ALLIED RESISTANCE DAILY INCREASING

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

ALLIED RESISTANCE DAILY INCREASING

GERMAN ADVANCE HELD UP BY ARTILLERY FIRE HEAVY CALL ON THE ENEMY'S RESERVE (Rec. March 27, 11.45 p.m.) London, JMarch 26. The United Press correspondent says: "The sixth day of the monster battle finds the British and Germans fighting like tigers across the Pozieree Ridge. There is furious fighting in every direction. The enemy ie ceaselessly throwing iu masses towards Albert from the hifjh ground around Montauban. Here the British in machine-gun positions are resisting stubbornly. Further south, the Germans are thrusting desperately westward from Nesle, attempting to drive a wedge, but their progress is slow. The Allied resistance is daily increasing. The tnemy is violently striving to break through at three points southward of Arras and Albert, and towards Noyon. Kadi sector is the scene of the heaviest fighting night and day. Cermans F/ghtlng Towards the Valley of the Anore. "The Geimana are fighting madly towards the valley of the bloody Ancre. The weather is fine, favouring the Germans. For a fnw hours the barometer fell in tho afternoon nnd clouds cnine up, but the wind veered to the north, clearing tin sky. Our airmen lire profiting, lioivevei, by bofi sunshine and starlight. During the past four day? , lighting over 200 German machines have been brought down,'and some 120 vere seen to crash down, many of them in flames, and 83 beyond control. Our low-flying inftchiues 3re ceaselessly harassing the German aitacktrs and vigorously bombing the advancing waves."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Heavy Toll Exacted for Every Foot of Cround. Router's correspondent i:t British Headquarters, writing on March 26, says: "Very slowly, and-exacting the heaviest possible toll for every foot of ground, our line continues to vitkdfaw before the pressure of the German masses. Over a largo part of the battlo zcm thu retirement is -oluncarily conducted, so as to maintain an unbroken front. The weather remains fine and the ground hard and dry, favouring tho enemy in bringing forward his guns. Even so, prinoners say that the advance is much hehind the timetable, positions being held with a tenacity exceeding anything they had deemed possible. Cermans Surprised at the Tenacious Defence. Prisoners complain of great privations owing to_ lack of supplies, and Ray that extreme weariness is telling heavily. This is doubtless, time of the prisoners taken, but thanks to the dense masses of supports, the enemy is able constantly to replenish his forward line with fresh units. He is fighting desperately hard againet time. "Wer.ow know that in the first day's fighting" the enemy's reserve was reduced to fifty-two divisions, and by the end of tho second day forty divisions from the reserve were thrown in. Yesterday was a supreme time ifor our gunners, the advance being held np nearly everywhere by tlio ceaseless intensity of the artillery fire. Theenemy'e massed waves received dreadful punishment. Tho Eyes of tho Artillery. "The work of our airmen surpassos all praise. Last night they made a veritable pandemonium of every centre of concentration and traffic behind the German front. Tens of thousands- of rounds were fired point blank into the enemy formations, whose density offered a perfect target. The German observation is so restricted by day that they never can do more than peop and run. On the other hand our fliers are fulfilling with deadly effectiveness their role as the eyes of the artillery. In this direction the weather is undoubtedly favouring us." —Router. Enemy's Violent Thrusts Continued. London, March 27. Mr. Phillip Gibbs, writing on Tuesday, states:—"Yesterday morning the enemy continued his violent thrusts against our line west of Bapaumo and Peronno, while masses, of troops, mostly Brandenburgers and picked troops, were making efforts to advance in the direction of Royo from Nesle, where the French were heavily engaged. The enemy is pushing on over the Somme from Delville Wood, High Wood, and : Maurepas towards the lines we held before the Somme battles of 1916. Tho enemy has only paused since he began his great offensive to bring up a now division and pass them through the division exhausted by the attack or shattered by pur fire, while the latter reform and recuperate, and conie on again. Owing to tho enormous forces at the enemy's disposal, tho Germans are able to pursue any advantage gained with fresh troops against our hard-pressed men, who have been fighting without respite for six days. Glorious Spirit of the..British Troops.. "Despite tho gravity of these hours thoro has never been a more glorious spirit among British troops in our history. They withstood odds sometimes of eight to one. Near Croisilles nine enemy divisions attacked three British. Such odds have been unknown before The enemy dare not remain stationary. Desporate little battles are going on. In these ono or two battalions hold up waves of Germans until their own line has fallen back ordtrly to defensive ground. I saw our riflemen yesterday on tho Pozieres Ridge using the old trenches, which were full of undergrowth, shootin" Germans as in the days of Lo Cateau. I saw a small party so weary of tins endless battlo that they could hardly walk; and were even holding hands like tired children, but they held their heads up and were gamely undismayed. Army Movements as Orderly as at Manoeuvres. "Tho whole movement of tho British Army is as orderly as at manoeuvres in England. I can honestly say I have never seen an officer flurried. The transport lorries only leave tho road when tho latter'is made untenable owing to the enemy's shell-fire. Camps are packed and stores removed as the Germans are reported, and tho nearer Headquarters Staffs . change their lodgings to another chateau or cottago. It is an amazing drama, because open warfare is a new thing. Though the menace of the enemy is strong ana serious, and a retirement under the terrific pressure of a human avalanche is by no means pleasant, the British Army retains its self-cou-trol, will-power, hopefulness, and faith. The Value of the French, Help. "The British generals have control of the machine from one ond of the line to tho other. No British division thus far has been lost, however battered by heroic fighting. The French, divisions were highly welcome in place of somo of the Britishers wlio had fought the longest and made tho greatest sacrifices. The French help was particularly valuable on Sunday, when the Brandenburgers sought to enlarge the bridgohead at Ham. Wo fell back after a desperate battlo. We hold the Libermont Canal that night. It was a perilous, winding line, but the French regiments camo up and mixed with our battalions, fighting in their midst, and putting new heart into our men. The Germans on Monday further-increased the pressure on both sides, of Nesle." ' ■ ■'. ■ '"Our Army is Confident and will Defeat the Enemy's Plans." In conclusion, Mr. Gibbs says: "The Germans mado no frontal attack on Nesle. They only entered it on Monday night. The oueiny on Tuesday passed new divisions through the foremost storm troops, and made further thrusts at Roye and Hattencourt, but our army is confident, and will defeat the enemy's plans of a decisive victory."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFIDENCE GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES AMERICA'S PREPARATIONS WILL BE SPEEDED UP. New York, March 26. America follows every move in tho great offensive with the tensest interest. Extra editions of the newspapers are rapidly bought up, but the first feeling of excitement has been replaced by growing confidence. The ers do not deny the seriousness of the situation, but they are confident that the British line will not be broken. Officials at Washington point out that the offensive will result in an almost unbelievable speeding up of America's preparations, will stop usless debates in Congress, and will unite America in throwing every resource into the struggle. It is realised that Airerica's aid will be ono of the most important factors in attaining success. Mr. Henry Ford urges that America should meet the German offensivo by mobilising the United States machinory and producing small tanks at tho rate of 2000 a day. A high British officer says that tho British have a strong reserve'trench system 15 milos behind the lines. Much interest is aroused b>; the report that Americans are participating in the big hatile. No confirmation of the news has been received at Washington. The Paris correspondent of the "New York World" emphasises the splendid confidence of the French people, and Bays he learns,that 1,160,000 Gormans are engaged in the drive. The "New York Tribune's" London representative interviewed a high authority, who stated that tho rapid British withdrawal had placed the Germans at a disadvantage by compelling them to march beyond their supplies. Ho expected that the British and French would make a counter-drive in another sector. The "Tribune" says: "Ono great fact to remember is that Sir Douglas Haig has retained his organisation and still presents an unbroken front." Tho "New York Times" characterises the struggle as the greatest battle of tho war. "Tho Germans are indifferent to sacrifice of life, but we are confident the British will check tho drive and, successfully counter-attack." Stock Exchange business was small. Prices declined at first, but recovered later.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , SENSATIONAL STATEMENT IN THE SENATE. Washington, March 26. Senator Lodge created a sensation in the Senate by asserting that the United States front ia France lias not been supplied with a single aeroplane or gun from America, and that only two American-built ships have 3*et been completed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • ■PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE. Washington, March 26. President Wilson bas cabled to Sir Douglas Haig: "I wish to express my warm admiration of the steadfastness and valour with which the British troops withstood the German onset, and the perfec'j confidence all Americans feel that you will win a secure and final victory."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "THE ALLIES ARE ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT." Washington, Marcn 2G. Jl. Clciiii?ncc:iu has cnbifcJ to the French Embassy: "Thi! Allies are absolutely confident. Wo shall not sheath the sword until we have exacted full and 'completo reparation from Germany."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BREVITY OF BRITISH COMMUNIQUES COMPLAINED OF. (Rec. March 27, 7.30 p.m.) ' . London, March 26. The newspapers generally complain of the brevity of the British communiques. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says:—"The reticenco irritates our Allies as well as ourselves, and urges the War Cabinet to abandon the exasperating tradition of handling truths in tho spirft of a discreet nursemaid."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.