THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13141, 2 May 1917, Page 4

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

DESPERATE FIGHTING CONTINUES. . -". (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) f-Received May T, at 7.25 p.m. ?- 1 London, May 1. , Sir Douglas Haig- reports: The ' enemy's attack on our new positions * between Monchy-le-Preux and the : Scarpe River was completely repulsed. C Hostile artillery is active on both sides i of the Scarpe, . • » There is great aerial activity. JJombs : .have been effectively dropped behind -the enemy's lines, causing several tires ' "and a large explosion.. Three trains were hit The enemy fought hard to - protect the_ points attacked. Twenty " German aeroplanes were brought down ■v and fifteen of ours are missing. , A French communique reports violent - artillery encounteis between St. Quenr Sin and the Oise, and at Chemin-des-Dames. After violent artillery pfepara- - lions in the Champagne, the French m- * fantry this afternoon attacked the lines ~" on-both sides of Mount Cornillet and carried several lines of-fortified trenches between Cornillet and the south ot * Benie, to" a depth ranging from 500 to - 1000 metres We also pushed forward our lines on the north and norths' eastern slopes of High Mount as far as *" the Manroy-Moronvillers road. VlO-. "- lent artillerv encounters continue. 1 Our aeroplanes bombed the aerodromes at Colmar, Hoesheun, Fraseati, and ''six railway stations and t bivouacs. .- " Mr Philip Gibbs, writing to the * Daily Chronicle, says:. Sunshiny spring !T weather has replaced the cold aria wet, and the mud has become dust. * Describing the Australians' fight at Lagnicourt, Mr Gibbs says:. During the counter-attack the Australians found many Germans 111 dug-outs, and great - stores of beer, cigars, and food. This * was a find for thirsty men, and their mopping up of a battalion, as it is teeh- - nicallv called, was carried* but as they £ mopped up the beer and fat cigars with X- their months. With a bottle of beer m £ one hand and a bayonet in the other, " the Australians confirmed to hunt for <■ Two hundred who attempt-Is-ed to surrender under the wliite flag % were shot down by their own machines' gunners. The Australians inflicted ap- % palling casualties. Three, thousand 8 Germans were caught behind our en- ¥ ianglements. Five Australians found Si themselves cut off, but they hid in the ? ' German lines and remained there for If' five days without food and water till I?- they found a gap in the entanglements %r and escaped.

% (A. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuter.) 1„ Received May 2, at, 11.15 a.m. £»• Tionaon, May 1. %~ Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried Su out a successful raid north of Ypres f -last night and captured prisoners. , A French communique states: A fairJ§C It violent artillery struggle has conW\ finned in the regions of Troyoa And f§-'Hurtebise. We hare consolidated the Jfe, raptured position in the Champagne. §£• We took 400 prisoners yesterday. §l*s% A German official message states:— was minor ! fighting near St. yesterday. The cathedral re-slr-ceived five hits. attack Prosnes and Außerive failed, f£ and a second attack on the front southtward of Narroy also failed. We , brought down 25 aeroplanes and five Sj balloons yesterday.

CREEK INTRICUE REVIVED. COURT SUBEOUNDED BY GERMAN INFLUENCE. I?' (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) •> Received May 1, at 11.50 p.m. 5 : London', May . Messages from Athena report 'an, extraordinary .condition of affairs. !Prol>ably M. Zaimis will accept- the Plremiership at the King's urgent request, § -with the hope .of appeasing the Allies. % It is stated that M. Zaimis proposes) r-to offer a portfolio: to the Venizehsts. The rumor was telegraphed to M. Venizelos, who replied: "It is imposjp; sibfe for Constantino to remain in his f position." . , 6'" It is well in Entente circleg f." -that King Constantino is surrounded' i-. by a pro-German coterie. It has been' U suggested that the Allies should' exilet ?•-. M. Danismanis, M. Gounaris, M. it'-' Skoukradis, and the other plotters, 'bu.t ; it is considered doubtful if the pro, i.y German influence would thereby be( •X eliminated, as it is almost certain, that S f ' others wonld take their places around 6 the King. The palace is the regular l.v rendezvous of. German officers. Gene- £ Tal voni Falbenhayn visits the Court g constantly, and secretly traverses the neutral zone. Other German officers bring money from Germany for reser-who-'recently received! £2OOO. V -Secret stores of ammuntion - continue C to be «found, and other stores are T* known to exist. M. Dousrnanis. wlio &' is still the pro-Germfah arch-couspira- ;-*> tor, said recently: "Don't abandon hope. "We are still in the saddle, and England has riot " decided definitely -against , ns jet."