WIDELY SEPARATED POSITIONS ATTACKED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 April 1918, Page 5

WIDELY SEPARATED POSITIONS ATTACKED.

BATTLE STILL IN PROGRESS

ENEMY'S OBJECTIVES NOT

ATTAINED

Reuter Service.

LONDON, April 24

The British headquarters correspon- I dent, writing on the evening of the 24th, states:. Enemy attacks against •important tactical positions on parts of the line widely asunder were launched this morning. The first was against Dranoutre, at the foot of Mount Kemmel, which French troops have been defending. The enemy gained an initial advantage, but suffered so heavily that they were unable to press the attack, and the situation was restored.

The second attack was against Villers Bretonneux., and followed by a violent hombardment by gas shells. Two enemy divisions assaulted from the , direction of Domard road and penetrated our line and posts, and gained a footing on the outskirts of Villers Bretonneux. The battle is still pro-J gressing. The enemy's objective hasi certainly not been gained. Coinciding with this operation, an J attack was delivered against the J French between Castel and Sallies, near Hangard, but it failed to attain the known objective. This morning the enemy endeavored tp push forward his line south of the Clarence river, but was repulsed. So effective was our -rifle and machine gun fire that the enemy was beaten ftack •without giving battle. In the attack on Villers Bretonneux three German tanks were seen advancing along the road, with infantry following.