TERRIFIC FIGHTING ALL NIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14590, 27 April 1918, Page 3

TERRIFIC FIGHTING ALL NIGHT.

BRITISH TANKS DRIVE OFF

GERMAN TANKS,

SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACK

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

LONDON, April 25. The United Press correspondent states

There was terrific, fighting all night on the heights eastward of Amiens. Tanks were used by both s:'des for the first time m history. The situation on the Villers Bretonneux ridge looks better to-day. A coun-ter-attack drove the Germans out of Aqaerinjj Wood westward of Villers Bretonneux and the situation m the town fo uncertain, the fighting being touch and go. It is impossible momentarily to ' >ll the respective positions, but we def- '\y know ih^t the British advanced. Fighting began m this region yesterday morning after a hurricane bombardment with gas and high explos.'ve shells for two hours.

The first attack was hurled back, but subsequent ones took Villers Bretonneux by storm and the enemy reached the wood westward. *

The British, m a successful counterattack at noon; used several tanks against the German ones, and the ' latter were driven off, whereupon two British tanks crawled up and down the lines, mowing down exposed infantry m straight lines. The enemy poured out of Yaire Wood at dawn to-day, but were stopped with heavy losses. General Von Arnin's hHI stormers on Wednesday re-attacked the French towards Dranoutre unsuccessfully, and were flung out after a tremendous struggle, Trom portion of the first line position m *he Kemmel sector, where they temporarily penetrated, and the gituation was completely restored. \^-The Germans at 2 o'clock this morning pot down an intense gas barrage on the French and British and a heavy attack followed between three and four. :