FAILURE OF GERMAN ATTACKS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 5

FAILURE OF GERMAN ATTACKS

STORMERS BADLY SHAKEN BY BRITISH ARTILLERY HEAVY ENEMY CASUALTY LIST By Teleeraph-rress Association-Copiright, CRcc. March 11, 8 p.m.) London, March 10. Mr. Percival Phillips, correspondent of the "Daily Express" at Bril.ijOi Headquartere, states: "Tho attacks by picked troops on Friday were a tliisastrous failure, and resulted in a heavy German casualty list and the demoralisation of their storm troops. Our men do not fear these elaborate driv»S. Their .spirit of confidence was never higher. The purposo of tho attacks on Honthulsfc Forest and the Poldcrhoek spur wns to remove local snlienlls and give better observation to the Germans. Tho attacks were inennt ixt bo a surprise, but tho stormors were- badly shaken by tho British artillery before their barrage moved. About 250 men on a front of 800 yards occupied six of our posts at Honthulsfc Forest and forced back the British* occupants a. hundred yards. Flamo machines assisted the Germans, but our machino-* guns prevented reinforcements coming, until tho Yorkshire Light Infantry and Royal Fusiliers chased the Germans into the swamp."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNTER ATTACKS CREATE P.ANIC AMONG ENEMY TROOPS GERMANS PURSUED FOR THREE HUNDRED YARDS. London, March 10. Router's correspondent nt British. Headquarters says: "Yesterday's wns the heaviest fighting of the year in tho Passchendaele Ealicnt. The enemy the whole of tho previous night heavily bombarded the front from Warneton to Langomarck (eleven miles), freely employing gas shells. Tho troops omployed in tho subsequent attack on a mile front south of Houthulst Forest met the enemy with such vigorous resistanco that tho waves of men broko and retired in most places. On the right flank attack, however, flame gas parties forced the garrisons at somo posts .to withdraw to their supports. A little later tho Yorkshire Light Infantry counter-attacked with great dash. The onemy wrb very strong, but the fury of tho onslaught created a panic, and the enemy broke. Our men pursued for three hundred yards from tho spot whore the enemy attacked, inflicting considerable casualties. Tho line was completely restored. Heavy artillery action all day long nstrido the Menin Road was succeeded by an advance by a large hody of infantry, covered by an intenso barrage. The'infantry deployed over three thousand yards. Furious fighting ensued in twilight, and the strugglo was most confused. Enomy troops succeeded in establishing themselven in a few posts, which wore subjected to our artillery fire all night long. Tho weather is ideal."—Router. ASSEMBLY OF GERMAN TROOPS PREVENTED BY BRITISH ARTILLERY. (Rec. Marcfli 11, 8.35 p.m.) London, March 10. Mr. Philip Gibbe says: "Tho attacks on Friday were frustrated owing to our barrage making the assembly of the Germans impossible. Tho German officers at Polderboek believed their plans_ to have been revealed. Paraded men said the attack was postponed owing to deserters carrying news to the British."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY RAIDERS REPULSED DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS BY BRITISH AIRMEN. London, March 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wo made successful raids north-west of St. Quentin and south-west of Cambrai. Hostile artillery is active at Armentieres, eastward of Wytschaete, and in the neighbourhood of the Menin Road."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. (Rec. March 11, 8 p.m.) London, March 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "A hostilo raiding party, under cover of <i heavy bombardment, attacked our positions eastward of Armentieres. A few British are missing. We repulsed the attack. Artillery firing has markedly increased between La Bassee Canal and Ypres. We dropped 600 bombs on dumps, billets, and aerodromes, also on an important railway centre northeast of St. Quentin. A large number of our machines carried out a particularly successful attack from a low height on tbreo aerodromes, directly hitting the hniurars. machines in the open, and each aerodrome. On returning, at a height of 100 feet, they fired with machine-guns at. favourable ground targets, causing casualties and scattering a company of infantry in all directions. Air fighting has been heavy. Wo brought down ten enemy machines and drove down ten others. Two of our machines arc missing. We to-day dropped 11 tons of bombs on the Daimler motor works at Stuttgart in broad daylight. Several bursts wero observed at a railway station, where a stationary train was set on fire, three bursts at a munition factory southeast of the town, and other bursts at the Daimler works buildings. Hostilo machines withdrew after weakly attempting to attack our formation. One of our machines did not return owing to engine trouble."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. FRENCH PENETRATE ENEMY LINES (Rec. MSirch 11, 7.20 p.m.) London, March 10. A French communique states: "We repulsed raids south of Betheny, left of the Mouse, and in the Vosges. Detaohments penetrated the enemy lines east of Auberivo, in the region of Badonvillers, and destroyed several works."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Heuter. (Eec. March 11, 8 p.m.) London, March 10. A French communique states: 'There is reciprocal artillery activity at Bandesapt and Violu. Our aeroplanes dropppd fourteen tons of bombs on enemy works behind tho lines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. A GERMAN ADMISSION. (Rec. March 11, 7.20 p.m.) London, March 10. A. German official report states: "Wo repulsed strong reconnoitring thrusts southward of Mouchy. Strong French detachments penetrated our foremost trenches between Ancrewiller and Badonvillers. Our counter-thrusts drove them out."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutor. OVER A THOUSAND GERMAN AEROPLANES ON WEST FRONT London, March 10. Tho Paris correspondent of tho ''Daily Express" states that thero are 180 squadrons of German aeroplanesi on tho West front, totalling 1080 mach-ines.—Aus.-N.Z, Cablo Assn.