DETAILS OF MONDAY'S BATTLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 97, 26 April 1917, Page 4

DETAILS OF MONDAY'S BATTLE.

EXCEPTIONALLY FIERCE

FIGHTING;

FIiBRGB GERMAN ATTACKS

BROKEN BY ARTILLERY

(Atis. and N.Z. Assn. arid Reuter.) >'■■•,■ (Received April 25/8.10 p.m.) • : LONDON, April 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Further inf or nation, regarding Monday's battle showis that' the fighting was exceptionally fierce. Seven German divisions were engaged on the CroisillesGavrelle front. Several points of,tactical importance changed, hands more than once, and all remained ours except n, few biiildings north of Roeux: Our massed artillery shattered frequent counter-attacks, while those penetrating our barrages were cut down with rifle and machine-gun fire. One British corps took prisoners belonging to four divisions. We advanced on the whole front.

There was considerable fighting today, though somewhat less fierce, on a number of points on the battle front. Progress continued bftwee. i the Sensee river and Monehy le Prenx. Our line , v/as advanced to within a few hundred yards of Fontaino le Croisille and Che-ri^y. Counter-attacks by strong forces in the neignborhood of Gavrelle in th« affcerncon were broken by our artillery and driven back in disorder.

Over two thousand .prisoners have been passed to the rear since Monday morning, and others have yet to be counted.

A greater amoimt of air-fighting took place on Monday than on any previous day. Our aeroplanes attacked the enemy's machines wherever they were found, going far behind the lines bombing railways, dumps, and aerodromes, and comnelling the enemy to give battle. Fifteen German machines wore destroyed nnd 24 were driven down. A large three-seater was brought down in our lines.- Ttvo of our machines are miss'ng.