cigars, and food. A find for* thirsty men this! The "'mopping-up battalion," as Ihey are technically called, mopped up the beer and the fat cigars. With the mouth of a bottle of heer in one hand and a 'bayonet in the other, they continued to hunt for prisoners. Two hundred attempted to surrender under the white flag, tout were shot down by their own machinegunners. The Australians inflicted appalling casualties, 3000 Germans 1 being caught behind their own entanglements. Five Australians found themselves cat oft* and. hid in the German* lino*, where they remained for five days, foodless and waterless, till they found-a gap in the entanglements and escaped. ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. EFFECTIVE AERIAL BOMBARDMENTS, Received- May 1, 7.25 p.m. London, May 1.Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enomy's attack on our new positions between Monchy ' e Preux and the Scarpe river were completely repulsed. Thqfo has been hostiln artillery activity on both banks of the Scarpa and great aerial activity. Bombs were effectively dropped behind the enemy's lines. There were several fires, also a I large explosion, and three trains "were hit. The enemy fought hard to protect I the points attacked. Twenty German aeroplanes were brought down and fifteen of ours are missing. GERMAN'S ECONOMISING SHELLS AND GUNS. i ■Received May 1, 5,6 •p.m. ' London, April 30. The headquarters correspondent states that the latest captured enemy documents urgently emphasise the necessity for strictly economising shells of all types. They also urge that uniwiorn guns should l not be used l against big targets not requiring very accurate shooting. That is a' complete reversal of the state of thing*' when the Huns were overrunning Europe, entirely by virtue of their artillery preponderance. FRENCH HEADQUIAIRTE'RS CHANGES. Received May 1, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 30. The appointment of General Retain to be Chief of the General Staff is likely t'o be followed by various strengthening changes at headquarters. . 'WHAT THE GERMANS CLAIM. A. & X.Z. Cable [Association and Reuter, > Received May 1, 5.5 p.m. Admiralty, per Wireless 'Press. London,. April 30. A German official report states: —The English four times assaulted Oppy village, winch remains ours. We estimate the Englisn losses an Saturday at over 0000, in addition to 1000 prisoners and 40 machine guns. Ten tanks were destroyed. We repulsed 'French attacks at Berry-au-Bac and; Brimont, northwards of Rheirns. The enemy lost), owing to our strong artillerying, between Soissons and Snippes, on Saturday, 11 aeroplanes, and on Sunday 23, in addition to three balloons. SMALL OPERATIONS. Wellington, May 1. The High Commissioner reports, un- ■ der date London, April 30 (12.40 p.m.}.: Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Betwesn Monchv-le-Preux and the Scarpc, in a small local operation, a few prisoners were taken and the position.improved.. At night, northwards of Ypres, a successful raid was carried out in winch 18 prisoners were taken and machineguns captured, London, April 30. A French communique reptrts enc. - - getie artillery work on both sides and grenade fighting in various sectors.