GERMANS' EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS.

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1917, Page 3

GERMANS' EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS.

AUSTRALIANS' GREAT EFFORT,

HOW THE GUNS AVERE SAVED

SYDNEY, April 19

Captain Bean, referring •* the Germans' extravagant claims of captures at Lagnicourt, says : The Germans for some reason, are intensely anxious t{> affect the opinion of Australia at this juncture by expressing clumsy sympathy with the Australians.

They eagerly seize and publish.letters written during the Somme winter in order tp make it appear that the Australians are anxious to desert the Allies.

Captain Bean says: The Prussian Guards were ordered to cut through the Australians, reach the euns, seize the village of Moreuil and hold it for twenty-fpur hours until special parties destroyed the guns and ransacked, headquarters for papers and then with drew

Large picked forces by sheer weight broke through the village of Lagnicourt an dreached some advanced field guns which the crews dismantled. The Germans were actually placing charges under the guns when the local commanders, without awaiting oraers, counter attacked, and by the middle of the morning all the guns were not only recaptured but with the exception of five which the Germans managed to destroy,'' were firing on the retreating enemy.