SECOND EDITION. THE CAPTURE OF LENS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15195, 16 April 1917, Page 7

SECOND EDITION. THE CAPTURE OF LENS.

BNEMY'S DESPERATE EFFORT TO SAVE GUNS BRILLIANT CHARGE BY CANADIANS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received April 16, 2.35 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Mr Gibbs says that Lens and Lievin were stacked with guns and fortified In the most formidable way, and were strongholds of massed artfllery, but all were threatened by the advance down the northern slopes of Vimy Ridge, for the Canadians were not likely to stay inactive after their great triumph. The enemy positions were also threatened by the British advance from the Loos battlefield. The German staff knew of the peril they ran, and there were wild scenes at Lens during the efforts to remove the guns, stores, and troops. Until down on Friday the enemy hoped that the British would be held back by the German rearguards in the Vimy and Petit Vimy villages, but the hope disappeared when the Canadians swept down the ridge and chased the enemy out of those places wv to the hrwer slopes towards Douai. ■"HTTISH CAPTURES. J|lfEEr FRONT BROKEN OVER ANOTHER FOUR MILES Received April 16, 2.35 p.m. LONDON, April 15. A correspondent at the British head-quarters says:—The latest British captures include great pyramids of slag near the mouths of the coal pits at Lens, which the Germans had converted into fortresses. Altogether the German front has been broken over another four miles. GREAT AND FAR-REACHING RESULTS. MAIN BODY OF ENEMY IN RETREAT. WILD CONFUSION APPARENT. Received April 16, 2.50 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Mr Gibbs adds: —One of the greatest and most far-reaching results followed swiftly on the Canadians' capture of Vimy Ridge. Our troops cleared out the German machine-gunners from the rear posts of Lievin on Saturday, enabling the patrols to penetrate Lens. The retaking of Lens will thrill France, and will be one of the greatest achievements of the war. With cunning courage some of our men entered the southern outskirts of the city, while others advanced cautiously on the western side. The enemy are still there in machinegun redobuts, and will be troublesome, but they comprise only rearguards, the main body being already in retreat. After the Britsih-Cana-dian success on Friday the enemy saw that the last chance of a successful counter-attack had failed, and became instantly seized with fear and prepared for instant retreat in wild confusion. / AUSTRALIANS SHOW GREAT DASH. Received April 16, 2.40 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Mr Philip Gibbs reports that the German re-occupation of Lagnicourt was oiUhe briefest, the Australians recapturing it with the utmost dash.