FURTHER GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 May 1917, Page 5

FURTHER GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS

STRUGGLE SOUTE OF SOUGHEZ. BRITISH LOSE AMD RECOVER GROUND. BRITISiH ESTABLISHED IN ' . ■BUULECOURT. tAastr&uaii *na iN.Zi. Liable Aesoci&iiouand Heater.) V . -LONDOiN, May 12. « - Sir Donglas Haig reports: The enemy early this" morning launched a third at-tack/,-using flammenwerfers, southward ox the * Sdnchez river. _ After rthree_ hours* severe fighting .the weight _<jf repeated assaults compelled our postp to withdraw from a portion of the front* Ouf counter-attack this afternoon recaptured the whole of the lost trenches. "" The .enemy's losses in the three attacks .-were- heavy. Our positions are unchanged—- •■ ... ■We ,ve~ry successfully attacked the fiindenbtrrg. line in the neighbourhood oi „ BuUecourt, and also astride the Arnorthward of tha ■Scarpe, gaining all the objectives.. *W« took some hundred prisoners." .Local fighting is resulting in our favour .eastward of Lempire. The Allies made successful Taids eastward "of Ypres. Sir Douglas,Haig says further details of last night's attacks confirm the success of 'the operations. Considerable enemy forces were observed, last night massing for a counterattack; in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt. They -were effectively dealt with l>y our artillery, 'and their attack did not develop. v W«s attacked later,, and after all-night fighting' established ourselves in Bullecourt village-. The fighting continues. The enemy's attack upon our new positions was scattered., by "the artillery. ■Wie captured) astride the Arras-Cam-brai road 1200 1 yards of ■ trench, .ine'ludr ing a strong cavalry position. We stormed last night the Rouex Cemetery and chemical works. '" ,'.'. Further northward", we advance to-day. earring positions in'this neighbourhood on a front of half a mile, and taking many prisoners. : "