HANGING FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4875, 22 May 1918, Page 5

HANGING FIRE.

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Allies Gain Further Ground

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL ATTACKS.

'■ (United Press Association—Copyright.)

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Keuter’s. ' LONDON, May 20. . Sir Douglas Haig reports:— A local operation at Yille-sur-An- j ere was completely successful, the t Australians carrying the German po- f sitions in and around the < village, j which they -took possession of, secur- j ing 360 prisoners and capturing 20 j machine guns. Our casualties were light. "We successfully raided a post south-westward of Meteren, inflicting casualties.

THE FRENCH FRONT.

ENEMY LINES PENETRATED Australian and N.Z. Gable Association Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received May 21, 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. *A French communique states : There is lively artillery activity in the region of Mangard and south of the Avre. " Our-detachments penetrated to the enemy’s third trenches northward of Rheims, in the direction of Dernicourt and caused much destruction. .A later French communique reports artillery actions, occasionally violent,,, south of the Avre and ah some points in the region of Montdidier and Lassigny.

THE AIR FIGHTING.

ANOTHER GOOD DAY. 30 ENEMY MACHINES DOWNED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received May 21, 11.40 p-iu ) LONDON, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report says. — ~ AYe bombed on Sunday enemy railway stations, aerodromes, dumps and billets, dropping over 15 tons or bombs- . , Severe fighting occurred eastwards of the line, where a large hostile formation attacked our bombeis. We downed 27 enemy machines and drove clown three. , Twelve of ours are missing. , There was' vigorous mutual night b °Our n night flyers dropped 15 tons of bombs on Cliaulnes, Douai, Don and Marcoing- railway stations and ; St, Denis AVestrcm aerodrome.

HAIG’S LATEST REPORT.

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH ATTACK.

ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED.

BRITISH RUSH ENEMY POST. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received May 21, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports : The French carried out a successful night operation east and northeast of Locre, gaining all their objectives on a front of 4000 yards and taking over 400 prisoners. Local fighting this morning northward of Albert resulted in a few of our men being reported missingWe rushed a German post eastward of Hebuterne, taking prisoners and two machine guns. Hostile gas shelling was active northward of Bethnne.

THE AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS

FRENCH ALSO ADVANCE. VALUABLE GROUND GAINED. Keuter's Telegrams. (Received May 21, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. May 20. Reuter’s Headquarters correspondent says the Australian captures at ViHe sur Ancre exceeded 400 and the casualties inflicted were very heavy. The Germans were forced hack from an awkward little salient they had created and are now probably back upon the railway. Over thirty machine guns were taken between Ribemont and Dcrnacourt. The heavy fighting mentioned in previous despatches referred to a French attack on a front of from three to four thousand yards,_ apparently pivoting on Locre hospice and extending eastwards. It is reported that the operations succeeded and that over 300 prisoners were collected. , Every yard of ground the Allies take in this locality represents an important gain, inasmuch as it pushes the enemy from - the line of hills running west of Mt. Kemmel.

THE LABOR BATTALIONS.

HAIG’S WARM TRIBUTE, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Reuter's Telegrams. (Received May 21, 8 p-m.) - LONDON, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig has issued a special Order paying a tribute to the devotion, endurance and gallantry or the labor units under trying circumstances at the beginning of the present tattle. He says their discipline and spirit enabled them to render most valuable assistance to the rest of the army.

ENEMY REPORTS.

GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. Admiralty— Per Wireless Tress, deceived May 21, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. A German official report says: The Rritish entered Ville sur Ancre but failed to advance further along, the Ancre Valley. Attacks against Morlancourt broke down.

THE GERMAIN PROGRAMME

formidable plans. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received May 21. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. The United Press correspondent says it is reported that Mackensen is on the West Front commanding an a'rmv of manoeuvre, which will be flung into any opening which Hindenburg may make when the offensive is renewed. Hindenburg has now probably over 100 shock divisions awaiting orders, about 40 of which are entirely new.