IN FRANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1917, Page 5

IN FRANCE

CAS ATTACKS.

lIANDTO-JIAND Kit.: UTI NT.

PARIS, May II

Lo Journal describes the -Kin scene of reciprocal gas attacks on the western slopes, of Fresnoy, when regiments of masked men fought in the dead of night in the micFt of the black vapors, making the moonlight fantastical. There were extraordinary hand-to-hand encounters. The combatants' discarded their and hew at each others' throats in the effort hi to tear awav the- masks. There were few pri.'"Tiers and few wounded. THE AUSTRALIANS' QALLANTRY. AGKXT-GEXEKAI/S VISIT. LONDON, May 11. Sir Thomas Robinson lias returned from France, where he conducted the poll among the Queensland troops on tho Queensland Referendum. He states that s:ome divisions, in which Queendandersj predominated, are now in the Hack of the lighting. When Sir Thomas Robinson arrived in camp, yon Hiudenburg was, delivering his ore.it but unsuccessful, counter-attack upon the trenches, which, the Australians had captured. The behavior of the AufttraliaJiis is magnificent. They are full of light, and determination.

HINDENBURO DESPERATE.

REPEATED ATTACKS IIEPULSED

LONDON, May U

A correspondent at headquarters states that the Germans are making frantic efforts U) regain the initiative. Prince Rupprecht is hard pressed with his back tight ngain.'t positions which if lost will be" fatal to his plains, and is launching attack after attack at: von HindenhurgV bidding against the British, with little result. The Germans' heavily hurled attacks at St. Cruer.s between (iavrello and the Souchez River. The British artillery, machine-guns, and barrage*, despite the darkness,' twice cut the attackers to pieces and threw back a strong- attack eastward of Arleux with considerable looses'. The Germans failed in their evening attacks* against positions southward of the Souchez River.

The Prussians, aided by liquid fire, again struck, but by the light of fhoir eivn devilisli machine wci'e mown down fiiiifl defeated. The Germans attacked fiercely eastward of La Courlotte. Fighting continues.

OETERMIMEO x FIGHTI!IO,

(J fcIItMANS CHECKED UVERY"W.H.EIIE.

LONDON, May 11-Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Germans attacked last evening eastward of Arleux and southward of Hie Souchez liivcr, but were repulsed by our artillery and machine-gun- lireW> drove off later attempts, in which the Germans were assisted by flammenwerfer southward of the Souchez River- We successfully carried out a night raid eastward of Ypres-

ENEMY ATTACKS.

HEAVILY" REPULSED.

LONDON, May 32-• Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Ha-ig reports: The enemy early this morning launched his third attach, nsingflammerwerfers, southward of the Souchez River- After , three hours' severe fighting' the weight of the repeated assaults compelled our posts to withdraw from a portion of the front- Our counter-attack in the afternoon recaptured the whole of the lost trenches. The enemy's losses in the three attacks were heavy. Our positions are unchanged. . N

SOGGESS AT BULLEOOUBT

ENEMY ATTACKS SHATTERED,

WUTISIL MAKK RRUGRKSS

[Australian and }i.l. Cable Association.]

LONDON, May 13. Received this day at 11.10 a.m.

Sir Douglas Haig gives further details of last night's attacks and confirms the success of the operation. Considerable enemy forces were observed last night massing for a counterattack in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt. They were effectively dealt with by our artillery and their attack did not develop. We attacked later and after night, long righting established ourselves in Bullecouri village. The fighting continues. The enemy's attack upon our new positions was scattered by our artillery. We captured and are astride of the Arras-Caiiibmi road and 1200 yards of trenches, including a strong cavalry position. "Wo stormed Rouev. cemetery and lhe chemical works further northward. We continued our advance; to-day, carry-

ing positions m this neighbourhood on a front of half a mile. \Ve took many prisoners.

PRISONEDS TAKEN

LOXDON, May 12

Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports later: We very successfully attacked the Hindenburg lino in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt, also astride the ArrasOambrai road, and northward of the Scarpe, gaining all our objectives. We took prisoner some hundreds- Local fighting, resulting in our favour, took place eastward of Lempire, and the Allies made successful raids eastward of Ypres.

RECENT FIGHTBNG.

A GERMAN RECOLT

[Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,]

Deceived this dav at 11.10 a.m. LONDON, May 12

Wireless German Oflicial.—Dense masses of English last night attacked after the strongest arllllerying on both sides of the Arras-Lens, Arras-Douai, and Arras-Cainbrai roails and succeeded in penetrating our lines at some points. AVe eouut.er-iatt;:}ked .and throw them back with heavy losses. Fighting continues at the R.oeu.\ railway station. I'Yesh developed between Achevilie and Qiieant. An artillery battle continues at Aisne and Champagne. We forced back tlie French afc Dovelleridge, near Cerny, after hitler hand to hand light iing. V> e maintained our improved lines ,-i gainst an attack. We repulsed an attack against the hills eastward of Berryanha'c. We brought down fifteen enemy aeroplanes. We repulsed renewed attacks on the Coma salient.

THE HINDENBURG LSNE

ITS CONSTRUCTION ALTERED

PARIS, Mar I'J

The Gauloisi states thai, the Hindenburg position is no longer nearly t\vu or three parallel, continuous trenches, hut a fortilied zone, composed of n. series. of contrcs: of resbdr ance, like subterranean fortresses, be. hind ramparts of advanced trenches.

THE GERMAN LOSSES

A FORMIDABLE TOTAL

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

deceived this dav at 10.30 a-m. PARIS, May 18. Moderate estimates ]>ut the German losses in killed, wounded and prisoners in the present French offensive from April 10th to May Ist as 200.000, which have since increased to 300,000There is splendid news I'rom Bullecourt. The Australians, after more than holding out against the picked German troops, widened their bite in the Hindenlmrg line and progressed magnificently, bombing their way inflexibly along the main trenches-

FRENCH SUGCESSES.

COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. LONDON, May 11. A French communique states : We carried a centre of resistance in the region of Qhevreux. German grenade cjunter-attacks broke down under our lire. We repulsed a stroi Jt;er attack on the salient north-east of the Coliforne Plateau, after lively righting m which the enemy suffered serious losses. A lively-artillery duel is proceeding on the Cerny-llurtebise front, ARTILLERY DUEL, GERMAN LINKS PENETRATED. LONDON, May 12. A French communique states:' Our batteries kept up a. destructive fire against the German organisations and blew up a munitions depot 'north-east of Juvincourt, on the left bank of the Meuse. The artillery duel was violent all night. Detachments; of our troops, penetrated the German line north of P.ezoii Yaux and at various pointy in Alsace, where we took prisoners. GERMANS REPULSED. ENEMY AEROPLANES BROUGHT DOWN. LONDON, May 12. A French communique says: After a violent bombardment in the region of Corny en Laonnais, enemy attacks: on both sides, of the village were shattered by our artillery and machine guns. The enemy gained a footing in two hundred metres of trenches west of the village, but was inimediatrlv driven out. There is>

violent eannor.iading on this part of the front. We brought down five enemy aerop]anesi and four others we're seriously damaged.