GERMAN COMMUNIQUES

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 99, 26 April 1917, Page 7

GERMAN COMMUNIQUES

HEROISM OP DEFENDERS EMPHASISED

LONDON, 24th April. A German wireless official message states : "On the Arras battlefield the British troops, standing on -French territory, yesterday delivered their second great thrust, to break through the German lines, and the heavjest of battles raged Tfor days the enemy has been hurling masses of shells of every description against our position. Early on the morning of 23rd April the artillery in-creaeed-to very strppg 'drum fire,' and soon afterwards the English thrusting troops, led often by tanks, burst forward on a front of thirty kilometres (about nineteen mileS),-behind this wall of fire. Our fire forced them at many places to withdraw with heavy losses. At other points the battle sways backwards and fosWfi^ds with grea'f, bitterness. Whenever the enemy gained ground our brave and eager infantry drove him back. The suburbs of Lens, Avipn, Gavrelle, Roeux/and GuemUppe were the hottest places in this fierce struggle, and their names will be associated^ with deeds of heroism by regiments from ajmost every German district between the sea and the Alps. fA further attack of particular intensity, with new masses of troops, followed in the evening, on both sides of the Scarpe, The strength of this attack also broke under our fire. By hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy gained a few hundred yards on the Cambrai-Arras road, and the ruins of Guemappe' remained in his hands. "The German soldier at the front knows that every man and woman at home is working increasingly to support him in this life-and-death battle." _, A later communique states : "All day fighting has been in progress for the possession of Gavjvlle. New English attacks are proceeding along the Arras-Cambrai road." ENEMY REPORT MOST ENCOURAGING The High Commissioner reports^:— . LONDON, 24th April. The Wa,r Officp regards Tuesday's German communique as the most encouraging yet received,' as indicating the state of mind of the German Army and people, and the anxiety at headquarters concerning the situation. GUNS BUSY ON BELGIAN FRONT (ATJSTBALUN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND HEUTER.) LONDON, 24th April. A Belgian communique reports an artillery bombardment of the heaviest description.