FIGHT FOR AMIENS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15496, 27 April 1918, Page 2

FIGHT FOR AMIENS.

A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE. BRITISH MARK SOME PROGRESSAustralian and N.Z- Cable Association. LONDON. April 26. The United Press correspondent states: There was terrific lighting all night on the heights eastward of Amiens. Tanks were used by both sides for the first time in history. The situation on Villers Bretfionneux Bidge looks I letter today. A counterattack drove the Germans out of Aquenne Wood, westward of Villers Brcttonncux. The situation of the town is uncertain, the fighting being touch and go. It is impossible momentarily to tell the respective positions, hut it is definitely known that the British have advanced. Fighting began in tins region yesterday morning, after a hurricane bombardment of gas and high oxplosive shells for over two hours. The first attack was hurled back, but subsequent ones took Villers Bretonneux by storm and reached the wood to the westward, the British successfully countering at noon. We used several tanks against German ones. The latter were driven off, whereupon two British tanks crawled up and down tho linos mowing down the exposed infantry in straight line. The enemy poured out of Vaire Wood at dawn to-day, but were stopped with heavy losses. VIOLENT FIGHTING AT HAN GAUD. VILLAGE REPEATEDLY CHANGES HANDS. LONDON, April 26. A French communique • issued at 4.20 this evening says: A battle continues violently round the village of Hangard. against which the enemy concentrated all his strength. We gallantly resisted and counter-attacked several times successfully. The village was lost and re-taken, but finally remained in the hands of the Germans, at the cost of high losses. We hold the immediate outskirts of Hangard. from which the enemy has been unable to debouch, despite repeated efforts. An artillery duel continues very violent on both banks of the Avre.

BATTLE AT BRETONNEAUX.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS. LONDON, April 26. At 11 o'clock tins evening a report was issued slating that heavy fighting is proceeding at Brettonneux. Australians are engaged. S UCCESSFFL C()ENTER-ATTACKS. LONDON. April 26. At 3 5 this afternoon. Sir Douglas Haig reported: There was heavy lighting all night in and around Vliters Biolonneux. Fighting continues. IVe regained ground by eonntcr-attaeks. I no fighting yesterday on the whole ci i hi- i : • ■ r l l was most severe. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy iiy our infantry and tanks. The enemy we.:, thre-e times repulsed northward of the Vilif i s liretL' niienx-St. Quentin road. He used a few tanks in this ..gatingAUSTRALIANS RECAPTURE VILLAGE. 600 PRISONERS TAKEN. LONDON. April 26. The Australians recaptured Villcrs Brettonneux. taking OCO prisoners. GREAT HEAPS OF GERMAN DEAD

LONDON, April 20

Air Gibbs writes: A eonple of bodies of Australians encircled Villcrs while t he British fought through the village from the north. The Gormans were thus and the number of German dead exceeds that at Lagancourt (where the Germans were caught in their own wire and slaughtered by the Australians),

The Australian attack on Villersßretonneux at ton o'clock at night, was a piece of skilful, daring generalship. The Australians were sent in the darkness without artillery. They relied on rifles and bayonets. They captured a most important position. Great heaps of dead now He around Villcrs.

M r Pcreival Phillips, describing the carnage among the Germans at Villcrs, says that English and Australian officers agree that they had never seen dead so thick on any battlefield.