SECOND EDITION. A SIZZLING HELL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15496, 27 April 1918, Page 9

SECOND EDITION. A SIZZLING HELL.

THE STRUGGLE AT KEXMEL

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received April 27, 2.35 p.m. LONDON, April 26. At 4 30 in the evening the United Press correspondent wrote describing the tempestuous straggle for Kemmel Hill. The French heroes on the crest raked the slopes with machine-gun fire. Another French unit held Kemmel village with equal tenacity, while from the slopes of Scberpenberg, Mont Rouge, Mont Vidaehe, and Mont Noir the French were pooling In machine-gun fire. Batteries were raking the middle slopes of Kemmel, and infantry counter-attacks were all In one whirlpool of battle. The British on both flanks were enfilading Von Bernhardt's Alpine divisions, turning the \ green, flower-filled valley between Kemmel and the Red (Rouge) and Black (Noir) Hills into a sizzling hell. t The Germans paid dearly for their gains. Hardy, specially-picked 1 storm troops charged Kemmel Hill, attacking fiercely in a north-westerly direction from Wytschaete. Finally they wedged between the British and French flanks and crossed the Kem-mel-Ypres road, where they were held up for two hours. Then they turned south and poured down the ▼alley westward of Kemmel HU. which flnaUy surrendered, but the French on the crest held out like lions.

The German lines to-day run westward of Kemmel apparently, but the ultimate winner of the struggle is still a matter of doubt. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. (Am. k N.Z. Cable Assn, k Reuter) LONDON, April 26. French communique.—There is a violent artillery struggle south of the Somme. At night time we carried out numerous raids, notably in the region of Lassigny. between Mitte and the Aisne, towards Bezon▼anx, and at Eparges. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON. April 26. The High Commissioner cables:— Sir Douglas Haig reports;—Oo the Bailleul-Hollebeke front, after severe fighting all day long against greatly superior forces, the Allies were compelled to give way. and the enemy obtained a footing on Return'd Hill. Fighting in the neighbourhood of Dranoutre. Kemmel. and Vierstraat continues. We carried out minor operations during the night westward of Merville. Hostile ar-illery is active from the Lys 'o Givenchy. W« cleared < ut , osts south-east-wards of Fillers Bretonneux. The enemy gas-shelled this area.