LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3092, 24 May 1917, Page 5

LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE WEST

HEAVY ATTACKS ON NEW FRENCH POSITIONS GREAT GERMAN AMMUNITION DUMP BLOWN UP The High Commissioner reports:— , ' London, May 22, 0.15 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "North-eastward of Epohy and north-eastward of Armentiorcs we made successful raids at night. Eastward of Bullecourt, southward of the Arras-Canibrai road, and westward of Lens, tho enemy's artillery •irae active dwing the night. North-onstward of Queant a largo German ammunition dump was destroyed yesterday afternoon. The shock of the explosion •> iras felt at a great distance behind our lines:" (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). (Rec. May 23,' 7 p.m.) London, May 22. Sir Douglae Haig reports: "We successfully raided tho enemy's tranches eastward of Vermelles. There is nothing to report on the rest: of the front."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-fteuter. FRENCH HOLD FAST ON THEIR NEW- POSITIONS FURIOUS COUNTER-ATTACKS EVERYWHERE REPULSED. The Higli Commissioner reports:— ■ ■ • London, May 22, 3.5 p.m. A French official message states: "In the Champagne, the enemy's artillery bombarded the positions we conquered yesterday northward of Mont C'oniillot and Casque Meton, following up by attacks by the infantry in three sectors. The enemy was everywhere repulsed, with sensible losses and without result. The number of unbounded prisoners taken on Sunday was .about a thousand. There is violent artillery fire on the Vauclerc Plateau." By Telegraph-Press A6Eociatiou-Copyrisht (Rec. May 23, 11.45 p,m.) London, May 23.' A French official report states: "A violent artillery bombardment is in progress at Vauclere- and tho California Plateau. Eeinis was heavily bombarded."— Aus.-N.is. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■ FRENCH ELATION AT THE TRIUMPH OF THE BRITISH GUNS , •;■ ' ! SIGNS OF A FURTHER GERMAN RETIREMENT. ; Paris, May 22. French experts are elated over the triumph of the , British artillery in less than a month cracking the barrier which took the Germans n. year to build, and on which hinges all future manoevres of the onemy. Already there are 6igns that the Germans are preparing to retreat to a new system, which is the only alternative to decisive defeat, namely, a system of ewitch trenches, <sigziigging to the rallying points in the rear.—Eeuter. ONE HUNDRED GERMAN DIVISIONS SHATTERED. London, May 22. Keuter's correspondent at Headquarters states that the enemy has employed 150 divisions on the Western front since the beginning cf ihe April offensive. Nearly a hundred of these divisions have been taken out shattered. -Renter. "■ ENEMY UNABLE TO TAKE AN INCH OF GROUND. Paris, May 22. Tho "Matin" states: "The Germans, despite the most desperate counterattacks are unable to retake an inch of ground. They threw in two new divisions during the last twenty-four hours, but did uothin? beyond losing prisoners and leaving a. multitude of eorpses "before the British positions. The British artillery is truly marvellous; their barrage crushes any offensive."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. May 23, i\ls p.m.) London, May 22. ' A German official report states: "Several strong English advances at Bullscourt and Cioisilles foiled with sanguinary losses. The French attacks southwest and south of Nan.roy were repulsed. A. French advance south-east of Moronvillers broke down."—Aue.-N.71. Cable Assn.-Beuter.