A SECOND GREAT BRITISH THRUST.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 97, 26 April 1917, Page 5

A SECOND GREAT BRITISH THRUST.

ATTACKS BROKEN

<<Ava. And N.Z. Assn. and Renter.) '(Received April 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. 'German official: On" the Arras battlefield: the British troops standing on -j ]f!Yeneh territory yesterday delivered ! a secon-d great thrust to break] the German ' lineß. Tke ?iie«viest.: battle is.raging.. _ For days ;tbe enemy have'ibeen: hurling masses <©f fthells of every description against ■our positions. Early on the morn- j ing of tho 23rd the artillery battle 'incrensefj"..to very .strong- drum'rfire.. t Soon afterwards, the/ English -.thrust-, iing'troops, led often by tanks, burst :• forward' on a thirty-kilometre front behind this wall of fire. Our fire fforffd them in many places to with-" <ttraw •wihh'heavyhlosfses. 4*, other points the battle sways "backwards and forwards with great 'bitterness. Whenever the enemy ,:gained ground onr"brave and, eager "infantry drove them back. The Bubxttbs of Lens, Avion,- Gavrelle, *Roeux, and Gem a ppe were the hot•test places /in the ifierce struggle. ■*T]i<»Jr hninos will '■ be apsqeiated w^th r'&pfyri s of heroism ■by -reginients from :almost every-German'district betw;eeh 'the sea: arid- the, A4ps. A hiTther attack ;of particular in- ' tensity with new masses followed in 'tire evening on both sides of the iScarpe. The strength of this attack was also broken under our fire. In ILauH-to-hand fighting "the enemy 'gained a few huudred yards on the 'Canibrai-Arras road, and the ruins of 'XJemappe>remained'in their: hands. The German soldier at the front !fenows tinrtt every man and woman at Siome is working' increasingly to support 'Him in tliis vlife-arid-death'rbat-'Mc. . ',: . .. ■ .:•■•■'-■