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Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1917, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF ARRAS. Reviewing the opening of the British oiiensive on'the western front on April 9, the military correspondent of a London newspaper said the victory ranks among the most brilliant ever 'won by British troops, and the scale on which it was fought far surpasses any British, victory in history. On Easter Monday Allenby led more British troops than the whole allied army under Wellington at Waterloo, or than the whole of Wellington's army at Vittoria. In the one day's fighting he took 10,000, unwounded prisoners and 125 guns. Home's army, on his left, took over 3000 prisoners. In all the German army must have been diminished by 30,000 soldiers at least, and perhaps their losses were even greater. Opposed to Allenby were not less than six German divisions defending fortifications, which had been continuously strengthened for the last two years, and the hostile counter-strokes during the succeeding days have been repulsed with' destructive loss. Arras ;nay well be the turning point of the war.