French Offensive

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4526, 18 April 1917, Page 5

French Offensive

Attack on 45 Mile Front

Splendid Progress HHade

Vigorous Resistance Overcome

Over 10,000 Prisoners Taken

Much Material also Captured

(United Press Assoi

iciation —Copyright.)

Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, April 16. Reuter’s Headquarters correspondent reports:—“A great French offensive has begun.” THE OPENING ATTACK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuters. (Received April 17, 8.50 -p.m.) PARIS, April 16. A Frencli communique says:— Between St. Quentin and the Oise the artillery fighting continues. South of the Oise we made fresh progress on the plateau east of the line from Barisis to Quincy la Basse. After artillery preparations lasting several days, we attacked this morning between Soissons and Rlieims against the German lines on a front of about 45 miles. A desperate battle ensued alone; the whole front, where the enemy had collected very large forces and numerous guns. Everywhere the French overcame a vigorous defence and carried the first German positions between Soissons and C'raonne. East of Craonne we carried the second German positions. South of Jurincourt and further south, we carried our line as far ax the western outskirts of Bermericourt and as far as the Aisne Canal between the Oivre and Courcy. Repeated violent counter-attacks north of Yille-au-Bois were'broken by our fire with considerable enemy losses.

Eight thousand shells are being poured into Rheims- daily. They caused twenty-five fires on Friday, similarly on Saturday. When fire breaks out the Germans put an artillery barrage around the, buildings to prevent the fire being extinguished.

MASSACRE OF PRUSSIAN GUARDS. AUSTRALIANS’ GRIM TASK. BLACK DAY" FOR GERMANY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 17, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 17. Mr Philip Gibbs sends further vivid details of the Australian success at Lagnicourt, which lie describes as one of the bloodiest episodes in the long tale of slaughter. The enemy before daybreak heavily attacked in masses, arid achieved a brief success against the Australians. Ihe charging waves of the Prussian Guards drove a deep wedge into our position.

The Australian staff officers swiftly prepared a counter-blow, and at 7.30 companies of the Australians, with irresistible spirit, swept forward forcing the Prussians to retreat obliquely, panic-stricken, under a shower of shrapnel this morning, resulting in the greatest disaster, because they were cut oh by their own broadi belts of entanglements. Most appalling slaughter followed, and corpses were piled upon corpses in long lines, tangled in the mass o. spiked wire. The cries of the wounded and long tragic wails rose high above the roar of rifle-fire and the bursting of shrapnel.

The prisoners hitherto counted exceed 10,000, and we also captured a considerable quantity of material. Artillery fighting continues in Champagne, anct there is intermittent cannonade on the rest of the front.

The Australians, quiet and grim, shot continuously until over 1500 German corpses lay before the position.

A dire fate has followed the Prussian Guard throughout the war, but this massacre is the worst episode in their history, and will be remembered in Germany as a black and fearful thing.

THE ARRAS BATTLE. MAY PROVE DECISIVE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 18, 1.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 17. Mr. Frank Simmonds. the Tribune War correspondent, describes Arras as the greatest offensive since the Marne and says it may prove the decisive battle of the war. The British success has already surpassed anything in trench war, AUSTRALIAN TRIUMPH. ATTACK ON HINDENBURG LINE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY. April 17. Captain Bean, cabling on the 16th, describes the Australian attack on tlie Hindenburg line. The feat will live in history as long as history lasts. Under machine-gun firee, through such wire fortifications as have hitherto been unknown, they advanced, seized lines of trenches. and captured 'the village of Reincourt. They pushed two thousand yards behind the Hindenburg line. Here the wonderful effort spent itself. The ranks were thinned, but a handful of men were able to down the machine-gun fire and sniping. The. Germans, heavily reinforced, drove them back. Though the Australians did not succeed, it was an extraordinarily gallant- attack, and liad a marked effect- on tlie progress of the troops elsewhere.

BRITISH OFFIGIAL REPORTS.

MUCH BOOTY AT LIEVIN,

CATURE OF VILLERET

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assaeiv~ ; on, Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON. April 16.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We captured Villeret village, southeastward of Hargicourt, and progressed north-westward of Lens.

The booty captured at Lievin and Souchez river was very great. The enemy’s attack on Moncliy-le-Preux on Saturday was most determined. The third Bavarian division, which fought at Loos in 1915 and High Wood in 1916, was ordered to retake the village at all costs. It suffered the heaviest losses.

RAIN ON BRITISH FRONT.

14,000 PRISONERS SINCE THE • ' 9th.

194 GUNS CAPTURED

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuters. (Received April 17, S.lO p.m.) LONDON. Ar*U 17

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We have taken upwards of 14,000 prisoners and 194 guns since tlie morning of the 9th. There was jieavy rain all the afternoon and nbthing of special interest.