FIERCE ENEMY ATTACK FAILS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14284, 28 April 1917, Page 7

FIERCE ENEMY ATTACK FAILS.

"ONE OF OUR FINEST VIC

TORIES."

LONDON, April 15. Internal evidence shows that the I great battle to-day, from Hermies to Noreiiil, was entirely an Australian r. f- ' fair. The bloody defeat of tlie Huns rested with two Australian divisions, one -of which recently moved into line from reserve positions. Early xeports indicate that the battle U»as76ne of Australian's finest victories. The* Germans liad the full strength of the Hindenburg line's artillery m a preliminary bombardment, and they came on. m wave, after wave. This great effort shows how vitally •important to the security of the Germans 'are Bullecourt and other sections of the Hindenburg line, -which the Australians are- attacking. Whilst the British and French correspondents at Bntish . headquarters agree as to the pooriness of the quality of 'the Germans taken prisoner at Arras, and the unevenness of the resistance m that sector,* all emphasise the skill' endurance, courage, and the great numbers of the Germans along the southern sectors. The Australians to-day had their dearest wish. General Birdwood wrote to me on Thursday: — "I have just received a letter from Brigadier-General Elliott. He, says that he never found my : boys m greater heart.* They are intensely eager for another turn 'm the front, line. That is the spirit of the whole force at preysent;'-' , ■ ' , The Australians are steadily advancing m the direction df Queant. They, j are .meeting strong German reinforcements. BRILLTANT COUNTER-ATTACK. Mr. Beach Thomas (Daily Mail), (referring to the "Austral-Jans' battle, states : "There was heavy fighting m the neighborhood of the en e*piy's very powerful crucial trench. Ova* counter-attack af Laignicburt, was brilliant. The enemy's losses from" field-gun and shrapnel, aimed iow and accurately, were bigger than might have been expected." General Birdwood has given an exclusive interview to. the Sun representative. ■ "Though we are; not on the spot where the big captures have been made," he said> " ; we have done our bit:*' 7 "We have been highly complimented by the Chief and tlie army commander*. "The other day, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig came to see us. He oould not ha-ve been more .complementary about our work m and around j Bapaume, and concerning the fine spirit of the men. "Yesterday, the .army commander telegraphed : 'Best . congratulations on the operations for the capture of -, ■'. V.'','- and . They were pkilfully planned and gallantly carried out. Since the end of February the enterprise apd tactical skill and gallantry of the Anzac Corps have beep remarkable apd deserving of ' the highest recommendations.' " •■'•■'•■.'.*'•• General Birdwood adds: ".The boyß indeed deserved the commander's commen.da.tion and the heartiest congratulations,, which I received from the Commander-in-Chief. V'^All the men are m the best heart, and the highest fettle, aihd are .determined to do their utmost to ensure the defeat of the Germans." " ..

, '.The wqundfd men m London appear to be m excellent spirits and agree that t!fo'. taking of Bapaume and extensive open air fighting brought abont general .'exhilaration, despite the recent abominable weather.

General Birdwood recently wrote: "The Australians have captured- 24 villages since Bapaume, and there was isome real hard fighting for the; possession of three or foui* 'of theiri. They thoi*oi\ghly bested the Germans on each occasion, knocking, out , -jquite a lot, whilst our casualties were slight.".