BRITISH ESTABLISHED IN BULLECOURT VILLAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16538, 14 May 1917, Page 6

BRITISH ESTABLISHED IN BULLECOURT VILLAGE.

POSITIONS IN -ROEUX TAKEN-- BY STORM. * ARTILLERY BREAKS UP THE ENEMY CONCENTRATION. Australian and N.Z. l Cable. . - (Received 1 a.m.) - •' ''■ LONDON, May 13.' %.; The latest report from Sir Douglas Haig states: Further details of our attacks last night confirm the success of the operations. Considerable enemy* forces were observed yesterday evening massing - for a counter-attack in '' the neighbourhood of Bullecourt. They were effectively dealt with by our artillery, and their attack did not develop. We attacked later, and after fighting which lasted all night we established ourselves in ; Bullecourt village. . Fighting continues. The enemy's attack upon,our new positions was shattered by our artillery. We captured, astride the Arras-Oambrai Road, 1200 yds of trenches, including a strong cavalry position. Last night we stormed tho Eoeux cemetery and chemical works. Further northward wo continued our advance to-day, carrying positions in this neighbourhood on a front of half a mile. 1 We took many prisoners.

DISCHARGED FROM CAMP. — .<<►.....—. ~ GOVERNMENT'S POLICY, ~ ■ - ■ i _ . W- : *-» - PATRIOTIC ' SOCIETY'S .VIEW. '- "If the Government accepts the responsibility of taking a man into camp it should accept responsibility for anything'that happens afterwards," was the view expressed by Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, chairman of tho Wellington War Relief Association, at the last meeting of that body. Mr. Tripp said there were cases of men who had broken up after one week in camp, and surely in was the duty of the Government to look after such men.

Tho meeting resolved to recommend to the Government that the Pensions Board should have power to grant »■ full.pension to soldiers or their dependants in proper cases, even if the injuries or disability from which tho soldiers are suffering has, in tho opinion of tho Pensions Board, been partly caused by some old trouble from which the soldier, may havo suffered before he went into camp. Support was also given to the following clauso in a report recently adopted by the Otago Soldiers and Dependants' Welfare Committee: "Numerous instances have come under the notice of the committee evidencing that so many inconsistencies havo been' apparent in thf decision given by the medical boards and medical men, that a strong feeling exists that, greater care should be exercised in passing men for active service. It is hoped that tho reported tightening of the medical standard as a result of the chief medical authorities conferring on this matter will have the desired effect, but the committee feels representations should be made to tho Minister on this subject. As regards the position of men who havo been passed as fit, and shortly afterwards broken down and been discharged, the association is very strongly of opinion that the Government should accept the same responsibility as regards these men as if their discharge had been occasioned through the effects of illness and wounds in the field."