THE FRENCH FRONT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4846, 18 April 1918, Page 5

THE FRENCH FRONT.

BATTLE FOR HANGARD. X ALLIED COUNTER-ATTACK SUCCESSFUL. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, April 16. Reuter’s French Headquarters correspondent reports: One of the bittea est engagements of the great battle was fought on Friday for Hangard, a position of importance to the north -of the road from Noyon to Amiens. K The Germans thrice attacked, hoping to thrust, a wedge between the French and British armies, and to obtain tlie mastery of the Amiens road Tlie village was taken, retaken, and taken again by the Germans, but rescued a second time by the French, just in time to save the remnants of the garrison. In the great battle of April 4 the village, was gallantly held by a battalion . against furious, onslaughts. The hil] dominating the village was captured by tlie Germans and retaken by the French. The Germans on the 9tli fought their way into the village. After all-night fighting from house to house, they were driven out. s On Friday the Germans reattacked and surrounded the village.' The battalion commander fortified himself in a bouse and held out from 8 o’clock in the morning until 6 in the evening, when lie telegraphed to Headquarters- “I am surrounded; still holding o it. make haste.” His last message read: “Enemy about- to attack.” It was then 6in the evening. A few minutes later lie and his men were taken prisoner. A counter-attack by F,ranco-Britisli forces, was completely successful Hui dreds of Germans were captured, and the French defenders, except tru, were rescued.