FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16115, 25 April 1918, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

GERMAN OFFENSIVE RESUMED. FIGHTING AT TWO POINTS. (Received April 25, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. The Gorman offensive has been resumed at Dranoutre, also in tho Albert sector, where they were driven back. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRE. ON WHOLE BRITISH FRONT. OPENING ATTACKS REPELLED. (Received April 25, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 24 (1.00 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports;—There was increased hostile artillery fire yesterday afternoon and evening on tho hulk of the front, particularly in the Somme and Ancre sectors, tho Scarpe Valley, and the sectors northward of Bothuno and northward and north-east-ward of Bailleul. The Gormans at dusk attacked northwestward of Albert and were met with heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and were driven back. Strong hostile attacks later in tho evening near Dranoutre (close to Mount Kemmol) wore repulsed by the French after sharp fighting. The French and British artillery inflicted severe loss. Tho enemy’s artillery at night time was active and a heavy bombardment opened early this morning along practically the whole British front from northward of Albert to the junction with the French southward of the Somme. Strong infantry attacks are in progress in the Albert sector and between the Somme and Avro. There was heavy hostile shelling early this morning between Givenchy and Robccq. Onr artillery dispersed concentrations in tho neighbourhood of Merville. A TOUGH LITTLE BATTLE.

NORTH OF ALBERT. ENDS IN GAIN FOR BRITISH. (Received April 23, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 24. Mr. Robinson -writes:—The Germans were uncomfortably squeezed in a. triangular comer of Aveluy Wood between the Ancre and the railway. Last night they endeavoured to get elbow room ami, after heavy shelling, successive waves forced us back 400 yards from the railway and proceeded to dig in on the other side. Smart manoeuvring of Lewis guns enfiladed the enemy, inflicting sanguinary losses and a. counterattack completely drove the enemy back to his old uncomfortable positions. During the night we assumed the offensive as far as Bouzincourt. driving Sack tho enemy on a 1000 yards front to a depth of 250 yards, gaining a bit of the best position in the Albert area. The enemy is heavily shelling tho Koramel and Y 7 pres area. ARMIES HAVE QUIET DAY. AIRMEN STILL BUSY. LONDON, April 23 (11 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: “A minor operation eastward of Robecq was completely successful. In addition to tho ground gained we took 120 prisoners and a number of machine-guns. There was considerable enemy gasshelling at Fillers Bretonncux. We carried out several long distance reconnaissances yesterday, took many photographs and dropped 1(7 bombs on Thom-out railway station, Engel dump, and on Wameton, Armentieres, and Roulers. We brought down eight and drove down six enemy machines. Three of ours are missing. A French communique states: There has been great reciprocal artillery activity in tho region of Hangard-en-Santerre, west of Novon, but no infantry attacks. Wireless German official: The English were active between Lens and Albert. The enemy lost prisoners in repeated attacks to recapture ground in Aveluy Wood and to capture the railway northward to Arras, on both sides of the Bouzincourt-Aveluy Road. WORK OF BRITISH DIVISIONS. Continuing his supplementary report, Sir Douglas Haig said ; During the first two days of the enemy's offensive southward a withdrawal was necessitated, but before withdrawing we inflicted groat loss on the enemy and German official reports acknowledge the bitterness of the fighting. The 24th Division was in close support when the attack opened, and was sent immediately into the battle in the neighbourhood of tho Bapaume-Cambrai Road. They were not dislodged from any position, though constantly attacked. Tlie 34th Division, after severe- fighting in the neighbourhood of Croisclles at the commencement of the battle, took over the Armentieres sectorln the lino on April !), and maintained the positions intact during the first two days of tho Lys battle, and when the enemy’s advance on cither flank necessitated the evacuation of Armentieres, they were withdrawn from the town on the night of the lOth-llth, deliberately and in good order, Chice then they have been continuously engaged, and have fought throughout with the greatest gallantry.

yielding grouiftT"reluctantly and counterattacking frequently- . _ The 42nd (East Lancashire) ami 62nd (West Riding) Divisions participated in fierce fighting at the enu of jUarcit »”d early in April around Bhcquoy and Ablainzeville. They beat off many attacks and contributed greatly to tho successful main ten an co of the line. The 50th Division, though hut recently withdrawn after weeks of continuous fighting southward of the Somme, held up the enemy along the Lys lino on April 9 and subsequent days, and by thoir stubborn resistance at Estaircs and MervUle checked the enemy’s advance until our reinforcements arrived. GERMAN REPORTS OF THE BATTLE. VERY GENEROUS ESTIMATE OF PRISONERS. APOLOGY FOR HAVING TO FIGHT ON. (Received April 25 , 9.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 24. In the Reichstag the War Minister claimed that the German break through on the West front was 60 kilometres (27 miles) deep. A hundred thousand Briti&H troops had boon ta.kon prisoners and 1500 guns were captured. Moreover thev had thrown the French across the Oisc-3 isae Canal and defeated tho British at Annentieres, capturing 20.000 and 250 guns. The Minister dwelt on the difficulties of bringing up the German reinforcements. The enemy had again found vantage points of which he was making n-so. thereby necessitating the continuation of tho battle. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN FORGES. BEING MOVED TO BELGIUM. (Received April 25 , 9.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 24. Official dispatches from Berne say that A rstro-Hungarmn reinforcements aio being transported to Belgium. ALLEGED SPIES. EXECUTED BY GERMANS. (Received April 25, 8.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 24. Of 63 persons court-martialled in Antwerp charged with espionage 24, including a nun. were sentenced to death and seven, including a priest, immediately executed.