GERMANS SMASHED ON 12 MILES FRONT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16960, 11 April 1917, Page 5

GERMANS SMASHED ON 12 MILES FRONT.

BRITISH PENETRATE FROM TWO

TO THREE MILES.

GREAT FORTIFIED SYSTEMS

TAKEN.

NEARLY 7000 PRISONERS AND

MANY-GUNS.

Received April 10, 7< v 3O p.m

LONDON, April 9

British official.—Operations continue successfully according to plans.

We everywhere stormed the enemy's defences from Henin-Sur-Cojeul to the southern outskirts of Givenchy-en-Helle to a depth of from two to three miles. The ad-

vance continues.

The enemy's forward defences on this front, including the Vimy ridge, which was carried by the Canadian troops, were captured early this rooming. These defences comprise a network of trenches and the, fortified localities Neuville St. Vaast, Telegraph Hill, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, Observation Ridge, St. Laurent, Blagny-les-Tilleuls and La Folie farm.

Subsequently, we advanced, and captured the enemy rearward defences, including, in addition to other powerful trench "systems., the fortified localities of Feuchy Chapel, Feuchy, Hyderabad Redoubt, Athies and Thelus.

Up to 2 p.m., 5816 prisoners (including 119 officers) were put through our collecting stations, and many more were uncounted. Of these a large number belong to Bavarian divisions, who suffered heavy casualties in the fighting.

Ca^tsured .'war material includes guns, and numbers of trench njortars and. machine-guns, which have not been counted.