THE FIGHTING REVIEWED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 166, 3 April 1918, Page 5

THE FIGHTING REVIEWED

HALF THE ENEMY'S WESTERN STRENGTH THROUGH THE FURNACE LOSSES IN INFANTRYMEN A QUARTER OF A MILLION London, April 1. Mr. Perry Robinson, reviewing the fighting, says that thick mists on the first day were one of the most important features, enabling tho Germans in many parts to approach closely without being observed, after. which tho mere weight of the masses, in spite of swathes of slain, ruptured the line. Tho Ulster divisions at St. Quentm were almost surrounded before the new infantry movement was begun, but the luok was not all on one side. Separate enemy masses attacked each other in tho confusion. _ The correspondent praises the worth of the airmen, who strove to the limits of human endurance. The air force has ceased to bo an auxiliary arm, and has become one of the major striking forces. Failure of Cermany's Creat Coup. He adds: "The German success has fallen far short of expectations. An advance of 19,000 yards was intended on the first day, and the naval division was promised a clear walk through. In essentials the great coup failed, but there is ho desire to minimise the gravity of the situation. Another, great blow is maturing. About half the German Western strength has been through the furnace, and the losses amount to 250,000 infantrymen. Those divisions are not irreparably shattered, and will soon be good enough for manning the quieter sectors, or for the. later phases of the battle. The clouds may be black, but the spirits of our men are as line as ever everywhere. The officers are ready to bet any odds that tho Germans cannot break them."—"Tho Times." Furious Battle on the Line of the Avre. Router's correspondent at the French Headquarters reports:—"The Germans, following their habitual tactics of alternate blows, have transferred tile weight of their attack from tho Somme sector to the line of the Avre, where a furious battle is raging. As the result of a day's fighting,_ involving, apparently, the heaviest losses yet suffered in any other ITattle since the beginning of the offensive, the Germans worked their way to the bank of the Avre at Moreuil. The enemy is still held on the east bank of the Avre, and, except that he has enlaged his position along the course of the stream, has nothing to show for his losses. The French maohine-guns did terrible execution. The Germans are now bringing up heavy artillery, which has not yet participated in the fighting, and tho breaking of the weather must delay its appearance on tho battlefield. Corman Heavy Artillery Rendered Inaotlvo. "An extraordinary feature of the battle is that so far it has been fought on the German side almost ontirely by infantry. So far the Germans nave only been aljle to use field guns and light field howitzers. They have not kept their heavy artillery inactive from choice,_ but because the retreating British methodically blew up the roads and bridges. Hitherto the enemy's quick advance has been due to his employment of masses of infantry and infantry arms, but the costliness of thus fighting without bringing up artillery is far too groat tfor him to do so for long. Enemy's Advance Slackened. "The enemy's advance has slackened during the last few days, and gains have been made only upon narrow fronts. Meantime our artillery reinforcements are arriving. The opinion is growing that Ludendorff's plan of a swift and bloody passage through the junction of the British and French will degenerate into a long battle on the fronts." Cermany's Plans Not Realised. Router's correspondent with the French Army states that military papers captured include maps issued to officers and sub-officers detailing the German plan of attack. On the backs of the maps are reports prepared in advance, corresponding to the anticipated stages of attack, to be sent to the rear as each successive objective Was reached. The progress of the _ infantry was calculated at two hundred metres (220 yards) a minute, which was twico the rate allowed in prevjous offensives. On reaching tho open country, they were to advance by means of heavy blows in rapid succession, in order to bring about local retirements The moment our. troops fell back the Germans were to follow, thus threatening units which had not retired, which would thon be. subjected to a fresh frontal attack. i Enemy's Power Weakened by Each Blow. Renter's correspondent at the British Headquarters writes-.—"The first tremendous crash having failed of its purpose, the enemy is now confronted with the alternative of making another effort on this front or o'f extending tho battle to further ground, where he will be restricted by the marshes and swamps of the Avro and valleys. Perhaps the enemy's hopes of advancing further depend on the impression he can make on the resistance of tho Allies in tho north. With each successive blow his ; power is weakened out of all proportion to our capacity of continued resistance; but perhaps he may bo staking a desperate gamble on more weight of numbers. One of the most encouraging symptoms is the extent to which our troops are now successfully assuming the initiative." —Router. Heroio Defence of a British Unit. In his account of the recent fighting, Mr. Gibbg says:—"lt was touch-and-go several times in different parts of the line, but tho gaps were always filled at tho psychological moment. Tho men of one British unit holding the line beforo Hermies and Havrincourfc on March 21 fought like Greek heroes. The onomy attacked Hermies six times, and Havrincourt seven times, but fell in heaps. They could not break through. A Bunken road at Demicourt, from which tho enemy deployed, liecamo a ditch of death for the German storm troops. The enemy's successes elsewhere, however, necessitated the withdrawal of the British on tho night of March 22, when the unit was in danger of being surrounded. . The rearguards becamo isolated, but hacked their way through, and subsequently withstood tho most violent attacks until tho ragged line of weary men reached the Ancro on March 26." Enemy's Costly Attack on Arras and Vimy Ridge. Tho United Press correspondent reports"Tho first attack on Arras and the Vimy Ridgo cost tho enemy very heavy losses. The Ist Guards Reserve Regiment lost in officers alone a colonel, and nine other killed, and twentyone wounded. Several British batteries fired for long periods with open sights, cutting long lanes in the Gorman ranks. The machine-guns fired ,»t° full speed at tho samo time. One gun mowed down 450 men. The targets wore so perfect that some officers sniped with rifles, while others killed Germans with their revolvers. Tho battlo was never in doubt, and the British sang as tlioy fought. It was recently mentioned that certain units of .youngsters, sallying out at night, fought their way through tho German linos and back again. These were Canadian armoured-car units. The crews lost heavily, but were reinforced instantly by volunteers. Four cars engaged and routed German cavalry near Lamotte."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANS NOT INCLINED TO ATTACK ARRAS AGAIN THE COMMANDERS UNWILLING TO RISK FURTHER SLAUGHTER (REC. APRIL 2, 11.50 P.M.) London, April 1, 11.15 p.m. Mr. H. Perry Robinson says: "The situation has not changed materially. The Germans have shown no disposition to again try an attack on Arras since tho completo and costly failure of March 28. Our positions between the Ancre and tho Somme are so firm that the British regret that the enemy is disinclined for a greater enterprise. Some fighting is going on in the Do-. muin-Hangard-Morouil area with a view to reaching Amiens, but the attacks show little determination. Small bodies of British -have performed extraordinary feats of resistance. Cavalry have been very useful during several minor operations. . The Attempt to Regain Vimy Ridge. "It is now certain that the Germans.lost tremendously in attempting to regain the Vimy Ridge. After we shattered the shock troops and defeated the following divisions in attempting to break through, the German commauders decided not to uso tho reserve divisions of Guards, which were previously intended to consolidate the victory. The Bailloul and VillervaJ positions, opposite our machine-guns, wero covered with German dead. It is no wonder that, the commanders were unwilling to risk further slaughter. The enemy employed on both sides of the Scarpe no fewer than eleven divisions, and all suffered terribly. The London troops resisted the greatest weight of the attack at'Gavrelle and Oppy, and probably killed as many as an equal force ever killed on any battlefield. A Heavy Bombardment. "Tho bombardment with high explosives, gas shells, and vast numbers of trench mortars completely blotted out several of our advanced posts... A party of Queen's and Westminsters heroically held another post opposite Gavrelle and suffered heavy casualties. All were gassed, but enough were left to work the machine-guns and enfilade and mow down the at ackers advancing waves. Ultimately the persistent enemy oocupied both sides of the Scarpe, and the remnant of tho Westminsters retired hghbng. Carrying their machineguns they rejoined the main line at Bailleul.. The attack here 7 o'clock in the morning and lontinued for hours, leaving the ground black with German dead. The British line still held. "We Will Tight to the Last Man." "A nartv of Essex men wero isolated, and sent back a message: 'We will fight to the last man.' As far as is known they did There is a ctory of the Suffolks, who were cut oft and surrounded at Wancourt Wood, such as painters ought to immortalise and historians to Ihe men fought back to back till they, were wiped out.' The limes. • Airmen Hinder the Enemy's Transport Work. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the ovening of April 1, says Enemy movements and fighting during tho last twentyfour hours indicate a development and an attempt to work towards Amiens rlnmn TliP Ancre Valley, and aso from the south-west. Great masses of troops continue to conenn trate in the region of Albert. Fighting is progress ng towards Vellers and Bretonnmix. The enemy is finding serious difficulties in transport work owing to r,he ceaseless destructive activity of our airmen, and also owing to tho shortage of animals. The euemj is bringing up his artillery comparatively slowly, and meanwhile is lazily employing trench mortars. Thfc Australians in the Thick of the Fighting. "The Australian troops are now appearing in the thick of the. fighting and doin" magnificently. Despite the southwardly trend of the battle, tho greatest weight of enemy divisions remains north of the Somme. Documents now reveal that the enemy expected to reach the Somme on the first day of the offensive."—Renter. "WE ARE UNSHAKEN IN OUR FAITH" DECLARATION BY LORD READING. New York, April 1. Lord Reading (British Ambassador), in a speech, said that if the British line holds, Germany will not have gained anything vital. Ho believed that the present battle would prove one o the most glorious chapters in the history of British arms. Britain did not doubt the result: "We are unshaken in our faith. We are determined, como what may, to fight till victory is achieved." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.