DRANOUTRE AND KEMMEL TAKEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1918, Page 5

DRANOUTRE AND KEMMEL TAKEN.

FIERCE FIGHTING. BRITISH ADVANCE AT HANGARD. ' FRENCH RECAPTURE GROUND. A FURIOUS STRUGGLE. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received April 2S, 5.25 p.m. London, April 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports (April 27. 11.45 p.m.).—The battle is continuing fiercely on the whole front from the neighborhood of Dranoutre to the Ypres —Comines Canal. The enemy captured Dranoutre and Kemmel hill and village The enemy's attack yesterday was made in great strength by nine divisions. Early this morning the Franco-British counter-attacked and succeeded in making some progress, besides capturing prisoners. Later in the day the enemy renewed his attacks, particularly against the positions from Locre to Laclyttie and astride the » Ypres—Commines Canal. We held all attacks in the neighborhoods of Laclytte and Seherenberg, but after a series of determined attacks with heavy losses, the enemy succeeded in pressing back our line in the direction of Locre. He also progressed astride the Ypres— Commines Canal. The French and British this morning attacked the enemy position in the neighborhood of Hangard and Hangard Wood and advanced their line at certain points by heavy fighting. A French communique (dated April 27 2.10 a.m.) states: Wc counter-attacked from Villers Bretonneux to south of Luce this morning and recaptured much of the ground lost yesterday, despite the desperate resistance of the enemy, who was strongly reinforced. We captured the monument south of Villers, and penetrated Hangard village. The battle lasted all day, and still continues. It was exceptionally violent. The Germans attempted to wrest our gains from us at all oosts. Despite the heavy losses from our fire at each attempt, their battalions attacked seven times <at the northern Hangard wood, causing the French to budge. The struggle was equally furious at Hangard village, which twice changed hands. We captured and retained an orchard south of Luce. SEVERE FIGHTING ALL DAY. ALLIES COMPELLED TO GIVE GROUND. Aua. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received April 27, 5.5 p.m. London, April 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: After severe fighting all day long on the Bailleul and Hollebeke front, against greatly superior forces, the Allied troops were compelled to give ground and the enemy gained a footing on Kemmel Hill. Fighting in the neighborhood of Dranoutre, Kemmel, and Vierstraat continues. Wo carried out minor operations during the night eastward of Merville. Hostile artillery is active from the Lys to Givenchy. Wo cleared out posts south-eastward of Villers-Bretonneux. The enemy gasshelled this area. Paris, April 20. A French communique states: There was a violent artillery struggle south of the Somme at night-time. We carried out numerous raids, notably in the region of Passigny, between the Aisne and towards Bezonvaux and Eparges.

A SIZZLING HELL

THE- LOSS OF KEMMEL HILL. BRAVERY OF FRENCH.Received April 27, 5.5 p.m. London, April 20. The Uuited Press correspondent describes the tempestuous struggle for .Kemmel Hill. The French heroes on the crest raked the slopes with machinegiin fire. Another French unit held Kemmel village with equal tenacity. While from the slopes of Schcrpenberg, Mont Rouge, Mont Vidache, and Mont Noir the French were pouring in ma-chiue-gun fire, the hatteries were raking the middlo slopes of Kemmel, and there were also infantry counter-attacks, all in one whirlpool of tattle. The British on botli .flanks were enfilading Von Bernhardt':) Alpine divisions, turning the . green flower-filled valley between Kemmel and the Red and Black Mountains into a sizzling hell.. The. Germans paid dearly for their gains. Hardy, specially picked storm troops charged Kemmel Hill, attacking fiercely north-westerly from Wytschaete, wedged between the British and French flanks, crossed the KemmelYpres road, where they were hold up for two hours. Then they turned south and poured down the valley westward of Kemmel Hill, which finally surrendered, but the French on the crest held out lion-like. The German lines to-day run westward of Kemmel, apparently, hut the ultimate winner of the position is still a matter of doubt. THE GERMAN VERSION. BRITISH SUCCESS AT VILLERS BRETONNEUX ADMITTED. Aus. and KZ. Cahle Assoc, and Reuter. Received April 28, 5.25 p.m. London, April 27. A wireless German official message dated April 27, 1.25 a.m., states: We captured Mount Kemmel and threw tiie English out of positions at Wytschaete and Dranoutre. We advanced as far as Kemmel brook, capturing St. Eloi and the Vlengelhoek. We took over 6500 prisoners, principally French. The enemy recaptured Villers Bretonneux. Further enemy counter-attacks eastward of the village and at Hangard failed. The prisoners in this battle area now amount to 2400. Gorman evening official: Enemy counter attacks at Mount Kemmel and south of Villers Bretonneux failed heavily.

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