BITTER STRUGGLE RAGES FOR VILLAGE OF HANGARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16822, 12 April 1918, Page 5

BITTER STRUGGLE RAGES FOR VILLAGE OF HANGARD.

MASTERY OF POSITION BY FRENCH. ARTILLERY DUELS IN PROGRESS AT MONTOIDIER. Australian and N.Z. and Renter. (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 10. A French communique, issued this evening, reports: The enemy during the night carried out local actions at several points. After strong artillery preparation they powerfully attacked last evening in the region of Hangard-en-Santerre, four miles north of Moreuil. There was an obstinate fight for the village, which changed hands repeatedly. Our attack at three in the morning gave us complete mastery of the village and cemetery. An attempt to drive us from the wood west of Castel was sanguinarily defeated. A late communique reports: North of Montdidier and in the region of the Oise Canal the artillery duel is violent. An earlier report stated: North of Montdidier the enemy artillery was violently countered by ours. We bombarded Beveral points in the region of Hangard-en-Santerre, where our artillery prevented a German attack debouching. We repulsed an attempt to advance west of the Noyon sector at Plemont. An intermittent artillery duel is in progress on the left bank of the Oise. Our batteries caught and dispersed an enemy concentration in the region of Coucy le Chateau, eight miles south-east of Chauny. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 10. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes : The French had a sanguinary encounter ' with the Germans for possession of Hangard-en-Santerre, which changed hands several tames, the French being finally masters of the village.