FRENCH PARTLY LOSE AND LATER RETAKE HANGARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16824, 15 April 1918, Page 5

FRENCH PARTLY LOSE AND LATER RETAKE HANGARD.

SHARP FIGHTING IN REGION OP ST. MIHIEL SALIENT. BOMBARDMENT OF RHEIMS CAUSES SERIOUS FIRES. Australian and N.Z. and Eeuter. (Heed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 13.—1.15 p.m. ■ A French communique reports During the night our counterattacks in the region of Hangard-en-Santerre, four miles north of Moreuil, completely threw back the enemy. We again possess thu ' entire village, and also the cemetery. The artillery duel continues to be violent in this region. Between Montdidier and Noyon there have been lively bombardments and great patrol activity. Enemy raids north of Orvillers-Sorel, eight miles south-east of Montdidier, and between the Niette and the Aisne, broke down. The enemy continues to bombard Rheims. A portion of the town is in flames. We are endeavouring to restrict the conflagration. The enemy is renewing his attacks on the forest of Apremont, in the St. Mihiel region, and against the Bois Brule, the point of liason with the Americans. Our troops shattered most of the attacks. (Received 6.6 p.m.) LONDON, April 13.— a.m. A French communique reports:—Following intense artillery preparation, the Germans yesterday morning attacked on a front from Hangard-en-Santerre to Hourges, a distance of a mile. A furious fight, lasting all day, developed. The enemy front at Hourges made no progress. The Germans, after several fruitless attacks, cease-, lessly fed with fresh troops, entered Hangard". Counter-attacks brought back to us the western part of the village, where the fighting continues desperately. There is active artillery duelling on the Noyon sector. The Germans bombarded Rheims, where several fires were started, notably round the cathedral. The enemy at the forest of Apremont strongly attacked our positions, and gained a footing in our advanced elements. A sharp counter-attack by a French and American combination ejected them. Two German aeroplanes and a captive balloon were felled, and 12 driven down damaged. We dropped 16 tons of bombs on the station at St. Quentin and on aviation grounds north of Montdidier, where hangars were destroyed. An earlier communique states The artillery struggle was somewhat violent to-nighfc in the^- region of Hangard-en-Santerre. Our reconnaissances were active in the sector from Noyon to Canny-sur-Matz, taking prisoners. There was a fairly lively bombardment of the region of the Aisne canal and the forest of Parroy. Australian and N.Z. and Eeuter. (Reed. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 14—1.25 a.m. A French communique reports: There is reciprocal artillery activity north of Montdidier. The French,' west of Lassigny, attacked the woods north-west of Orvillers-Sorel, on a front of 1 1200 yds, and advanced several hundred yards. German storm troopb, attacking on i the Noyon sector, were caught by our fire before reaching our lines, and sanguinarily defeated. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 12. Correspondents emphasise tho significance of the renewed bombardment on the Corbie front, between the Ancre and the Somme, and also the increasing power of mutual cannonading on the French front, where artillery in the next shock will play a full part.