STRONG LOCAL ATTACKS ON THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 184, 24 April 1918, Page 5

STRONG LOCAL ATTACKS ON THE BRITISH

ENEMY REPULSED AFTER A SHARP FIGHT

BRITISH IMPROVE THEIR POSITIONS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright • ■■ ■ , London, April 22, 12.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports;—"A strong local attack, accompanied by heavy shelling was made last niglit against our positions in the neighbourhood of Jfesnil, three miles north of Albert. After sharp fighting, during which the enemy captured an advanced post,- the attack was repulsed. We unproved our positions slightly during the night in the Villera Bretonneux. Albert, andEobecq sectors. We made various raids south and north of Lens. There is considerable mutual artillery activity on different sectors. The enemy's fire is chiefly directed on our positions astride the Sqmnie and the Ancro, and also in the neighbourhood of Festubert and tho Niepno Forest."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ueutor. (Kec. April 23, 7.15 p.m.) London, April 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports'.-"We repulsed raids in tho neighbourhood of Hamel and south of the La Bassce Canal opposite Cambrai. The enemy enpturedan advancepostnorth-westofFestubert, which had already changed hands several times. ■Wo advanced our lino slightly at Bobecq. Our artillery engaged hostile infantry, which was assembling in this neighbourhood. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ' EVE OF ANOTHER BLOW ENEMY THREATENING THE LINE FROM YPRES TO THE ; ' SOMME. , (Eec. April 23, 10.30 p.m.) i . London, April 22. • Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—"The enemy doubtless is now engaged in putting his available fwces into position for immediate action. He is threatening all ■iloii" (he line from i'prw to tho Somme. After a violent bombardment last iiieltt north of Avoluy Wood, on the Ancro, tho enemy advanced. Fierce fighting ensued in the darkness, but, wo were ready/'-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. HEAVY SHELLING AND SHARP LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS (Eec. April 23, 7.15 p.m.) London,, April 22. The United Press correspondent states that tho genoral situation on tho biit-l-li>frnnt is unchanged. There has been tremendously heavy gun-firing southward of Arras during the night-time, followed by nasty local fiffhling in tho region of Aveluv Wood. Fighting recommenced at dawn. .Shelling continues along the whole" line, and particularly around the Ypres, Hebuterne, Colincamps, and Viller-Bretonnoux areas, the front linos being consistently belaboured.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE GERMAN REPORT

(Bee. April 23, 10.30 p.m.)

London, April 22, 10.35 p.m.. A wireless German official report, states:—"The onemy's attempts to cross the Ln Basseo Canal north-west of Betlnmo failed. Wβ captured a number of English and twenty-two mine-throwers northward of Albert. —Ana.-N./i. Cablo Assn.-Iteutor.

GERMAN MASSES BOTTLED IN RESTRICTED AREA

ALLIES BIDING THEIR TIME.

London, April 22. The "Morning Post's" Paris correspondent eays:-"The German, masses, by their very numbers, are now bottled in a narrow stretch of country, where they are unable to go'forward or to properly provision themselves, Experts are of opinion that Ludendorff'a cardinal blunder-was in not throwing his whole ieserves against Montdidier, There he might have brought about a war of movement Possibly General Petain's aeroplanes spread disorder among the German reserves, and prevented this. There are now a million Germans in the tangle of Hazebrouck, Amiens, and Noyon. They were thrown into the battle with a week's provisions, and are now marking time ma country as sterile as the surface of the moon, and nearly as difficult to revictual. The ground is conotautv under the fire of British and French guns and aeroplanes, and no vital poml of th, An'lo-l'hmch front has been reached, and the liaison (union) between the All tei iV complete- The past month hae cost the enemy a third of his few while the British and French strength has grown greater. Accordmgly, the Allies are content to bide.their titue."-Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FOCH'S STRATEGIC RESERVE. New York, April 22. A message from an Atlantic port says (hat, according to,an American Army ffiir who has returned from France, General PocVs resevvo army total* ono fll nTL officer adds that this army fought gallantly, and Prevented he G mTiis pouring through a temporary gap between the armies of General Gough and General Byn&.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAIDS REPULSED BY THE FRENCH London, April 22.. 4 French official communique states :-"Enemy raids were repulsed in tho regions of Thennes and east of Eeinis. There is arhllerv activity at ranoiis points."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. THE AMERICAN LOSSES AT SEICHEPREY. (Ilcc. April 24, 0.40 a.m.) Washington, April 22. A cablegram from General Pershing states that tho American casualties at Soicheprey were tho heaviest yet sustained, but tho Gorman losses were giuter, numbering 500.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

JAPANESE TROOPS FOR THE WEST

AN OFFICIAL VIEW OF THE SUGGESTION.

(Rec. April 23, 7.40 p.m.) New York, April 22. Interviewed at a Pacific port, Viscount Ishii (Japanese Minister to the United States) said that the sending of a Japanese army to France was impractical) e on-account ot tho difference in climate, food, and langunge.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ..