HEAVIEST ATTACK FALLS ON BRITISH SECTOR

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 5

HEAVIEST ATTACK FALLS ON BRITISH SECTOR

GAS SHELLS AND TANKS SUPPORT ASSAULT, ENEKY TAYTSG BEARI.T FOR HIS SUCCESS. IjONDON, May 28. Sir Douglas Haig, reporting at 3.30 a.m., says:—A British division holding a sector of the French front astride the Aisne at Berry-au-Bac, between Bcnnericourt and Craonnellc, were heavily attacked. At the same time hostile attacks in great strength were made against the French divisions on our right and ako against the French divisions on our left along the high ground traversed by the Chemin dea Dames. In the British sector the enemy's attack was supported by tanks and "accompanied by an intense bombardment by gas shells. Our troops on the right maintained their battle positions, and are in close touch with the French. On out left the enemy succeeded, after heavy fighting, in pressing us back to the second line of prepared positions. Severe fighting continues all along the i ont. Strong enemy attacks this morning on the Locrc-Voormezeele front, south-west of. Ypres, w.ere repulsed by the French after fierce fighting, in which the enemy sustained great losses. The enemy penetrated a short distance into the French positions in the neighbourhood of Dickcbusch lake, where fighting continues. Other localities into wiich the encmv penetrated in his first attack have been regained by French counter-attacks, and a number of the enemy taken prisoner. A French communique states: —During the latter half of last night the Germans very violently bombarded the entire region between the forest of Pinon, north-east of Soissons, and Rheimfi. The enemy this morning attacked on a very wide front. The French and British troops are resisting with their customary gallantry. The battle is progressing. There was lively artillery activity at night in the Champagne, on the right bank of the Meusc. at the forest of Apremont, and in the Woevrc, with local enemy attacks. Enemy attacks on the forest of Apremcnt and in the region of Rimcy, north-east of Badonvillers, were repelled. The French and British troops in echelon are retiring methodically, and in perfect liason, making the enemy pay very dearly for his first inevitable success, and assuring by resistance inch by inch the efficacious use of the reserves. The artillery activity continues very lively on both banks of the Meuee, in the rvgion of St. Mihiel, and on the Lorraine front. A later French communique reports:—The battle continued throughout yesterday with extreme violence en a front of over 25 miles between the region of Vauxaillon, north of Soissons. to the outskirts of Brimont, north and slightly west of Rheims. Enemy masses came to grips with our front line troops, and, regardless of losses, pushed towards the valley of the Aisnc. Some of their elements reached the neighbourhood of Pont Arcy, on the south, bank of the Aisne, 13 miles east of Soiyeons, at the end of the day. A German official wireless report issued last evening claims the capture of the -whole of the Chemin dcs Dames ridge.—(A. and N.Z. and Renter.)