LATE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 8

LATE NEWS

HAIG'S REPORT HEAVY FIGHTING ALL ALONG LINE BATTLEFRONT EXTENDED OUR POSITIONS MAINTAINED NEW ZEALANDER'S IN ACTION Bee. March 20, 11.55 p.m.) . London, March - 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There has been heavy lighting during the day along the whulo British lino from south of the Somme to north-cast of Arras. The battlefroiit extended lil'tyfive miles. This morning the enemy after an immense bombardment and covered by a smoke cloud opened a fresh attack in great strength on a wide front north and south of the Scarpe. Simultaneously he delivered a series of powerful attacks all along our lines south of the The enemy in the new sector of battle east of Arras'succeeded in forcing'his way through, an outpost line.- After hard fighting all day in our battle positions all' assaults were heavily repulsed. Fierce fighting is still proceeding tiouth of the Scarpe. We beat off repeated and determined assaults at Boyelles, Moyennerille, Ablainevillo, Bocquoj-, and Puisiaux. The enemy succeeded 111 forcing his way into Durnancourt for a second time, but our counter-attack drove him out, frilling many and talcing many prisoners We have been fiercely engaged all day south of the Somme in the neighbourhood of Arvillere, Vrely, and Haniel Some locality : frequently ha.ve clanged hands after bitter fighting, but our positions have- been substantially maintained Heavy fighing continues. —&,us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE OPERATIONS OF OUR AIRMEN ENEMY TARGETS BOMBED AND FIRED UPON. (Rec. March 30, 0.30 a.m.) , London, March 29. Sir Douglas Haig ■ reports"Large bodies of our aeroplanes, again yesterday carried out low-flying operations. The aeroplanes dropped over thirty tons of bombs,.'and fired a quarter of a - million rounds, : inflicting severe casualties, and delaying the enemy in bringing up _ troops and ammunition. In air fighting we brought down twenty-four Gorman machines, and drove down seven out of control. AVe destroyed two balloons. Nineteen of .our machines are missing. It is believed that some landed within our lines.. The anti-aircraft gun fire accounted for the greater portion of our casualties. We continued night bombing at Bapaume, Bray, and Perrons with the utmost vigour, and dropped over a thousand bombs and fired thousands of rounds at good targets, which were plentiful and easily visible in the moonlight. Our pilots • saw bombs bursting in the middle of columns of troops, transport, and encampments. Pour of our machines are missing. We dropped over a ton of bombs on a balloon and a station at Metz on March 27, and good bursts were seen on sidings. We successfully raided Luxemburg station on March 28. Twenty-one heavy bombs were dropped, and several burst upon the objectives. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

MDPECFWT I IMP LITTLE CHANGE NORTH OF THE SOMME. (Rec. March 29, 11.15 p.m.)' ' London, March 28. The Preas Bureau reports that the enemy during the-night crossed the Somme southward near Chipilly. Consequently our left flank south of the Somme was compelled to fall back towards Hamel, whither the line ruus through ' Lamotte-en-Santerre, Caixyrely, and Warvillers. Southward of this point the French were pressed baok last night along the Roye-Breteuil Road, and the Germans entered Montdidier. The line runs from Warvillers through Arvillers, Davenscourt, Gratibus, MesnO St. Georges, to Hainvillers. The French this morning coun-ter-attaoked in force, and with great dash drove, the enemy back between Hainvillers and Pont Leveque, south of Noyon, on a front of ten kilometres, to a depth of three kilometres. The French pressure in- this area- continues. Our line north of the Somme is substantially unchanged. We repulsed several night attacks in the neighbourhood of Beaumont-Hamel and Eos---signol Wood and north-west of Pui- « sieux. The enemy thie morning opened a heavy bombardment north and south of the Scarpe, followed by an attack opposite; Arras with a minimum of seven divisions. He penetrated our forward zone, resulting in a fierce engagement. Our line now runs by Arleux, Fampoux, Neuvilles-St. Caaste, and Boisleux, and thence it is unchanged. Fighting has been severe. It is reported that the enemy lost very heavily.—Ausr-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED (Reo. March 29, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 28. The Australians were engaged in a fierce battle on Wednesday night, and the New Zealanders are fighting at Bucquoy (north-west of Bapaume).— United Service. GERMAN ATTACKS HURLED BACK (Rec. March 29, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 28. The United Press' representative reports heavy fighting westward of Beaumont Hamel, the enemy being in great strength. The Germans last night launched attack after attack on positions at RoGsignol Wood, in the same region, only to be hurled back. Hard fignting took place near Sailly Lorette • ( south-west of Albert), the British tnking prisoners. A heavy bombardment took place in the morning between Acheville and the Souchez River, but there was no infantry attack. The weather is now threatening.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT ENEMY DRIVEN BACK OVER A MILE. (Rec. March 30, 0.30 a.m.) London, March 29. A French communique etates: "The enemy is continuing to press with powerful 'forces in the region of Montdidier. He attempted this morniujj to extend his gains west and south of Montdidier, but with a 'magnificent dash our troops counter-attacked with the bayonet, and pjected the enemy from Cou'rtemarche, Mesnil St. Georges, and Assainvillers, which we carried and solidly hold. This advancejexceeds two kilometres .(1J miles) ■ideep ion a frontV'rf' vfcwelve kilometres ,J -(7J' : mites). On the front from Lassigny to Noyon and south of the Oise bitter fighting gave the enemy no advantage. Our troops are holding vig-orously.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu-ter.

THE FRENCH CALM AND CONFIDENT GERMANS' ADVANCE CLOGGED BY THEIR OWN DEAD. (Reo. March 29, 11 p.m.) New York, March 27. Official dispatohes from Paris states that the Frenoh view the developments with oalm confidence that the Germans can be stopped. Official observers state that the Germans attacked in even closer formation than in 1914, with the result that they suffered indescribable losses. German prisoners admit that their advance was clogged by heaps of their own dead. Several regiments advancing over open ground Mere completely wiped out. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT HEAVY LOSSES ADMITTED. (Rec. March ?9, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 28. A German official report states: "The English again brought frcsli dlvlsiona from other fronts. We drove back the enemy north-west of Bapaume from tue old crater positions in the direction of Bucquoy land Hebuterne. The enemy fought fruitlessly tnd with special stubborness for the reconquest of Albert. Strong attacks, accompanied by tanks, sanguinarily broke down on the slopes west of Albert. Our divisions broke through at many points south of the Somme, driving back the English and French into an area untouched by the war since 1914. The Crown Priiico's victorious troops, in an "uninterrupted attack, have penetrated sixty kilometres from St. .Ouentin acroes the Somme. They pushed forward yesterday, reaching Pierrepont and captured Montdidier. Our losses generally were within the normal limit, though we lost heavily fit some lital points. It is estimated that sixty to seventy per cent, were only slightly wounded. Artillery battles have increased in violence in Lorraine. A later message states: "Our attackbetween the Somme and Ancre resulted in the- capture of villages wero.j toughly defended."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.-Rcuter. . ■ AMERICAN OPINION "great oountm-atmce; fast APPROACHING." (Rec! March 29, 11 p.m.) ' New York, March 27. Official opinion and the tone of the newspapers throughout the country reflect unshakable confidence in the ability of the British to hold the Germans. The newspapers are „ optimistic, and anticipate an early and successful counter-offensive. Cartoons depict Britannia, hard-pressed but indomitable. Great enthusiasm was awakened by tho British announcement that Americans are participating in the fighting near Roye. It i≤ believed that they comprise fresh American troops trained in England. The "New York Times" observes that Germany's object was not to drive back the British; it was to rout them. In this the Germans failed. "The British, though retreating, are undefeated and. we believe,' undefeatable." The "New York Times's" military espert states that the British are holding the high, ground taken in the Battle of Viiny Ridge. This means that the end of the German advance is in sight. Sir Douglas Haig's retreat north, 'of the Eomme was not compulsory. He waited lor the right moment to strike back. The hour of a. great counter-attack is fast approaching. The Acting Chief of Staff made a statement that the Allies are determined to see the great battle through to a finish, and declared that the Allies will win.

Mr. Roosevelt, addressijig the Republican State Convention at Portland, Maine, said:—"The Allies must beat Germany to her knees to get a righteous and lasting peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. " WORK OF AMERICAN ARTILLERY INCESSANTLY SHELLING THE GERMANS. (Rec. March 29, 11 p.m.) New York, March 27. A report from American Headquarters states that the American artillery is incessantly shelling the Germans in the Toul sector, ,and has forced the Germans to abandon the town of Riche-court.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■