WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE FIGHTING AT BULLECOURT. AN IMPLACABLE MELEE. GALLANTRY OF AUSTRALIANS. Paris, May 1". The Petit Parisien's correspondent reports startling fluctuations on the British front yesterday. The fighting went on without truce or mercy in and around Bulk'court. One German counter-attack reached part of the southern line, and 250 Germans, drunk wit'h fury, jumped into a trench yelling "Victory!" Suddenly the scene w-!s changed. Whilst part of the Australians were falling back keening the enemy at bay, yet drawing them further on, another body of colonials hurled themselves boldly from beyond the trench and turned the flank of the assailants. Tien the retreating Australians charged, while a copious barrage prevented the Germans from intervening from Reincourt. The melee was implacable, and ended only when the last of the enemy had fallen. Two hundred wero left dead, and the remaining fifty were pulverise', while fleeing through the barrage.

BRITISH REACH WESTERN EDGE. FRENCH REPEL ENEMt ATTACKS. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Deceived May I'B, 5.5 p.m. London, Mar 17. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: .During night fighting at 'Bullecourt we further progressed through the village and reached the western edge. A French communique states: Fresh enemy attenlpts to retake the ground we gained in the Laffaux Mill region failed. The struggle, which was of tlio liveliest at certain points, turned everywhere to our advantage, the enemy suffering heavy losses. We took more prisoners. Our barrages inflicted heavy loscss on three German assaulting detachments, which made several fruitless attempts to reach our lines at Hoy ere farm in the Epine de Chevrigriy' sector, north-west of Brace-en-Laonnois.

Received May 18, 10 p.m. London, May 17.

A French communique states: We completely re-established our line north of Laffaux Mill, and appreciably advanced east of Craonne and on 'Hill 108, south of Berry-au-Bac.

MEN FIGHT LIKE WILD BOARS. HINDENBURG LINE BREACHED. London, May 17. Mr. Gibbs reports that since Sunday twelve counter-attacks have been delivered against the Australians alone, an 3 each has been broken. The men fought like wild boars, and sprang at one another's throats wlien. their bombs were finished. Bullecourt has l>een held against all counter-attacks. The Australians have beaten back the enemy with heavy losses, and are now awaiting fresh assaults in this flaming hell of blood and shell fire.

Now the old Hindenburg line has been breached at Bullecourt and Wancourt. Further north the enemy is trying to strengthen a new line through Hontigny, Drocourt, and Queant. If he falls back to this line it means the lobb of important ground, including Lens and Oppy. He will not do this except in case of the roost extreme danger to the existing positions, which, ho.wever, are gravely menaced.

The enemy is using forced labor on, this rear line. .Prisoners Bay they are' employing British war prisoners on it under British, shell Are. Prisoners state that after their thirteenth failure to retake Bullecourt a brigade of Prussian Guards refused to attack and was sent to the rear for disciplinary measures. CAPTURE OF BULLECOURT. i . Wellington, last Night. The High Commissioner reports under date London, Hay 17, 10.56 p.m.:— A British official report says: To-day we-completed the capture of Bullecourt.