WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE. CONSTITUTES DECIDED GERMAN 'DEFEAT. PROSPECT OF GREAT VICTORY. London, May 13. A correspondent at headquarters states that tho mere fact that Sir Douglas Hai? has established himself in the ruins of Bulleeourt constitutes a decisive defeat to the Germans, who sacrilied thousands of lives in the desperate and futile atempt to relieve the menace to this vitally important position. The latest details of the battle show that Sir Doul.i? Haig forestalled strong- enemy counter-attacks and 'boldly launched his offensive, nearly surrounding and hen irresistibly storming the village. Tho fighting continues and there is every prospect of a great victory. The fall of Bulleeourt practically isolates Queant. Sir Dougla ITr." "; successes in the Roeux cemetery and chemical works, two other tremendously strong positions, are equally significant. EXTENSIVE Bk.TISH ATTACK. GERMANS BOLT. Reut: Service. LondoL, May 13. A correspondent at headquarters reports that the British are active on a front A twenty miles, as tho stonewalling of the past few days has '< veloped into many small attacks by t..j armies of Generals Allenby and Gough. Fighting began at twilight on Friday. ■Many more prisoners would have been taken, but the Germans holted and were shot down. Our casualties are low.

MAGNIFICENT PROGRESS OF AUSTRALIANS. London, May 13. There is splendid news from Bullecourt. The after more than holding their own against picked German troops, widened the bite in the Hindenburg line and progressed magnificently, bombing their way inflexibly along the main trenches. ANZACS DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES. Ti High Commissioner reports from London, under date May 13, 10 p.m.:— In the Bulleeourt operations, the'Anzacs - -.rticularly distinguished themselves. BRILLIANT ORITJSH FEAT. , Paris, May 13. The Bullecourt-Qdeant Redoubt forms the hinge on which the/Hindenburg line turnß. The capture of Bulleeourt was a brilliant British feat, and thei first serious blow against the enemy's new defensive system. GERMANS LOSE -0,000. ' ■/: ■Paris, May 13. Moderate estimates put German losses in killed, wounded and prisoners in the present French offensive, from April 16 to May 1, at 200,000, which has since been Increased' to 300,00. GREAT EXPENDITURE OF AMMUNI- ""'' London, May 13. Sir William Robertson, speaking at the Newspaper Press Fund dinner, said tOiab wo had expended during the past five or six weeks 200,000 tons of ammunition in France alone. We had convey-' ed thither 60,000 tens of stone per week io mend roads. '.,.''" BRITISH LINE ADVANCES. London, May 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There were patrol encounters last night north-west of St. Quentin anc north-east of Le Vcrguer. Wo Ivanced our posts at certain points, inflicting casualties. The fighting continues at Bulleeourt. We advanced our line .ligh.l'y southward of the Scarpe'. We improved our position on '.h ; eastern slopes of Greenland Hill. North of the river we repulsed counter-attacks ;astward of 'Roeux cemetery.

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. ■ London, May 13. A! French communiquo says:—Artillery and rifle fire broke violent enemy attacks on the Craonne ?lateau, mvTa of Rheims and in the region, of Maisondc- Champagne with heav"" losses. FRENCH ACTIVITY, Paris„ May ..3. A communique states: Our a"tillery is active, especially south of St. Quen.tin.On the plateau north of the Aisne and in the Champagne there has been no infantry actio" except a French raid on Berry au Bac. Numerous air rights took place on Friday, in ,ldch seven German aeroplanes were destroyed and seven others fell badly damaged. , : USUAL GERMAN! REPORTS. London, May 13. A wireless German official message states: British attacks at Bullccourt, between Gavrelle and '.e Searpe, and on both sides of the Arras-Cambrai road, failed with heavy losses. A wirelec Gernw official message says:—Great English attacks at Lens and Queant, between Gavrelle and the Searpe and astride .he Arras-Cambrai Road near Bullecourt broke down, and only succeeded in forcing an entry into Rouex. Attacks on both sides of Monchy also broke. The advantages the English gained at Bullecourt were again recovered by our Guards. The counter thrusts of tlie French astride the Corbeny-Pontavet Road failed. The enemy lost yesterday 17 aeroplanes. We .repulsed several attacks eastward of Cerna and southward of Huma.

BRITISH STILL PROGRESSING. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. AUSTRALIAN GALLANTRY. A. and N'.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received May li, S.SO p.m. Loudon, May 14. ■Field-Mar.ilml- Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed two counter-attacks, on our positions on tlie Hindenburg lino eastward of Bulleeourt. The Australians for ten days gallantly maintained iositions on ;his sector, repelling at least twelve determined counter-attacks. Wc hold the greater part of liullecourt. We have established ourselves In the western houses of Koeux. We again progressed on tho western slope of Greenland Hill. We brought down sloven German aeroplanes. Six of ours are nissing. AN lIVCFDRTANT GAIN. GERMAN OBSERVATION' POSTS TAKEN'. Received May W, (1.30 p.m. ' London, May 13. Mr. .Philip Gibbs states that as the result of the British gains at tho 'Roeux Cavalry Farm the Germans have lost their observation posts, which are of high advantage to the Britis".. Staff. There is great j-clief, because the point for which they have struggled so long was regained so easil; and has been organised defensively 30 rapidly. FRENCH FRONT QUIET. Received May 14, 8.30 p.m. London, 'Ma; 14. ':' French communique states: There is a relative calm along the whole front. We continued destructive artilleryiir; on enemy works and organisations. THE RAIDS ON ZEEBRUGGE.

•HAMPER ENEMY'S USE OF BASES. Received May ty, 8.30 p.m. London, May 13. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent states that ipart ,'rom the damage to German ships and defences, the increasingly frequent British aerial and naval bombardments are hampering the enemy's use of the bases at Ostend and Zeebrugge. Large flotillas of destroyers have several times scattered seawards, but they do not venture beyond the mine-fields, fearing British warships. GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED. Amsterdam, May 13. British bombs blew up two submarine sheds at Zeebrugge. Sixty-three German sailors and soldiers were killed, and a hundred wounded. ":. .*].,. V ; ■ADMIRALTY REPORT. ; London, May ]f The Admiralty reports: —A further portion of our [Dover forces heavily 'bombarded Zeebrugge, the naval air service co-operating. Nine enemy aeroplanes were brought, down and ':wo of oua are missing. " THE GERMAN ■PERVERTION. London, May 13. A Berlin official .lessago says:—The| . ..emy monitors shelled Zeebrugge on Saturday in a fog and at long range. There was little daniago and no fatalii 'ties.