WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

BRITISH RAIDS SUCCESSFUL AMMUNITION DUMP EXPLODED. London', May 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We mad» successful raids north-east of Epehy and northward of Armentieros. 'Pile German artillery was active east of Bullecourt southward of the Arras-Cambrai road and westward of Lens. We destroyed a large ammunition dump north-east of Quoant. The shock of the explosion was felt at a great, distance behind our lines. BRITISH WORK APPLAUDED. ENEMY- PREPARING TO RETREAT. ® Paris, May 22. French exports are elated at the triumph of tile British artifery in crack ing in less than •>. month the barrier.! which took the Germans a year to build and on which hing® all the enemy's future manoeuvres. Already there are signs that "the enemy is preparing for \ retreat ,<md a""iicw system which is the only alternative to a decisive defeat, namely a system of switch trenches zigfagging to rallying points.' 100 DIVISIONS SHATTERED. WHAT THE BRITISH HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. London, May 22. Reuter's Correspondent at headquarters reports that the enemy has employed 150 divisions on the western front since the beginning of the April offensive, of which nearly 100 have been taken out shattered. FRENCH HOLD CAPTURED POSITIONS. ENEMY ATTACKS FAIL. , ;■ A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc and Reuter. Received May 23, 5.5 p.m. 1 V London, May 22. A French communique states: Attacks on positions we captured yesterday north of Mont Cornill, Casque, and Telon were everywhere repulsed. Wc took a thousand unwonnded prisoners on the 20th. There has been violent artillerying on the Vauclfire plateau. BRITISH RAID TRENCHES. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received May 23, 8.30 p.m. London, May 23. ' Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided trenches Eastward of Vermelles. There is nothing to report on the rest of the front. VIOLENT ARTILLERYING. Received May 23, 11.45 p.m. London, May 23. There is violent artillerying at Vauclero on the California plateau, and Rheims is being heavily bombarded. FOR GERMAN EDIFICATION. A. and N.Z. Cablte Assoc. and Reuter. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. Received May 23, 8.30 p.m. Londotf, May 22.

A' German official report states thai) several strong English advances at Bullecourt and Croiselles sanguinarily failed. The French attacked south-west and south of Nauroy, but were repulsed, The French advance south-east of Moronvillers broke down. MARVELLOUS BRITISH ARTILLERY. Paris, May 22. The Matin states that the Germans, despite desperate counter-attacks, are unable to re-take an inch of ground. They threw in two new divisions during the last 21 hours, but did nothing beyond losing prisoners and leaving a multitude of corpses before the British positions. The British artillery is truly marvellous. Their barrage crushes any offen sive. FUTILE ENEMY ATTACKS. Wellington, May 23. . The Sigh Commissioner reports un tier date London, May 22 (3.30 p.m.):— A French official report says:—ln Champagne the enemy artillery actively attacked the positions wo conquered yes terday northwards of Mont Cornillet and Casque Meton. The 'bombardment was followed by infantry, attacks on three sectors. The enemy 'was everywhere repulsed with sensible losses and without results. The unwounded prisoners tak en on Sunday were about a thousand.