The Great Retreat to the Hindenburg

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 5

The Great Retreat to the Hindenburg

Prior to this there were indications that the German withdrawal would be further extended, it had been ascertained that ho was preparing a new defensive systom, known as the '•"Hindenburg Line," running from Arras to the southeast to 'Queant, and thence west of Cambrai towards St. Quentin. Various "switches" branching off this line were also under construction. Tho enemy's immediate concern appeared to be t» cscapo from the salient between .vrras and Le Transloy, which had become increasingly difficult (o hold. It was also evident, however, that tho eiiemy contemplated eventually tho evacuation ol the greater salient between Arras and the Aisne Valley. Tho dispatch then deals in detail with tho operations between April It and 19. On April 19, tho report goes on, the advance reached tho stage at which increasing difficulty was found in maintaining the communications, and a slackening in the pace of the pursuit was enforced. South ot.leronno tho lack of bridges, Which the enemy had destroyed, presented formidable obstacles, while north of Peronne the wide belt of devastated ground over which the battle of tho Sommo had been fought offered even greater difficulties to the passage of guns and transport. We were advancing therefore over country in which all means of communication had been destroyed against an enemy whoso army was still intact and . capablo of launching a vigorous offensive should a favourable opportunity offer. Strong detachments of his infantry anad cavalry occupied points of vantage nlong the lino of our advance, keeping tho enemy informed of our progress and screening ills own movements. . His guns had already boon withdrawn to previously prepared positions, and were available at .any moment to cover and support a counterstroke, while tho conditions of the country wo were moving in mado the progress of our artillery slow. Tho bulk of the enemy's forces were known to be holdin" a formidable defensivo system upon which they could fall back should his counter-stroke miss its aim. On the other hand, as our troops moved forward, they loft all prepared defences liiriher behind. In such circumstances, the need, for caution was obvious. Meanwhile, in spite of the enormous difficulties which the condition of the ground and the ingenuity • of the enemy placed • in our way, the work of preparing for constructing bridges, roads, and railways was carried on with commendable rapidity. The dispatch rest proceeds to describo how tho enemy's resistance increased as we neared tho Hindenburg . lino and emphasises tho great costliness of many of his counter-attacks, particularly in tho attempts to recover Ilcau-nictz-lcs-Canibral.

A Successful Winter Campaign. Speaking of tho outstanding features of tho live months of fighting .from November 18, Sir Douglas Haig says: In spito of tho unusual seventy of tho weather, the winter campaign was conducted to a successful issue under most and arduous conditions. Tho activity on our battle-front was maintained from tho conclusion of last years offensive to tho commencement of tho present operations. Tho successful accomplishment of this part of our general plan has already enabled us to realise no inconsiderable instalment of the fruits of tho llattle of tho Somme, and has "ono far to open tho road to their troll achievement. The courago and endurance of our troops carried them triumphantly through periods of particularly trying fighting, in which they wero subjected to n maximum of personal hardship and I physical strain. I cannot Gpoalc 100 high-

ly of tho qualifies of all ratikn. Jim ability with which Mio troops on the Ancro wore handled by General Gomgli, and fitrthor south by .General Ikiwhiison, was in nil respects admirable, ilici i'ctreat to which tho enemy was driven hv our contiuueil success again introduced conditions approximating to open lighting, in which tho cavalry was given an opportunity to perform special duties. The enemy's withdrawal enabled linn to bhooso his own ground for resistance and to employ every device to inflict losses. Yet ouir casualties, which were exceedingly moderate throughout tho operations' on tho Ancre, became exceptionally light during our advance. .the prospect of a more general resumption of open fighting can bo regarded with i great confidence.

Splendid Work by the Engineers. Tho systematic destruction of roads, bridges, and railways mado unprecedented demands on the Royal Engineers, who were already heavily burdened by he work entailod in tho preparations for the spring offensive. Our steady progress in -the face of great difficulties is the least testimony to tho energy and thoroughness with which those demands were met. Tho bridging of tho boninie at Brio (four miles south of Peronne) is an example of the naturo of the obstacles we confronted and the rapidity ot thoir removal. In this instance six .gaps had to bo bridged across the canal and the river, some of which were of considerable width, over a swift-flowing stream, lhe work commenced on the morning ot March 18, aud by 10 o'clock tho same night infantry foot bridges had. been completed. By five in the morning of the 20th, a medium type bndgo tor horse transport and cavalry was completed, and by two in the afternoon ot tho 28th a heavy bridgo, capable of taking all forms of traffic, had replaced the 'throughout tho winter transport problems were serious, both in the battle area and behind the lines. On the rapid solution of these problems success or failure necessarily largely depended, At tho close of last year's campaign tie steady growth of our armies anil the rapid expansion of our material resources had already taxed the loads and railway* to the utmost. The existing broad and narrow gauge railways were insufficient to deal with the increasing traffic, an undue proportion of which, was thrown upon the roads. With «'« detenoratipn duo to winter conditions, the difficulties of road maintenance and repair became almost overwhelming. An increase oi railway facilities of every type and on a large scale was thcroforo imperatively and urgently necessary, and great quantities of material and rolling stock were required immediately, while subsequently our wants were considerably augmented by the largo programme of new construction in tho area of the. enemy's withdrawal. • The task of obtaining the amount of railway material required for carrying out the work of construction at tho rate our plans rendered necessary, besides providing the labour nnd material for the repair of roads, was one of our very greatest difficulties. Its successful accomplishment reflects the highest credit on tho transportation service. ~ , , , V'The loyal co-operation and complete mutual understanding of tho Allies and ourselves throughout tho Battle of the Somme continued to bo strengthened by the events of the winter, particularly the ciroumstances attending tho enemy s withdrawal. During tho latter part of the period under reviow a considerable tract of country was won back to Prance' by tho combined effort of the Allied troops. This was regarded, with satisfaction by all ranks of the British army in France, who at the same time wish to express the feelings of deep sympathy and profound regret provoked by tho sight of the destruction war has brought into a once fair and prosperous countryside."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.

OPERATIONS ON THE ALLIED FRONTS London, June 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We made raids last night south-east of Lever r •rnier, and near the Bapaumc-Cambrai Hoad,"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. June 20, 9.30 p.m.) London, Juno 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We advanced slightly southward of the Coioul River and northward of tho houchez River. • Wo captured four field guns eastward of Messines on Thursday nijjht, additional to thoso already reported. Our aeroplanes did valuablo work, despito iin--settled weather,' and bombed one ot the enemy's ammunition dumps, causing an explosion. We brought down six of the enemy's machines. Tlitcb of ours aro missing."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN ATTACKS BROKEN Bi" ... THE FRENCH.. The High Commissioner Teports:— 'London, Juno 19, 3.10 p.m. French official report: "Between Mont Blond and Mont Cornillct, in tho ChamI pagne, a strong German counter-attack against the positions we had conquered was broken by our fire, with serious losses to the enemy. Some prisoners were taken." GERMAN REPORT. London, Juno 10. •V German'-official message states: . "Eastward of Monchy wo threw the English out of tho trenches which remained theirs alter tho battlo of June 14. Wo twice repulsed French attempts, send recaptured trenches north-westward of Hurtebise Farm. Tho enemy penetrated a salient in the Champagne. An attempt to further extend his gains failed. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter, KAISER ALARMED AT OUR AIR, SUPREMACY \ Geneva, June 19. Advices from Munich stato that as the Tesult of a visit by tho Kaiser and Von Hindonburg to tho West front, a commission has been appointed to investigate tho Allies' apparent aerial supre-macy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.