WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

SEMICIRCLE OF FIRE. VERITABLE BUTCHERY OF ENEMY. Paris. May 18. In attempting to retake Roeux on Tuesday the German batteries showered shells afc the rate of sixty a minute for sixteen hours. A British officer, describing it, says:—"What a butchery it 'was at the chemical works! Although the bombardment was lengthy and actual fighting was short bub fierce. The Germans poured shells on our lines as if they had concentrated every gun they possessed on this tmall sector. The number of gas shells was greater than ever. Our men lived in their gas masks for twelve hours. A whole German division, mostly Bavarians, came against us, marching shoulder to shoulder. Our machine-guns mowed down the first rank, our rifles accounted for the second and third, but the remainder swept on like an avalanche, leaving many of us safe and unwounded in the rear. We counter-attacked in a characteristic and irresistible series of charges. Our field guns swept the German columns in the open ground while our men in the enemy's real attacked, and the Germans were surrounded with a circle of fire until it became a veritable butchery. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. BRITISH RAIDS SUCCESSFUL. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. London, May 19. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile artillery was more active at Gavrelle and Lens. Oar artillery successfully engaged German troops on the Arras-Cambrai road and north-east of Fressney. We successfully raided north-east of Gouzeaucourt, and repulsed raids eastward of Loos, north-east of Armentieres and eastward of Ypres, FRENIOH BREAK GERMAN WAVES. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. * London, May 19. A French communique states: The Germans attacked north-west of Braye from the Chevrigny ridge to the Oise Canal, but our barrages broke the assaulting waves, which were only able ments on the west of the attacking to gain a foothold in our advanced elefront. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. CAPTURE OF TRENCH CLAIMED. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. London, May 19.

A wireless German official report states: There has been intense artillery- > ing between Aeheville and Gavrelle. Eng- ! lish attacks on both .sides of the ArrasDouai road and eastward of Monchy failed. We captured a trench near Braye, repulsed attacks at Winterburg, and'brought down aeroplanes yesterday. HOSTILE RAIDERS DISPERSED. Wellington, May 19. The High Commissioner reDorts under date London, May 18 (1.40 p.m.) : Sir Douglas Haig reports: North-east of Armentieres, early in the night, two hostile raiding parties were driven off with loss. There is nothing further special to report. FRENCH MAINTAIN POSITIONS. London, May 18. A French communique says: The enemy violently bombarded the California Plateau and the Chemin des Dames. Several attacks at the northeastern end of the plateau were repulsed after the liveliest grenade fighting. We maintained all our positions. There was a somewhat intense artillery struggle at night in the regions of Mont Cornillet, Mont Haut and Champagne. COMPARATIVE QUIET. London, May 18. Correspondents at headquarters report quiet at Bullecourt. Our infantry northwards of the Scarpe engaged in a small action, progressing near Gavrelle, the action apparently favoring us. Recent rain has turned the battlefield dust into mud. ONLY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received May 21, 12.50 a.m. London, May 20. Field-Marshal Haig reports: Hostile artillery, activity on the Scarpe and north-east of Epghy has taken place. A French communique states: There has been no infantry action, but the artillerying was sometimes violent at Chemin des Dames, Htirtebise, and on the California plateau.