ALONG THE BRITISH LINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9639, 20 April 1917, Page 5

ALONG THE BRITISH LINE

THE FIGHT AT LAGNICOURT HOW THE AUSTRALIANS SECURED A VICTORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, liApnl 13. Captain Bean, the Australian war correspondent, referring to the Germans’ extravagant claims of captures at Lagnicourt, says;—-Tiio Germans fo: some reason arc intensely anxious to affect the opinion of Australia at this juncture, and frequently express clumsy sympathy with the Australians, and eagerly seize and publish letters written during the Somme winter, in order to make it appear that the Australians are anxious to desert the Allies. Captain Bean says;—The Prussian Guards were ordered to cut through the Australians, and to reach the guns and seize the village of Noreuil, which they wore to hold for twenty-four hours until special parties destroyed the guns and ransacked Headquarters for papers, then to withdraw. A laige, picked force, by sheer weight, broke through the village of Lagnicourt ana reached some of the advanced field guns, which the crews dismantled. Hie Gormans were actually placing charges under the guns when the local commanders, without awaiting orders, counter-attacked. By the middle- of the morning all the guns were not only recaptured, hut with the exception ol ,five which the Germans managed to destroy, were firing on the retreating enemy. FURTHER PORTION OF GERMAN LINE CAPTURED High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON, April 18, 12.43 p.m. Briticsh official.—Sir Douglas Haig During the night we progressed south-eastwards and eastwards of Epehy. This morning wo captured Villers-Guislam, taking some prisoners. We also improved our position at Lagnicourt. Heavy rain continues. (Received April 19, r.lO p-m.) . .. ■ LONDON, wApnl 18. Wo night time on the loft hank of the Scarpo. Eastward of Fampoux w'o captured this morning a further portion of the front line system south-east of Loos. THE ARRAS BATTLEFIELD GERMAN REPORT OP GREAT EXPLOITS. Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. .. 1Q LONDON, JApenl 18. A German official message states Artillery action was again intense on sectors of tho Arras battlefield. ~ . .. ~ ■ , We repulsed French attacks on Roaulnor Ridge, on the Craonno Heights north-east of Ville aiux Bois, near Lo.Gohat, and at Oourcy, on the AisneMaT Wc checked fresh attacks in Champagne, which were.preceded by the strongest artillery action, on a twelve miles and a-half front. Our coun-ter-attack regained portion of the wood between Moronvillers and Aubonvo. W ° fighting wo destroyed twenty-?.x armoured cars and brought down eighteen aeroplanes. FINE WORK BY BRITISH AIRMEN. .(Received April 19, 11.25 p.m.) 19 . A Headquarters correspondent writes :-‘.‘Our airmen have crossed the German line daily over four hundred times since the battle of.Anas on deliberate reconnaissances and long-distance raids, contributing in a very important manner to our victory. Wo captured at least 230 guns out of 600 on the front attacked.” * GERMAN ATROCITIES IN RE-OCCUPIED TERRITORY FRIGHTFUL STORY OF A LOATHSOME SOLDIERY. Australian and Nat* Zealand Cable Association. , ; PARIS, April 18The Commission investigating the German atrocities in. the reconquered territory of France reports that'tho Germans used systematic methods to reduce tho citizens to servitude. AVomen and gilds were raped in their homes, rouns, industries, trees, and implements were destroyed, with the evident ob•a n c irmnirinc terror. In some places they wrecked bods and chests, and carried awa£ everything available. Loathsome and unprintable acts were committed on the altars in some of the churches.