GERMAN TRENCHES FULL OF DEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 7

GERMAN TRENCHES FULL OF DEAD

FEROCIOUS FIGHTING ON THE SCARPE A LAVISH WASTE OF MEN ; - • j THE GALLANT WORCESTERS BRILLIANT WORK IN THE AIR

'(X TBLI'GHAFH.—UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYBIOHT.) (AUSTBAIiIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received April 27, 10.20 a.m.) . LONDON, 26th April The Morning Post's correspondent states that the German counterattacks were delivered with reckless courage which is unparalleled since the early days' of the war, and'which is indicative that the enemy's affairs are approaching a supreme crisis. Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria's Staff wasted men .lavishly in the attempt to restore his left flank to a position of vital importance. Troop trains continue to unload fresh regiments of Wurtembergers and Prussian Guards on the far side of the Douai Plain, while divisions have been withdrawn from other points to strengthen the breaches.in the Hiridenberg line south of the Biver Scarpe. Hill 70 (north of Loos), Gavrelle, Monchy, and Fontaine are four storm ceiitres which involved exceptionally heavy German losses. The Germans apparently thought it possible that they might break the British barrier between Gavrelle and the Douai railway, aad thence to th« /Scarpe marshes. Infantry waves flowed over the ridges .through the copses between Fresnes and Plouvivin in solid lines. No gunner could ask for a better target. Tho appalling destruction by our explosives, however, did not affect the German observers behind Fresnes, andjthe surviving Brandenburgers who managed to regain tho shelters from which they had sortied were prepared for another attack; and fresh battalions were summoned to undergo the same ordeal „,.,, , . The British garrison in Gavrelle simply sat tight behind the machine guns and killed the Germans in company with the ;irtillery. The fields in front were covered with, corpses. The entire countryside around Monchy and Fontaine is strewn, with dead. Never before have the opposing airfleets been so heavily engaged as during Monday and Tuesday. The battle aircraft grappled with each other above the contending armies. Aviatiks whirled down in dizzy spirals, pursued by ■ the British airmen, who saw them crash in blazing wreckage on the battlefield. T-hen our planes swept low, and riddled the wavering line of advancing grey figures. Our airmen were everywhere. They fought the German batteries, line regiments, and transport columns, and did not give the enemy a Tanks, aeroplanes, and gas- shields were- -wielded by us in this modern battle. ' ' Altogether, ten German divisions were ■withdrawn from one part of tho front; and ten new ones are already undergoing a similar hammering. (Received April 27, 10.20 a.m.) PARIS, 26th April. The Matin states that the enemy trenches on the Scarpe are full of dead. The German losses amounted to 20 per cent, of the effectives. A Pomeranian division was almost annihilated; one Prussian regiment was mown down to the last man. Units of the Prussian Guards have replaced the exhausted Bavarians. The British losses were relatively small; and the majority of the casualties --were from minor wounds. (published in the times.) LQNDON, 26th April. The Times correspondent at British Headquarters states : "The ferocity of the fighting and the slaughter of Germans is unparalleled. The repulses of the German counter-attacks at Gavrelle were like massacres. The ground is heaped with dead; our artillery blew whole battalions to bits. The fury of the Germans has temporarily been exhausted, but renewed concentrations of troops presage a further attempt to recapture Gavrelle., Four officers of the British high command, who were investigating-the results at the battle-front, were nearly captured by a German patrol, which demonstrates the extreme openness and irregularity of the fighting. The officers had to run for their lives.' Fortunately, they outran the Germans, who narrowly iniffised bagging big game." " ■ (AUSTBALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 25th April. Mi 1. Philip Gibbs writes : "The battle between the Scarpo and Sense© Rivers is ebbing and flowing in an extraordinary manner. Several British units were rescued after holding out in the most gallant manner at isolated posts. A narty of Worcesters were without food and water for several days, but did not surrender. The Germans have already ' made eight counterattacks on Gavrelle. All were broken before they reached our lines." (Received April 27, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, 86th Aprii. Mr. Beach Thomas, describing the Worcesters' experience, says : Successful German counter-attacks swept back their neighbours, leaving the Worcesters isolated. Successive advancing waves of between 5000 and 4000 Germans swept over them, but the Worceaters were well entrenched and had no thought o£ surrendering, though agonised by thirst. A hurricane of shells was bursting overhead for thirty-six hours, but they held.on, believing the Germans would be ultimately driven back. After fourteen additional hours .their hopes were realised. The • advancing British troops found the Worcesters, unable to speak, their tongues swollen and their lips parched, but still defiant. . , . - , . ,