WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

VERY HEAVY'FIGHTING. EXEMY DRIVEN BACK IN PLACES. [ WITH HEAVY LOSSES London, April 24. Tim German offensive lias been resumed at JJranoutro (elu.se to Mt. Kemmcl, opposite Wytsehaele), also in the Albert sector, where tliey were driven back. London, Anvil -24 (1 .-"15 p.m.). iiii' Douglas llaig reports:—There wan increased hostile artillery lire yesterday afternoon and evening in the Souinie and Autre sectors, the Scarpa Valley, and the sectors northward of ISelliunc and northward and north-east-ward of Bailleul. The Geriuas at dusk attacked northwestward of Albert, and were met with heavy rifle and machine-gun lire and were driven hnek. ■Stroii},' hostile attacks Jatcr jn the evening near Dranootre were repulsed by the French after sharp fighting. The French and British artillery inflicted severe losses. The enemy's artillery at nighttime was active, and a heavy bombardment; opened early this morning along- practically the whole British front from northward of Albert to the junction with the French southward of the Sonune. ■ .Strong infantry attacks are in progress in the Albert sector and between the Somuie and AvreThere was heavy hostile shelling early this morning between Givenehy and Robecq. Our artillery dispersed concentrations in the neighbourhood of Merville. London, April 21. Mr. Robinson writes:--The. Germans were uncomfortably squeezed in a triangular corner of Aveluy Wood ie tween the Ajicre and the railway. Last night they endeavored to get elbow room, and, 'after 'Scary shelling, successive wares forced us back' 400 yards from the railway and proceeded to dig. m on the i other .side. Smart manoeuvring of Lewis guns enfiladed the enemy, inflicting sanguinary losses, and a counterattack completely drove the enemy hack to his old uncomfortable positions. During the night we assumed the offensive as far as Bouzincourt, driving hack the enemy on a 1000 yards front to a depth of 230 yards, gaining a hit of tlio best position in the Albert area. The enemy is heavily shelling the Kenimel run! Yores area. The new offensive includes tho whoje Australian front south of Albert. Very heavy attacks are now in progress. Tho Germans have captured Villers Bretonneux. ADVANCING GERMANS. BRITISH GUNS GET FULL INTO THEM. Received April 25, 8.5 p.m. London, April 24. Tho United Press reports the bombardment of the entire front to the. junction with the French and suggests heavy fighting between the Somme and the Ayre. Moreover, almost simultaneously General von der Marwitz.'s artillery was active east of Amiens. At dawn the British positions on both sides of tin: Lawe and north of Betlmne were deluged with high explosives. The lines north-west of Albert were similarly shelled. When the Germans leaped out of the trenches and advanced Brit* ish rifles and machine-guns got full into them. The enemy became discouraged and darted back to his trenches. British guns scattered concentrations north-west of Merville. A DOUBLE STROKE. , OUTFLANKING THE PICARDY POSITIONS. LUDENDORFF'S PLAN. Received April 2fi, 12,5 a.m. Paris, April 24. Military experts predict that, Ludendorlf intends a double stroke, simultaneously attacking (1) southward of Arras, and (2) between Villers Bretonneux and southward of Moreuil, with the object of outflanking the Pictmly positions. GERMAN REPORTS, OF CAPTURES IN OFFENSIVES. Amsterdam, April 2-1. In tho Relclistag, the War Minister claimed that the German break through on the. West front was tif) kilometres (27 miles) deep. A hundred thousand British troops had been taken, prisoners and 15(10 guns were captured. Moreover, they had thrown the French across {he Oise-Aisiio Canal and defeated the British at Arinentieres, capturing ; 20,000 and 250 guns. The Minister dwelt on f,he difficulties | of bringing up the German I wonts. The enemy had again found i vantage points of which he was making use, thereby necessitating the continuation of the battle. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. Received April 25, S.lO p.m. London, April 24. French communique: Between the Sonune and the Awe a hostile bombardment became very violent at night on the French and British front, notably in the region of Villers Bretonneux and tlaiiganl-on-Santerro. Ouv artillery energetically replied. | ' ! ALLEGE!) SPIER EXECUTED, I Amsterdam, April 24. I Of 03 persons eoiirt-martialled in Antjwerp charged with espionage, 24, including a nun, were sentenced to death, and ! seven, including a priest, immediately 'executed.