HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS BEFORE ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 5

HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS BEFORE ATTACK.

Renter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing under to-day'e date, says:—Since iast evening the enemy's artillery fire luis markedly increased at various places. Villers-Bretonneux, three miles south of the Soman. , , the .Scarpe Valley, Auclionvillers, live miles and a-half north of Albert, Englebelnier, four miles north of Albert, iluilly-Maillet, and Mar tinea rt, in the same sector, have been bombarded with gas and high explosive shells. There has also been a prolonged outburst of intense gunfire from Kestubert to the Yser. During this afternoon the uproar lulled.— (Renter.) A French communique states:—There has been fairly great reciprocal artillery activity at Hangard Wood, five miles north of Moreuil, and south of the Avre. Enemy raids on posts in the Orviller-Porel sector, eight miles south-east of Montdidier, and in the Champagne and the Vosges failed. We repulsed a raid north of Bailleul. The enemy heavily bombarded VillersFiretonneux. three miles south of the Sommc. and west of Hinges, on the Lys line, with gas shells.— (A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)