THE WESTERN FRONT

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONT

THE NEW OFFENSYE VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST THE FRENCH. DAY-LONG BATTLE CONTINUES. ENEMY GAINS SOME GROUND. BY VIOLENT ASSAULTS. OTHER POSITIONS FIRMLY HELD. (Australian and N.Z. and Reuter.) Received Aprii 26, 9.40 a.m. LONDON, April 25, 1.10 a.m. A French communique reports that a furious bombardment of tflfe AngloFrench positions south of the Somme and on the Avre was followed by a German attack in great force along the whole front. The enemy at 5 a.m. attacked Hangard en Santerre, in the region of Railles Wood, and at Senecat, south of the Avre. The battle lasted all day and is still raging. It was particularly desperate in the Hangard region. The enemy, after a series of furious assaults, gained a footing in the wood north of Hangard, also in the eastern outskirts of the village, which we are defending desperately. The struggle was equally violent in the Railles region. Several assaults on a ridge eiu't of the village were shattered by our fire and counter-attacks. Farther south German attempts at Senecat Wood and Hill 82 failed, both remaining wholly in our possession.

HEAVY GAS BARRAGE. PRECEDES INFANTRY ASSAULTS. GROUND GAINED BY BRITISH. THE FRENCH LOSE HANGARD. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, April 25. The Germans developed an intense gas barrage on the Flanders front and then heavy infantry assaults were begun. The British regained ground around Villers Bretonneux.

Another report says that the Germans have captured Hangard en Santerre.

GERMANS ASSAULT WITH TANKS. (■Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, April 25. The United Press correspondent says that Hindenburg used tanks for storming purposes in assaulting the FrancoBritish positions eastward and southeastward" of Amiens. The enemy infantry charged near Villers Bretonneux under the protection of tanks. NDT THE BIG THRUST. ONLY EFFORT TO WIPE OUT SALIENT. NO OBJECTIVES ATTAINED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, April 25. Mr Percival Phillips writes: The enemy failed everywhere except at Villers Bretonneux, where there was heavy fighting on a front of two miles and a half. The ai ... .. '.dh we have

been expecting for several days does not seom the great thrust for Amiens, the battle being rather due to the enemy's desire to wipe out a local salient and take the high ground on either side of the Amiens road befcre attempting the big advance. The German assauit troops nowhere reached their known objectives The tanks which they used may be derelicts we left behind. Hitherto the Germans have only used tanks in order to bring ammunition to the front lines. '

IMPORTANCE OF VILLERS BRETONNEUX. WILL FACILITATE GERMAN ADVANCE. THE ATTACKING FORCES. TROOPS FRESH FROM RUSSIA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, April 25. Mr Philip Gibbs states that two divisions attacked Villers Bretonneux where the Germans advanced a small distance, and hold the outskirts of the village. It is a place of some size, on a ridge south-east of Amiens, perched above the Somme. As a tactical position it has some importance, as it would enable the enemy to advance two and a-half to three miles. The German bombardment commenced at 3 a.m. and continued furiously for four hours. Then the 4th Guards division, who had already been twice in action in recent battles, attacked with the 77th division just from Russia. At the same time the 13th division, comprising Westphalian troops, attacked the French at Caste!, and gained a footing on the rising ground.

NIGHT-LONG HEAVY FIGHTING. BRITISH REGAIN GROUND. ENEMY ATTACH CONTINUE. OVER A WIDE FRONT. (High Commissioner's Cable.) LONDON, April 26, 3.30 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports that in and around Villers Bre-tonneux there was night-long heavy fighting. We counterattacked and regain":] ?rr>nnd and took a number of prisoners. The severest fighting, with heavy enemy assaults, took place to the northward. Three enemy attacks were repulsed with loss. North-east of Bailleul the enemy attack over a wide front continues.