British Attack Resumed

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 110, 4 May 1917, Page 5

British Attack Resumed

On a Twelve Mile Front J Strong Hostile Positions Captured. Germans Evacuating St. Quentin. [PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] [.AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND REUTER] (Received 4, 11.10 a.m.) London, May 3. , Sir Douglas Haig reports that heavy fighting is taking place aldkg the whole front, from the Hindenburg line southwards of the Sjlhsee river to the Acheville-Vimy road, south of Lens. We are progressing, and have already captured a number of strong positions. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] (Received 4, 12.10 p.m.) Paris, May 3. “ Le Petit Journal ” says that the Germans are preparing to leave St. Quentin. Placards state:—“ The French will return because we permit.” BOMBING SWISS AND DUTCH TOWNS. GERMAN’S SEEKING PRETEXT FOR INVASION. (Received 4, 12.10 p.m.) Paris, May 3. M. Marcel Hutin says that the Boche aeroplanes no longer hesitate to bomb Swiss and Dutch towns. General von Hinis seeking a pretext to invade these countries. REPINGTON'S ESTIMATE OF GERMAN MAN-POWER. BRITISH SUPERIORITY IN MACHINES AND ARTILLERY. [“THE TIMES.”] (Received 4, 9.15 a.m.) London, May 3. , Colonel Repington estimates the number of Germans on all fronts at 4,500,000. In addition, there are also 500,000 on the lines of communications and 1,000,000 in depots. The German morale on the west front is still respectable. The High Command continues to substitute machine-power for man-power wherever possible, but we hold a superiority in machine-power and artillery. The Arras battle gave the impression that the Germans lacked guns, but had plenty of shells. Their gunnery is distinctly inferior to ours, which is particularly deadly in counter and battery work. Our airmen reported 1589 direct hits on German guns during the four months before the Arras battle. EARLIER BRITISH REPORTS. ARTILLERY COMBAT NORTH OF THE SCARPE. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND REUTER] London, May 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —We drove off a raid northward of Arleux. There was active reciprocal artillerying northward of the Scarpe and in the neighbourhood of Ypres. Seventeen German aeroplanes were brought down on Tuesday, and four of ours are missing. FRENCH ARTILLERY ALSO ACTIVE. London, May 3. A French communique says:—Both artilleries were active, particularly north-west of Reims and in the Champagne. ' A local operation gained us ground west of Mont Cornillet. The day was quiet everywhere else. As reprisal for the enemy bombing Chalons and Epemay, five French machines bombed Treves, causing a violent conflagration. (Received 4, 11.10 a.m.) London, May 3. A French communique reports: —There is artillery activity and also patrol encounters throughout the region of Chemin-des-Dames. We repulsed enemy raids in the woods west of Mont Camillet heights, east of Mont Haut. Our detachments penetrated the enemy trenches at Avocourt Wood, on the left bank of the Meuse, and there were patrol encounters on the right bank in the direction of Damloup and Bezonvaux. There is an intermittent cannonade on some points of the front, notably in the sector of St. Mihiel.