FRENCH CAPTURE CRAONNE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 5

FRENCH CAPTURE CRAONNE

HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING ON THE BRITISH FRONT DESPERATE DEFENCE BY THE ENEMY / /, ■ ' 'POLITICAL TURMOIL IN RUSSIA CHINA DECIDES ON WAR WITH : GERMANY ; The most important news this morning from the West front is the eapturo of tho heavily fortified village of Craonnc, to the northwest of Reims. The British are engaged in a deadly struggle, which all tho correspondents at Headquarters agree is the fiercest fighting experienced during tho war. The Germans arc counter-attacking in masses, but have failed to move the British from the points they have gained except at Cherisy, where they have had to retire from advanced posts. The German losses are apparently very severe, Mr. . Philip Gibbs describes the shattering of .one counter-attack as a massacre of tho Germaus. The Russian news is disquieting, the Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee causing trouble. The positi'on ■ is described as very grave, but tho new Government seems determined not "to countenance a separate peace. A later message indicates that the Government's explanation has'beeu accepted. In the meanwhile German spies are at work fomenting resolutions and outbreaks'. The Russians, it is said, will not be caught on land, and the present lull on tho Eastern front appears to be in part, due to tho belated thaw causing floods iri several sectors. Tho Allies are holding another conference, on this occasion at Paris. In welcoming the Anglo-Italian delegates M. Ribot, the French Premier, and 51. elemental, tho Minister for Commerce, outlined the peace that the Allios want. An old-typo British destroyer was mined and sank in tho Channel, with the loss of one officer and sixty-one men. A message from Switzerland states that tho Duchy of Baden has been declared in the war zone and placed under the strictest martial law because of tho unrest among the working classes. Tho Chinese Cabinet has unanimously resolved to immediately declare war on Gc many.