ARRAS BATTLE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 33, 1 May 1917, Page 8

ARRAS BATTLE.

THB SECOND PHASE. GERMANS AT BAY. London, April 25. Mr Gibbs says the Germans are fighting desperately to regain the key position, Monchy. Airmen discovered 4000 Germans in the Bois da Sari intending to attack British batteries, and filled the wood with gas shells. The German casualties were horrible. The Germans are fighting with better spirit than in the Vimy battle, no doubt because fresh troops have only just been flung into the fighting line. , f The second phase of the battle ot Arras is in our favour. Many prisoners have been taken, and our losses are much lighter than those of the Germans. . We are now confronted by the main German armies, who are no longer fighting rearguard actions, but standing to battle and striking back hard.

THE HINDENBURG LINE. DEFENCEB NOT COMPLETE. TERRIFIC FIGHTING CONTINUES. London, April 25. Mr Gibbs says the Hindenburg line is not a German myth, but a very real thing, running through Drocourt and Queant. Its defences are not yet finished, and pioneer battalions following armies of forced labour, including French civilians and Russian prisoners, are working day and night upon trenches and emplacements. The General Staff ordered the Germans to hold the forward positions to the death to enable the completion of the defences. Fresh troops were rushed up on Monday to relieve the battalions which had already been broken in the British attacks. The reinforcements in spme cases flung back our line and regained ground. < After the Scotchmen took Guemappe reinforcements took it in the evening, but a second Scottish attack recaptured the place. Many Germans were later taken prisoner. Correspondents at British Headquarters state that St. George’s Day witnessed terrific fighting. Many of the troops wore red and white flowers in honour of the anniversary.

The centres of the struggle were Gavrelle and Guemappe. Both were retaken, but finally remained ours. Gavrelle is important because it forms the southern end of the famous trench running north through Oppy. Until Guemappe was taken progress between the Cojeul and the Seusee was impossible. German prisoners state that they had to win back the ground or retire behind the Drocourt —Queant line.