WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

VIOLENT ATTACKS REPULSED. ASSAULTING WAVES 2JOWN DOWN, ENEMY'S PURPOSELESS SACRIFICES GERMAN FIRST LINE CARRIED. Received May 10, 5.5 p.m. London, May 9. A French communique states: A struggle of the keenest nature took place a(j Cliemin des Dames, and enemy attacks, which were made with large forces, preceded by violent bombardments, were everywhere repulsed. I In the district of Cerny-De la Bovclle,' and on the monument de Hurtebise tho Germans were twice sanguinarily defeated.

Powerful efforts were made further east against the California plateau, but the assaulting waves were mown dowri by our barrage. The enemy gained a moJ mentary footing north-east of the salient on the plateau, but a bayonet charge ousted them in disorder. The numbet ; of German dead testifies absolutely to the purposeless sacrifices. Our positions were entirely maintained, and we in turn carried the German first line on a front of twelve' hundred metres north-east of.Chevreux.,

FEROCIOUS BUT NERVOUS. STUBBORN RESISTANCE. London, May 9. A correspondent at headquarters reports that the Germans keep up a stubborn resistance everywhere, frequently counter-attacking in massed formation, and persisting regardless of losses. The Germans ferociously re-attacked the Gavrello windmill, but wavered and retirod under the storm of shell fire and I machine-gun ballets. Our artillery dispersed masses near Fresnoy, three miles northward of the windmill. J The British made counter-attacks westward of the village. The Germans showed great nervousness at Bullecourt, and put up a terrific barrage on the British front, showing Unit they feared a surprise attack. A PERFECT INFERNO. ? FIGHTING AT FRESNOY, ; v : London, May 9. A correspondent at headquarters writes: If was sheer weight of numbers that drove us back at Fresnoy, which British guns are now making a perfect inferno, but the question of such gains and losses of territory must remain altogether subordinate to the main business of wearing down the Germans. It is manifestly to our advantage that they should continue to stand where they can be hammered. This broader strategic view must not be overlooked in the present ebb and I flow of the great struggle.

BRITISH FRANKNESS. APPRECIATED BY THE FRENCH. : Received May 10, 10 p.m. Paris, May 9. The Petit Journal pays a tribute to the British frankness in admitting the set-back at Fresnoy, which was less important owing to the British maintaining all the positions south-eastward and north-eastward. Therefore the Germans at Fresnoy will find it difficult,to hold the salient.

AMERICA'S FIRST FORCE. MARCH THROUGH PARK Received May 10, 8 p.m. Paris, May 9. For the first time in history American soldiers marched in the Paris streets under the Stars and Stripes. The force consisted of 200 students in khaki, enlisted as transporters. CAUGHT IN THE OPEN. BY BRITISH ARTILLERY. Received "May 10, 8 p.m. London, May, 9. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:—During the local fighting in the neighborhood of Bulleeourt, a party of the enemy, attempting to advance in the open, was caught by machine gun fire, with heavy loss. There is considerable reciprocal artillery activity at intewials north-westward of St. Quentin, and in. the neighborhood of Bulleeourt, ,Wancourt, and Arleux. A wifeless German official message states that the British attacks near Fresnoy and •Bulleeourt failed.

■'''■<:. A DEATH-TRAP. WHY FBESNOY WAS' GIVEN .(UP. . Received May \\, 1.10 a.m, ', London, May iO. Mr Philip Gibbs pays a high eulogy toi the Canadians for capturing and holding Fresnoy. The Germans held Achevilla, to the north of Oppy and south of Frespoy, which jutted out like a square baslion in the enemy line. The Canadians | had to form defensive flanks. The Germans for several days made strong couw tor thrusts on each side,, and finally brought the Guards to Achevillo and Oppy, while the Fifteenth Reserve Division and Fifth Bavarian Division were stationed before iFresnoy. The Canadians had been relieved before the Ger- j mans' dense column formation charged likt a battering ram up the south eounjtry. The English lads holding to noy held on despite the frightful fire and served their machine guns to the last, and only retreated when iFresnoy had become a death trap.' It was impossiblb to avoid occasional setbacks now that tba formula hud.idacKUd. fo> jav&lfattltf.

FRENCH SUCCESSES. ~ GREAT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. ; GERMAN TRENCH CAPTURED. A. &, N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. Received May 11, 1.4 sa.m. London, May 10. .„ A French communique states: South of the.Oise wo carried out destructive ftrtillerying against tho German batteries, at Segotsain Forest.. There i* great artillery activity at Chemin des Dames. We repulsed several counter-attacks in the- £bevreux region. A local operation resulted , in our , capturing a German trench and prisoners north-vest of Rheitns.