A GERMAN REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1918, Page 5

A GERMAN REPORT.

PERONjXE AOT) BAPAUME TAKEN. 45,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received March 26, 8.30 p.m. London, March 25A wireless German official message states: We again defeated the enemy in a tremendous struggle near Bapaume. We broke through a strong enemy position north-east of Bapaume, after bitter righting. Meanwhile, our forces from the east and south-east drove the enemy back via Ypres and Sailly, the enemy's stubborn resistance, which was reinforced, being broken. There were violent battles, in which fresh divisions and numerous tanks vainly opposed our advance on the roads from Bapaume towards Cambrai and Peronne. v During the night of the battle P«ronno fell into our 'hands. Hot fighting developed for the possession of Combles and the height westward, but the enemy were defeated. English cavalry attacks broke down. We are now standing in the middle of our former Somme battlefieldThe Crown Prince, -with General von Hutier's army, ascended, in hitter fighting, the heights westward of the Somme. Violent English infantry and cavalry attacks broke down sanguinarily. We captured Nesle after crossing the Crozat canal, and threw hack the English, French and Americans via Luneville and Villequier and Aumont. French infantry and cavalry divisions were brought up for a counter-thrust, but were sanguinarily defeated. We captured Guiscard and Ohauny. The prisoners taken now amount to 45,000. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc- and Reuter. Keccived March 2G, 7.30 p.m. London, March 23. Wireless German official: Bapaume lias fallen. Received March 20, 9.30 pm. London, March 25. Wireless German official: After hard fighting between Peronne and Bapaume We drove back the enemy to the positions he held before the Wlfi Somme battle. Our troops are fighting their ( way forward between the Somme and ' I the Oise. EFFECT OF BIG GUN SHELLS. GERMANS DEPRIVED OF LOOT. ' Received March 26, 8.20 p.m. Paris, March 25. The explosive effect, of the long-range shells is less than that of air .bombs of a similar size, and the damage is slight Refugees, who have evacuated the areas near the battlefield, state the British warned tJhe inhabitants, thus enabling the removal of everything portable. The Germans will not find a single head of cattle, a grain of corn, or a drop of wine. The population left calmly, being accommodated with British automobiles. GERMAN CAPTURES. London, March 25. The Germans have captured (Nesle and Guiscard.