VILLERS BRETONNEAUX.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 April 1918, Page 8

VILLERS BRETONNEAUX.

CORRESPONDENTS' ACCOUNTS OF

THE FIGHTING

ENEMY TANKS IN ACTION.

(Received April 26, 9.45 a.m.)

LONDON, April 25

The United Press1 correspondent says that Hindenburg used tanks for storming purposes -when assaulting the Franco-British positions eastward and .south-eastward of Amiens. Enemy infantry charged near Villers. Bretonneaux under tanks' protection.

Mr Percival Phillips writes: The enemy failed everywhere except at Villers Bretonneaux, where there was heavy on a front of 2* miles. The attack, which -we have been expecting for several days, does not seem to be a great thrust'; for Amiens, the battle being rather due to the enemy's desire to wipe out the local salient and take the high ground on either side of the Amiens road before attempting a big advance.

The German assault troops nowhere reached their objectives. The tanks may «be derelicts we left behind. Hithefto the Germans have only, used tanks in order to bring ammunition to the front lines.

Mr Gibbs states that two divisions

attacked Villers Bretonneaux, where the Germans advanced a small distance and hold the outskirts of the village. It is a place of some size en the ridge south-east of Amiens. Perched above the Somme, as a tactic-.il position it has some importance, as it would enable the enemy to advance

four or five kilometres

The Gorman "bombardment commenced at 3 o'clock in the morning, and continued furiously for four hours. Then the Fourth Guards Division, who have already been twice in action in the recent battles, attacked with the 77th Division, which has just come from Russia. At the same time the 13th Division, comprising Westphalian troops, attacked the French at Castel and gained a footing on tho rising ground.