KING CONGRATULATES ARRAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9632, 12 April 1917, Page 5

KING CONGRATULATES ARRAY

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received April 11, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON. April 10. Mr Philip Gibbs, telegraphing on the 10th, states that the battle of Arras is the greatest victory the British have yet gained. It is a staggering ow to the enemy. As the Germans aro retreating our guns aro smashing them The Canadians during the night won, Hill 145, tho last point on the Vimy Ridge where the Germans hold out in a pocket with machine-guns. _By the morning the whole ridge was in our hands. The Canadian attack on Monday was astonishingly successful. It was carried out by high-spirited men witli joyous confidence in victory. They marched out at dawn cheering and laughing through mud and rain. They followed close Upon the artillery ban age. By 6.30 a.m. they had taken the first goals, including the front-line system above Neuvllle St. Vaast from La Foodie Farm to Thelus, where tips resistance was tho fiercest. . , . ,' "•, . Hundreds of Germans were found hiding in deep tunnels pierced through tho hill. As the Canadians surged up with their bayonets fixed the Germans screamed, running forward like'a landslip, their chief desire being to escape the barrage of their own guns, the shells from which wore falling fiercely in tho trenches, though too late to damage our men, who were already beyond their reach. _ The Gorman prisoners were glad to pay for the, gift of thoir life by carrying hack tho Canadian wounded soldiers. The Canadian escorts had to guard such enormous numbers of men that the prisoners themselves directed later comers to tho barred-wire enclosuresTheir officers were bad-tempered because the men. bolted and left them in tho front of tho trenches. The officers admitted the hdrrors of the bombardment. Some of the men were without food for four days because they had been boxed in by our barrage. GERMANS HOIST WITH THEIR OWN PETARD TERRIFIED AT BRITISH RAIN OF LIQUID FIRE. United Service Telegram. (Received April 12, 12.40 a.m.) " LONDON, April 10. ~Mr Beach; Thomas says the great battle continues without cessation. Describing the advance of the British, he says that no shell pitched among them so clean were the heavens swept by olir aerial observers and so muddled were tho German gunners. We saw our field guns galloping into enemy villages, and a little later spare horses coming from, the opposition direction with German guns. We saw the Germans literally hoisted with their own petard, our liquid fire descending like gilded rain on the heads of the terrified enemy. ■ As the prisoners came down the good-natured Tommies were filling their waterbottles and jokingly inquired after “Kaiser Bill” and “Hindenbeggar.” All records or curtain firo wore excelled at Vimy. Our airmen reported that trains and lorries wore hurrying forward with strong supports for a counter-attack, and quickly every available heavy gun was directed upon the new target. A ‘unique spectacle followed. The advancing Gormans were cut off by our fire-curtain and no more was seen or heard of them. The present position is that wo are up against Hindenburg’s lino from the south of Arras to St. Quentin., and have turned his line east of Arras and broken his whole defensive system north-east of Arras. Above, tho Scarpo the enemy is retiring to his reserve lino before Douai. THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS

RECOGNITION OF SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—-Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, April 10. His Majesty tho King has telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig as follows: “The whole Empire will rejoice over yesterday’s successful operations. “Canada will be prOud that tho coveted Vimy Ridge has fallen to her troops. “I heartily congratulate you and all who have partakem in this splendid achievement.” SEVERE FIGHTING NORTHERN END OF VIMY RIDGE DEFENCES NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE SOARPE SEIZED. LONDON, April 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—During the nil;lit there was severe fighting at the northern end of the Vimy Ridge, where the enemy revalued a footing. He was ejected, and an attempted, counter-attack failed to materialise. Tho eastern slope of tho ridge was oloarod of tlie enemy, and counter-attacks were repulsed. We seized the village of Fanipoux and neighbouring defences north and south, of tho river Scarpa. Tho number of prisoners captured yesterday exceeds 9000. Over forty guns were also capturedIn the neighbourhood of St. Quentin, the enemy has been driven from tho high ground: between Le Verguier and Hargicourt. Fighting continues on tho whole battle front. After an intense bombardment, tho enemy made a strong attack during tho night on a narrow front south-eastwards of Yores, where ho succeeded in reaching our support lino. Tho enemy was immediately ejected, leaving several dead. OPERATIONS PROCEEDING ENERGETICALLY FURTHER prisoners and important positions captured. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received April 11, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports; — Our operations are being energetically continued to-day despite heavy snowstorms. Wo reached the outskirts of Monchy le Preux, five miles eastward of Arras, and cleared Farbus and Farbus Wood. Wo had hard fighting in the afternoon at tlie northern end of Vimy Ridge, and. gained further prisoners and important positiops. Wo advanced our line northward of Louverval. Enemy counter-attacks at different points were unsuccessful. The number of prisoners taken since yesterday exceeds eleven thousand. including 235 officers. We captured oVer 100 guns, a number of heavies up to 8-inchers, sixty trench mortars and 163 machine-guns. Valuable aeroplane work has been done. In many cases wo had hostile reinforcements under our machine-gun fire. Wo miado bombing expeditions on large railway stations and hit three trains. High Commissioner’s Cable ; LONDON, April 10, 11-25 p.m. British official.—Our operations have been continued energetically to-day in spite of heavy snowstorms and generally unfavourable weather. W'e reached the outskirts of Monchy le Preux, five miles east of Arras, and have cleared Farbus and Farbus Wood. Hard fighting occurred again this afternoon at the northern end of Vimy Ridge', in which we gained further positions and took a number of prisoners and machine-guns. < In tho direction of Cambrai we advanced our* line north of the village of Louverval. Such counter-attacks as the enemy attempted at different points along our front were unsuccessful. The number of prisoners taken by us since the opening of our_ attack yesterday morning now exceeds 11,000, including 230 officers. We also captured over 100 guns, among which are a number of heavy gnus of S-inches calibre, 60 trench mortars and 163 machine-guns. O'Ur aeroplanes performed valuable work yesterday. OVER TWELVE THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN •V.istralian and New Zealand Cable Association. PARIS, April 10. The ‘TVtit Parisien” states that by Monday evening the British had taken over twelve thousand prisoners.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW WAR ENGINES A NEW MODEL OF “TANK.” United Service Cable. (Received April 11, 5.5 p.».) 1Q An extraordinary feature of the fighting in the Lens-Arras sector was the use of a variety of new inventions, including tanks or a new model, union are considerably faster than the old, and move in battalion instead or sing > • The brilliant success of tbo opening day of the offensive astonished tno experts, but it would be a mistake to regard it as easily won. U e had most valuable superiority in heavy guns, whoso new shells were more devastating than the Germans expected'; but much of tbo success was duo to the heroic Canadians’. Experts pronounce the capture of \ imy Ridge as the greatest British victory so far. NON-FARTiCIPATION OF NEW ZEALANDERS United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received April 11, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. Air Massey states that New Zealanders did not participate in the big offensive. ' CANADIANS’ SUCCESS AT VIEWY BRITISH ARTILLERY'S TREMENDOUS* BARRAGE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. t PARIS; April 10. The ‘‘Petit- Parisian,” in describing tho success a t Vimy, says that the British artillery put up a tremendous barrage in front of tho assaulting troops, also extending tbo lire curtain, to the enemy’s roar, isolating Germans, who, realising escape was impossible, offered no prolonged resistance. Whole battalions surrendered, although it was a fierce struggle to the death at certain points,' especially at Cojeul and Telegraph Hill. Tho British caught several hundreds of the enemy on the banks of the Searpc, and cut down those who refused to surrender. The,Canadians rested momentarily on the Vimy slopes, after tho capture of tho first two lines, and then , dashed to the summit, where the Germans throw_ dowm their arms. GERMAN SOLDIERS ANXIOUS TO SURRENDER Australian and New Zealand Cable Association LONDON, April 10. Air Philip Gibbs gives a glowing account of tho exploits of the Canadians on tho Vimy Ridge. Ho emphasises tho disgust of tho German officers at seeing tho anxiety of their men to surrender. BRITISH WERE EXPECTED TO BE SLOW PRINCE RUPPREOHT TAKEN BY SURPRISE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. PARIS, Ajij’lJ 10. Marcel Hutin states that, according to some of tho prisoners, tho rapidity of tho British advance surprised Prince Rupprecht, who .expected a delay of ton days. • ' : Duke Albert of Wurtemburg commands between Lorraine arid Switzerland. ■

BATTLE OF ARRAS CONTINUES SUPERIOR ENEMY FAILS TO BREAK THROUGH. GERMAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Australian and New '-Zealand C.ibio At&oi'iniion. LONDON, April 10. A German official message states;—Tile battle of Anas continues. The English, after several days’ artillery activity, attacked on Monday, following a violent increase, in fire on a 12$ mile front. As the result of hard fighting, they penetrated our positions on the roads radiating from Arras, but failed to break through. Two of our divisions suffered considerably in stubbornly resisting the superiority of the enemy. We penetrated beyond the third English line south-eastward of Ypres. A French attack at Lafiaux failed.