FIGHTING AT BLANGY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11195, 13 April 1917, Page 5

FIGHTING AT BLANGY.

TANKS TAKE A HAND.

USE OF BABBAGE FIRE.

London, April 11

Mr Philip Gibbs, in a further account of Monday’s attack, emphasises that there was stiff fighting at Blangy, where the defences were exceptionally strong. The troops —old English regiments—smashed their way through a perfect nest of formidable works with the assistance of tanks, which knocked out the machine guns. The Scottish troops attack on the famous railway triangle was held up for a time by machine guns where the enemy’s works had not yet been destroyed. Meanwhile the British barrage still moved ahead. Word was sent to the rear and the barrage crept back, coming perilously close to the Scots, but not over close. The gunners’ marvellous accuracy found tiie triangle and reduced the defences. The Scots then surged forward over the chaos of timber and barricades and reached their goal.

LATEST ESTIMATES OF SPOIL

TWELVE THOUSAND MEN

ALMOST UNCOUNTABLE GUNS,

London, April 12.

Latest estimates of the capturedaring Monday and Tuesday’s fights iug are 12,000 prisoners, 150 guns and innumerable machine guns and trench mortars.

A GERMAN REPORT.

London, April 12,

Wireless German Official; Near Fampbux, northwards of the Scarpe, English infantry attacks, and several cavalry attacks near Roeux, failed.

Fighting near Moncby and Wanconrt favoured us.

WINTRY WEATHER IN FRANCE

OPERATIONS IMPEDED

ATTACKS AND COUNTER-

ATTACKS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Associ

atiou and Renter

Lonou, April 11

Sir Douglas Haig reports: A heavy snowfall all dav long renered observation impossible and impeded operations We beat off two counterattacks against our new positions near Monchy-le-Preux. Prisoners taken at Monchy-ie-Prenx state that they were ordered to hold the village at ail costs.

Farther sonth we penetrated the German positions in the neighbourhood of Bulleccnrt (south-east of Oroiselles), taking prlsonets Large enemy forces counter-attacked and forced ns hack on oar own lines. Our artillery inflicted heavy losses on the stacking troops.

VIEWS OF EXPERTS

EFFECTS OF A BUGLE

London. April 1.2

Experts suggest that the Germans are obhaed to'emplcy large forces at Bullecourt because eight millesfrom there the line still bulges westward towards Arras, and there is danger of being pinched ou the salient north of Vi my Ridge and south-east of Lens is also dangerously narrow.