GAVRELLE HELD.

Evening Star, Issue 16409, 27 April 1917, Page 6

GAVRELLE HELD.

DESPITE DESPERATE COUMTER-ATTAOKS. - GREAT BRITISH AIR WORK. Eish Commissioner’s Cable. . LONDON, April 25. British official: J' >vu German held guns w . er e captured in yesterday’s fighting south of the Scarpo. Several hostile raiding parties were repulsed near Lens and S'pres. Our aeroplanes made many raids yesterbombing with good effect railway junctions, aerodromes, billets, and ammunition dumps. In ono raid a largo bomb struck the engine of a m'oving train, blowing the engine off the line and wrecking the train. Hostile troops’ transport was successfully engaged with machine-gun fire. ' cv -n i tt • April 26 - brr Douglas Haig reports; Early last night the enemy again endeavored to attack our new positions at Gavrelle. Their advancing troops were caught by our artillery barrage and completely repulsed. [The cable news in this issue accredited to ‘The Times' has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is . such news the editorial opinion of ‘The . Tima*-'

HEROIC WORCESTERS HUNG ON FOR 50 HOURS. ISOLATED, PARCHED, BUT DEFIANT. LONDON, April 26. ' (Received April 27, at 9.15 a.m.) Mr Beacli Thomas, describing tho Worcesters’ experience south of the Scarpe, says : 'Successful German counter-attacks swept back their neighbors, leaving the Wovces-'' tgrs isolated. Successive advancing waves of between 3.0C0 and 4.000 Germans swept over them. But tho Worcesters, well entrenched, had no thought of surrendering. Though agonised by thirst, and with a hurricane of shells bursting overhead, they held cut for 36 hours, believing that the Germans would ultimately be driven back. Alter 14 additional hours their hopes wero realised. Tho advancing British found the Worcesters unable to speak—tongues swollen anti lips parched, baf still defiant. HIDEOUS COERCION. GAM BRAS »S BITTER AGONY. LONDON, April 26. (Received April 27, at 9.15 a.m.) The ‘ Petit Parisian’ states that at Gambia! the German “kommandantnve,” with threats and blows, compelled the inhabitants, including the majority of the aged women in tho adjoining communes, to work, in the first-line trenches and assist the enemy under fire. SCANDINAVIAN HERRINGS. BIG BRITISH GOVERNMENT ■ PURCHASE. LO2CDOX, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.25 a.m.) The Government have purchased in many thousand barrels of pickled herrings. Local fishmongers have been informed how to obtain supplies. HEW ZEALAND DECORATIONS. Australian end Cable Association and Eeuter, LONDON, April 26. (Received April 27, at 9.15 a.m.) Throe New Zealanders have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals, and six have received Military Medals. AISNE COUNTER-ATTACKS SHATTERED BY THE FRENCH, High Commissioners Cable. ■ LONDON, April 26. French official: Yesterday, after a violent bombardment, the enemy launched twice, .along a front of about two kilometres, westward of Cerny, powerful attacks, which broke down on our lines with heavy losses. Another attempt in the region of Hurt-ebise Farm likewise proved unsuccessful. U BOAT’S VICTIM OFF AMERICAN COAST. WASHINGTON, April 26. (Received April 27, at 9.5 a.m.) The American schooner Percy Birdsall was sunk without warning by a submarine by gunfire. A patrol boat rescued tho crew*. FRENCH MISSION. AMERICA’S CORDIALITY, U.S. MISSION TO RUSSIA. WASHINGTON, April 25. (Received April 27, at 9.5 a.m.) _ Mr Elihu Root has accepted the leadership of the United Stales Commission which is going to Russia. _ General Joflro and M. Viviani met President Wilson at the White House informally and briefly. General Joffre wore his picturesque French uniform, and was by the crowds when they recognised him as General Joffre. POST-WAR TRADE. FRANCE’S DETERMINATION TO SHUT OUT THE BGCHE. LONDON. April 26. (Received Apia 2V, at 9.5 a.m.) It, is understood that ihe Imperial War accepted the Preferential Trade scheme recommended by tho Lord Balfour of Burleigh Committee." AH - Lloyd George is expected to make the announcement in the Commons, which will also include tho decision on the Paris Economic resolutions. The latter were hurried on owing to tho determination of France immediately to denounce ,;'.i treaties. with a view to shutting Germany out of the most favored nation treatment, oho to make a fresh treaty with Britain. This action is rather resented here, but Mr Lloyd George has conferred with M. Ribot, French Premier, and a mutual decision has been reached. SWEDISH SOCIALISTS DEMAND ‘RECONCILIATION’ WITH ENGLAND. COPENHAGEN, April 26. (Received April 27, at 9.5 a.m.) Twenty thousand persons participated in a Socialist demonstration at Alalmo (Sweden). They passed a resolution demanding a treaty with England facilitating exports and imports; also an eight-hour the exemption of small incomes