GIVENCHY RECAPTURED BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 174, 12 April 1918, Page 7

GIVENCHY RECAPTURED BY THE BRITISH

■ iw flanders FRENCH WITHDRAWAL TO THE AILETTE : . . I ' " f ßy Telegraph-Preee Associa,tionvCopyright. . . .... lIZ'Z ..." 'i ~'.r . . . .;._: :-...' London, April'lo.' j. ■'the Gerittan attack has extended -northward of the. Ypres-Comines Canaj. The' "British '.havjß recaptured Givenchy.. The Bavarians took the.position, and "were ■fcWice'beatieh.out'.:' Sir Douglas Haig now holds Tillage' and the high-ground.. .The German attacks on the Messines front failed. Armentieres fimvforms an awkward-salient. The Germans.have captured portion of Ploegsteert W^d.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - The Australians have recaptured Bouzeucburt.—Reuter. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS — 1.'..1..V_ ..,.,'.■,■'..-. ...:' ~ London, April 10, 1.15 p.m. ••■ • • Sir Bouglas- Haig.reports:."Fierce fighting continued on the battlefront JitffflfWSrd:of La Bassee Canal last evening and night:. "We hold the line of and J Lys, ahd are .heavily/ engaged with the enemy at the ■EstalreS and'BaoSt. Mairr River crossings. On the southern flank the enemy att&jked-.Givehchy, into which at one time he forced his way. The village was igcaptiired by a counter-attack later in the day by tho .Fifty-fifth Division, which took 750 prisoners. The enemy early, this morning opened a heavy ibomhardment of;-our : positions east and north of Armentieres, as far.as the Ypres-Comines Canal. is proceeding on the southern portion of this front. ....Jjo.caOghtirig occurred of the Bonirne last evening, hut the■ situation, is unchanged."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lleuter.

■ -' : ■ '■' ■ (E'ec. April 11,10.15 p.m.) . , : .."- .-.. ~... . London, April 11. •■■ '■■ Sir .Douglas Haig reports: "A mist yesterday morning- hindered flying bperations. \Vleu the weather, im'proved-our airraont bombed and machine- , gunned the enemy's new battlefront between La Bassee and Armontieres. We brought down five of the enemy's 'planes. Two of ours are missing."—Aus.N.Z. Gable Assn.-Beuter. . • . . . ■'■••"■ ■•■■■ . . (Kec. April 12, 0.10 a.m.) - " ...... ■;;. .;.■;■■•. • London, April 10, midnight. ■ • , Sir Douglas Haig reprts: '.'Following the bombardment already reported, the enemy this morning-attacked in strength between Armentieres and ihe Ypres-Oomines. Canal. Heavy fighting lasted all day .on this sector and[also along the whole front. In yesterday's , attack north of the La Basseo Canal tlie enemy north of Arraentieres pressed us back to the Wyfc-schaete-Messines Ridge-Ploegsteert line. The enemy, who had forced his way into.Messin.es, was driven'out by a counter-attaok after a prolonged •j' struggle";- . South of Armentieros the enemy established Himself on the left j bank of the Lys; at certain points east of Estaires, and in the neighbourilhood of Baah...Bt.._Maur. The enemy this morning crossed the Laws at Lestrom, but was driTen out of the village and across the river by a counter- ■ attack. We.maintained our positions betweon Estairos and (-Jivenchy."— lAus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. ■ DISPATCHES BY CORRESPONDENTS .•.■'.-,■'. SUPERB- DEFENCE BY THE BRITISH. •..,".... .'.'_.".. " London, April 10, 4.35 p.m. ■Heuter's correspondent at British Headquarters states: The battle which fcegan yesterday morning continues with, unabated. violence. . The artillery duel"extended eouth'of Arras,"and tho Germans are also, attacking between ; Armentieros. and. Messines.,. The 'gunfiro is so.torrible that the earth trembles ; ns. though with an interminable volcanic spasm.... The enemy had a tremendous concentration-of. artillery, and is throwing, in the infantry, in dense ! masses. It js plain ho is making anothor bid ..for a. clean break through. ■ i Although the enemy bent our line to some extent between Armentiores and .Bethune, ■Wβ are putting,up a superb fight. Every foot of tho retirement ■has been most , orderly and at heavy cost to tho enemy. One of the features i of-yesterday-s fighting was the retaking of. valuable ..ground at Givenchy. ilTho'-- Portuguese suffered severely early, in the fighting,, but sturdily, resisted, and were only pressed back by sKeqr weight. The enemy's northern flaniis apparently trying to work along the Lys River, .. but the direction and extent of -.tho southern- advance is obscure. The" conditions for the attackers are difficult owing to the porous nature of the ground... In many places'it ie impossible to dig in, and they-must substitute l)reastworks. The enemy is not astride any important communication. —Reuler. ' {• Hugo Expenditure of Cas Shells. ... London, April 10. .. Mr! Philip Gibbs writes: The front of the enemy's attack is about eleven miles, between Armentieres and La Bassee Canal.- The Germans apparently succeeded in driving in parts of our'outpost lines, while we are holding him by; Givenchy on the right and Fleurbaix on the left. The enemy used poison gks in immense quantities. It is estimated that he fired during the night over sixty thousand gas shells. The Portuguese troops between Laventie and Nouve Ohapelle nro now in the thick of the battlo, and fighting gallantly. All tho enemy's efforts do not seem to have carried him far through tho marshes. ■His storm troops are boing held back and shattered.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable iAssn. ALL-DAY FIGHTING AT BETHUNE t. (itec. April 11, 10.15 p.m.) ■•■'■'.. London, April 10. ; Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters,, writing on the' , evening of April 10, says: "Througlioufc the day tho strugglo north of Bothuna waxed and waned. An artillery duel developed to the southwards, and the 'infantry battle-' extended .to the vicinity of Wytschapte. During the two days' fighting the oiwray has Dressed us back at certain places, necessitating readr jußtmerits to the line elsewhere.. The enoiny is flinging his main might into an endeavour to destroy the fighting powers of the British. This morning the Germans were reported to be in the village of Mossines and Ploegsteort Wdodj although probably in only small numbers. Tho enemy obtained a footing -in Estaires this morning, but was reported to have been driven out later. Our troops are" fighting magnificently, and are well supported by the artillery. The enemy employed at least eight diijsions in his attack. The spearhead of the enemy's-assault was, the centre of tho Portuguese front. Owing to the tbicltness. of the weather considerableinumbers of Germans trickled througii whilst the iilarm was being given, and we wore consequently attacked in rear as welL as by dense wa V es in front. Tho Portuguese wore forced to rotire, and fought a brilliant rearguard action, which averted a serious moTlaco to this front, but_ a retiring movement became inevitable. Givenchy, which is valuable for tactical reasons, was captnred by tho onemy. A , counter-attack drove him out, but this was not delivored in sufficient numbers to withstand tho oncoming wa V os, and early this morning the Germans renamed tho village. Just before ( j ar ] r y le Fifty-fifth Division, consisting mainly of Lancashire Territorials, mM \ c a f ino charge, again restoring Givenchy. , To-day thoro has been little disposition to further attack along the southern flank of yesterday's thru an( ? the battle is setting towards the northward. The Germans arp shollj n jr all the towns and villages a long ' way hack, and also the roads, with ste a dy insistence, employing to tho utmost their great,hauls of artillery captured on other fronts."—Jteuter.

THE PRESSURE ON THE FRENCH FRONT VILLAGE OF HANGARD GALLANTLY-HELD. London, April 10. .. Tho. French, nro.retiring on the Ailetto Itivor (south of Gohain Forest,). The French had a sanguinary encounter with tho Germans for tho possession of Hnngard, which changed hands several times. Tho French finally remained masters. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS London, April 10, 2.5 a.m. A-French communique states: "North of Montdidier tho enemy artillery was violently countered by ours. Several points in the region of Hangarcl were bombarded, but our artillery prevented a German attack from debouching. Wo repulsed an attempt west of Noyon, in tho sector of Bcrmont. Thero is an intermittent artillory duel on the left bank of tho Oise. Our battories caught and dispersed an enemy concentration in the region of Coucy-le-Chateatt.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutcr. London, April 10, 4.25 p.m. A French communique states: "The enemy in the night time carried out local actions at , several points. Yesterday evening, after strong artillery preparation, he powerfully attacked in the region of Hangnrd. There was an obstinate fight for tho village, which changed hands repeatedly. Our attack at 3 o'clock in the morning gave us tho complete mastery of the village and the cemetery. An attempt to drive us from the wood west of Castel was sanguinarily defeated."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. (Bee. April 11, 11.55 p.m.) London, April 11. A French communique states: "North of Montdidier and in the region of Oise Canal the artillery duel is violent."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (llec. April 12, 0.10 a.m.) . .„_ .. _ London, April 10,. midnight. .. A wireless.German official states: "Between Armentieres and the La Bassee Canal we attacked the Anglo-Portuguese lines and took the first line, with six thousand prisoners and about a. hundred guns. We have penetrated the English lines astride Warneton."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. THE SITUATION REVIEWED GENERAL POSITION ON MAIN BATTLEFRONT UNCHANGED. (Rec. April 11, 8.20 p.m.) London, April 10. A "High Military Authority" reviewing the position, says that it lias improved locally south of the Somme. Tho Australians are covering the little village of Bouzaucourt, near Hamel.., The French, east of the old battlefield, carried out a small withdrawal, where they had been left by the retirement of our Fifth Army in an awkward angle north of the Oise. Tho enemy, however, cut off two battalions, securing a couple of thousand prisoners. The French fell hnck on to the strong line of the Ailette. The general position on the main, hattlefront is unchanged. The enemy was faced north of the. Somme by the stonewall of the Third Army, against which the Germans have battered without material result, while south of the Somme bo was blocked by the arrivH'l of the French reinforcements. The Germans therefore changed the scene to the old front between Armentieres and Bethune, where the Portuguese held the ground in the. centre, with a British division on either flank. The main attack fell on the Portuguese. The enemy gained an area of little tactical advantage. Nevertheless he has made an awkward salient in our lines, from which he may dovelop an attack on Armentieres in "the north and Bethune in the south. Our recovery of Givenchy, which is the gateway towards Betnune, is of great importance. The Germans advanced their centre to a depth of 5500 yards along'a. front of 15,000 yards, and were brought up. by the river Laws. It is quite certain that the Portuguese lost some artillery and a considerable number of prisoners. The enemy attacked with considerable force.. ''Clio weather was foggy and overcast, and aerial work was almost impossible. Five German divisions were identified. They probably used as many us eight. The Germans this morning attacked north of Armentieres as far as tho .Messines front, and entered our first line between, the Lys and Douve. They captured a considerable part of the Ploegsteeri Wooct, but were repulsed on the Messines front. They have turned Armentieres jnto a. very awkward salient. The town itself has long been aheap of ruins. Its loss would not be vital, although we hope to retain it. The enemy is simply carrying out another part w Tiis original programme—trying to eshauet the British Army by hammering at it wherever he has a favourable chance."—Aub.tN.Z. Cable Assn. '.■.., '

AMERICA IN THE FIRING-LINE ■ REINFORCEMENTS FOE, THE BRITISH. London, April 10. The-American troops are about to participate in the battle. • . • ■ New York, April 10. Mr William Sim, the correspondent of the United Press Association at British Headquarters, states that Amorioan troops have arrived, and aro roinforcingthe British. Correspondents report that American engineors took pnrt in the recent great battles. The Germans advanced in waves, twelvo men deep, a hundred yards apart. The Americans poured a deadly fire into tho Germans, mowing down thousands, until their rifles were so hot that- they could not bo used. The terrifio carnage was sickening, but the Americans held the enemy for days on one sector.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. Washington, April 10. American casualties for six days total 447.—Au5.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PERILOUS EXPERIENCE OF RED CROSS STAFFS SOME CASUALTY CLEARING STATIONS CAPTURED BY THE ■ GERMANS. ' ■ (Roc. April 11, 9.30 p.m.) '■ . . London, April .10. Tho War Office states: "During the .recent retirement somo of our casualty clearing stations fell into the enemy's hands. All the doctors, nurses, and patients were safely evacuated, and tho deficiencies have since been made good. Tho Australian and Canadian medical authorities generously helped, lending doctors and nurses during the evacuation, which was mado under a heavy fire. A number of casualties occurred amongst tho medical and nursing personnel."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. COMPLIMENTS FROM JAPAN TRIBUTE TO BRITISH STEADFASTNESS AND COURAGE. London,' April 10. j The Emperor cf Japan has sent a messago to the King, complimenting him on the bravery and steadfastness of the British troops on the West front, and expressing-confidence in tho final triumph of the Allies. The King replied, expressing cordial thanks, and sharing the Emperor's confidence in the triumph of our cause.—Aus.-N.Z. Oahlo Aesn. GERMAN OFFICER CASUALTIES CAUSE LAMENTATION. ' Amsterdam, April 10. Germany is lamenting the heavy casualties_ among officers. Several regiments are now practically led by non-commissioned offlcors. The Berlin lists show that 2570 mombers of the nobility have been killed in tho war.—"The Times." KAISER SUFFERING FROM MENTAL EXHAUSTION. • Berne, April 10. It is reported that the Kaiser is suffering from mental exhaustion, the result of his extreme activity during the offensive. He has decided to rest, and is transferring the supreme command, to Von Ludendorff.—Aus.-N.Z. Ca"slo Assn. , ' A GERMAN OFFICER-CHEAT SHOT. New York, April 10. An American correspondent on the Western front relates that a man in fiie uniform of a British Staff officer drove up in an automobile, and ordered the British commander 'to retiro three miles. The British officer became suspicions and searched the "Staff'.' offioer, who proved to be a German in disguise Ho wae immediately shot.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH NO PANIC, BUT THE DEEPEST ANXIETY. London, April 10. Numerous political groups, including Labour, will meet in the Houso of ■ Commons on Wednesday to considor tho Man-Power Bill. A lobbyist savs that the House of Commons was profoundly impressed with Mr. Lloyd George's statement. There was no panic, but the deepest anxiety. The majority of ,the members of the House have returned to their constituencies with the fixed intention to support the sternest measures. The Government and Liberal newspapers are unanimous in praising Mr. Asquith's appeal for unity iind his sombre reminder of the gravity of the situation. Tho newspapers generally accept the man-power proposals as necessary in view of tho seriousness of the military situation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.