ROYE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 162, 28 March 1918, Page 5

ROYE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS

COUNTER-ATTACKS RETARD ' ' THE ADVANCE . ' tofflFS LOSSES COME SEVERE BRILLIANT WORK BY OUR ■ ■ AIRMEN : Thero is a strong undercurrent of suggestion in to-day's news that the time is near at hand when the Allies will give Hindenhnrg a lesson in the art of war worthy of the Marne and Verdun. Continuing their retirementj the Al lies have reached or closely approached the line on which they stood prior to the Battle of the Sommo. On oither side of the Somme they are retiring a few miles further west, cutting out a salient formed in this area by their original line. Indications are that the enemy is. now' concentrating mainly on the southern part of the battlefront, and'is intent on driving a wedge.between the British and French, but with Amiens rather than Paris as his objective. On the other hand, German divisions are being rapidly used up, while the Allies are stemming the drive with relatively light forces, and this factor, with others, tends to create the opening for a punishing counter-stroke. Allied airmen ara doing brilliant work in attacking enemy concentrations, and are meeting a weaker resistance from German aircraft than in the earlier stages of the battle. There are further predictions that an enemy offensive will open presently in Italy. BRITISH ESTABLISHED IN NEW POSITIONS ENEMY'S LOSSES STILL SEVERE BATTLE CONTINUING SOUTH OF THE SOMME By Telegraph-Press Ajsociatdon-Copirtenl , > (Eec. March 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 26.. '• Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Fighting died down last night. Our troops i have established themselves in a new position eastward of Roye and Albert. 'A continuance of the fighting northward of the Somme is expected, but has npt yet developed.' Attacks were reported to bo developing this morning against tho Anglo-French southward of the Somme, in the neighbourhood of . (Roye and Chaulnes. The enemy's losses continue to be severe. He has been obhged to reinforce his battlefront from all parts of tho Western theatre. Over seventy hostile divisions have now been engaged in the battle." —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 27, 10.20 p.m.) i London, March 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There is local fighting at different points tnorth of the Somme, and hostile attacks south of_ the Somme have been [pressed vigorously Bince the morning with fresh division against _ Noyon cand Roye. There have been new attacks this afternoon in the neighbouryliood of Chaulnes, and between Caulncs and the Somme, and, also in tho r north. The battle is continuing on the whole front south the Somme. I'Our troops on all parts of the battlefront during the past six days havo tshown the utmost courage. Tho following divisions have displayed esoop■tionalgallantry: Bth, IStb, 31st, 41st, 61st., -63rd, and 66th.—N.Z. Cable fJAssn.-Eeuter. OUR AIRMEN HARRYING THE E ENEMY. (Rec. March 27, 11.25 p.m.) London, March 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Our aeroplanes on Monday were almost exclusively employed iu bombing and firing with machine-guns on troops and [.transport behind the battlefront. Tweenty-two tons of bombs and a hundred /'■' thousand rounds of machine-gun ammunition were used. All the pilots "epoit [.that the ground targets surpassed description. They were able to, drop I bombs accurately and fire into the centre of infantry battalions in close forImation, and columns of cavalry and transport. Air fighting was less intcnso jthan on the previous day. Wo brought down thirteen enemy machines, and lien others were forced to descend outof control. Eight of ours aro, missing, jmostly due to fire from the ground while flying low. During the night we continued to, bomb and use machine-guns on troops in forward areas and transport upon the road."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. GREAT DESTRUCTION OP ENEMY AEROPLANES. Vanoouver, March 26. A London message states that ninety-three enemy aeroplanes were destroyed during the fighting.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNTER-ATTACKS RETARDING THE GERMAN THRUST. (Rec. March 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 26. A French communique reports: "Noyon was evacuated at night-time in ,the most orderly manner. We. are strongly holding the right bank of the 'Oise. The battle continued violently on the evening of March 25. The enemy in the night-time multiplied his attacks along our entire front from 'Noyon to Chaulnes. Our artillery is well established .in the region of Noyon, and is effectively supported by infantry, whose resistance and frequent : counter-attacks are retarding the thrust of the Germans, who aro Buffering yery heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter, ■ (Rec. March 27, 11.25 p.m.) ' London, March 27. A French communique states: "Our troops are solidly holding their positions on the left of the river Oiso and above Noyon. Fighting ccitinues with undiminished violence on the Okbray-sur-Somme-Chaulnes-Roye - Noyon front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY CEASELESSLY BRINGING UP REINFORCEMENTS. London, March 26. A French communique states: "The enemy is ceaselessly bringing up reinforcements. Our troops are obeying orders, yielding ground foot by foot, delivering vigorous counter-attacks, and inflicting heavy losses. A desperate fight occurred round Nesle, which has changed hands several, times. Reims received 1375 shells during the past twenty-four hours.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . ROYE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. (Rec. March 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 26. The War Office announces that the Germans captured Roye this norning.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY ADVANCE CHECKED THE NEW LINE DEFINED. (Rec. March 27, 11.25 p.m.) London, March 27. The Press Bureau announces that no further attacks were made last night north of the Somme. There wore local engagements, ■in which the enemy were repulsed. No serious attack was attempted. Our line -north of the Sommo now runs from Bray, to Albert, Beaumont-Hamol, Puiseux, Ayette, Boiry, Henin, Wancourt, just west of Monchy, to the River Scarpa, thence .along the original front. Tho Germans have been attacking heavily south of the Somme this morning, and captured Roys. 'Uie line hero runs from Mericourt to Roziores, west of Roye. West of Noyon fresh German divisions have been identified, including two Guards and two Brandenburger divisions. English, French and Americans aro now fighting shoulder to shoulder. French ienforcements are rapidly coming up, snd tho enemy has been checked west of Roye and west of Noyon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reu-ter*