BEATEN OFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11672, 12 April 1916, Page 1

BEATEN OFF.

»' _____ • * FRENCH ARTILLERY WORK. MAKES HAVOC IN GERMAN MASSES. THREE GRAND ATTACKS FAIL. ' r.y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 12, 10 a.m.) PARIS, April 11. The moment tie Germans on Sunday ieapt from the trenches and were rushng amongst the Avocourt and Bethintourt sector, the French artillery open- < -| a furious fire against dense formation. The enemy came through woods, over- plateaux aiid along ravines, dropping in hundreds. They immediately reformed, returning to the charge-. Three times they _ wore repulsed, and three times they relurnt'd, the onlv result being futile ■ carnage. Even more violent was the siruultaneous strugglo around the village-of fletlnncourt. The Crown Prince's evident resolvo i was to carry Morthomme at any cost. His 30,000 men were here divided into two sections, the stronger attacking frontalis and the remainder trying to force a passage between Cnmiores and the Mouse. Both attacks developed into a desperate hand-to-hand contest, each side fighting like- madmen. The French- - men again proved their superiority, and when the conflict had subsided the Germans had yielded, while tho battalions attempting a flank movement by Cumieres were practically wiped out. General Pi tain's strategical withdrawal at Bothineourf heightened the enemj*'s hopes of finding a vulnerable point. The enemy were so confident that ho reverted to the attack in close formation in broad daylight, and gave the French artillery a splendid opßcx-

tunity to break -the advance before it became dangerous. Tho French artillery, in new positions, covered the ground whenever the enemy was advancing, aiid tho three- attacks, each on a grand' scale, failed. .