THRUST ON ESTAIRES-STEENWERCK LINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 7

THRUST ON ESTAIRES-STEENWERCK LINE

ARMENTIERES EVACUATED BRITISH CLINGING TO MESSINES RIDGE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. London, April 11, 3.45 p.m. > Fierce fighting continued all night. ' The Germans penetrated at. La Creche, near. Bailleul, and also at Nieppe, but were driven out. We exCi t%em from the western half of Ploegsteert. In determined hand-to-encounters, Messines and Wytschaote were taken and retaken several 1 times, and the Germans were driven out, There were similar scenes at Steenwerck.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS

(Rec. April 12, 7.5 p.m.)

- _ London. April 11, 11.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The enemy pressed his attacks strongly all day along the whole of the northern B&ttlefront. Fresh divisions continually and heavily assaulted the region of the Lawe River between Loisno and . Lestrem. Our Fifty-first- Division beat off incessant attacks, inflicting great losses, and recaptured tho positions by vigorous counter-attacks. Heavy' fighting occurred at Estair'es," and between Estaires and Steenwerck. On this . sector, tho enemy attacked in strength, and. pushed, back our line to just . north of these places. The enemy determinedly, attacked this morning north of Armentieres. and made some progress -in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert Wood. Our Ninth Division .completely repulsed the enemy with great loss. Another heavy was_ delivered in the neighbourhood of Wytschaete and Hollebeke. Fighting continues along the whole front between tho La Basseo Canal and the Ypres-Cominea Canal. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. April 12, 8.20 p.m.) ■ ■ London, April 11, 11.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports"Despite unfavourable weather yesterday our airmen bombed and macnine-gunned the enemy's troops. The mist compelled the pilots to-fly-at an average height of two hundred feet, exposed to very heavy gunfire. The enemy's airmen were also active. AVe brought down seven of,'the enemy's machines and drove down one. Seven of ours are missing. We raided Luxembourg station at midday to-day, and dropped over a ton of bombs. Several bursts were observed. All returned despite considerable gunfire."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. N "POSITION FAIRLY WELL IN HAND" ENEMY SEVERELY HANDLED AT .HALLEBEKE. (Rec. April 12, 8.20 p.m.). London, April 11, 11 p.m. Keuter's correspondent at British Headquarters states"The' situation ' generally is' regarded to-day as being fairly well in hand, but fighting continues, and'is likely to continue on a heavy scale. The German attack was helped by misty'weather.' ' The territory the enemy overran was very sparsely populated by civilians, and as regards the character of the country, was barren of grain." The enemy's communications have been lengthened across long clay tracks. The enemy, attacking in massed'waves against Hollebeke over heavy ground, made a great'target for our rifles and machine-guns, and the. execution was "terrific. 1 ■ Comparatively few Germans got to grips, arid the enemy, was completely repulsed; tho straggling retreat being followed by our field gun 3. until the'enetriy; disappeared ill the mist. Large bodies of German infantry are reported to -be massing. "north-west of Armentieres, :in 1 the direction of Plpegsteert Wood,' where continuous fighting is proceeding with artillery heavily concentrated thereon: The evacuation of Armentieres was conducted very ■ successfully, the eUemy hot attempting to press , our retirement. The whole place'is a vast cesspit of mustard'gas." [Mustard gas, one of the enemy's latest devilish inspirations, is a heavy emanation from speoial shells, and lies about' like a poison blanket. _ Its effects-are not noticed till somevfiye.or six hours afterwards, when the victim suffers acutely yi'the region of. the. lungs!] • THE SITUATION REVIEWED \ (Rec. April 12, .8.20 p.m.) London, April 11. A "High Authority" states:—"Our fine flank defences prevented the en- . velopment,of. Armentieres, enabling an orderly evacuation. The British maintain their'hold on . the crest of Messines Ridge. \ The Germans failed to take any high ground, making progress only along the flat country, which is the most, encouraging feature of the situation."—United Service. "A NEW AND FORMIDABLE OFFENSIVE" • ENEMY'S INTENTIONS NOW CLEARER. , _ . London, April 11. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: —"It is 'nowclear that tho battle around Armentieres is a new and formidable offensive, with large objectives. It is certain that the-German High Command has decided to throw the full woight of its armies against, the British instead of dividing its efforts by striking also against the French. Its.plan is to edgo off as much as possible" 1 from the French, holding them, in check by defensive fighting, iu order to concentrate the men and guns opposite tho British lines, and hurl,them in a series of blows now to the'right, now to the left, following each success as far as the possibilities admit. : This menace calls for a supreme effort by the Allies; Yesterday the' enemy made the'flat ground opposite Neuve Cliapelle the centre of the thrust. To-day the attack on Messines Ridge succeeded in pressing back parts cir our first "defensive systems; the attacks being most vehoment in the neighbourhood Of Messinos. Our counter-attacks havo sinco driven tho enemy' back part of the way. ■ Tho bombardment throughout was ■without pause. Our great achievement was a magnificont stand by tho Lancashires of the Fifty-fifth Division, who held our flank firm against fierce and repeated attacks, though outnumbered by four to one. Our line at Givotichy is still unbroken. Tho waves of men sent in by the pnemy to-day lie shattered beforo it. Wo_hold"7so prisoners. It was a. tragedy. The Portuguese suffered the heaviest blow. The bombardment annihilated their outposts, smashed the front line, and forced them to fall back on tho second system, which was attacked by enemy assault troops. By eleven o'clock the Germans had taken Laventie. The German advance at Laventie put a severe strain upon the Fifty-fifth Division at Givenchy. ' The enemy attacked i? ..'crowds, and capturcd tho village in the morning,. but was hurled out by our bombers and riflemen, who regained half the village. Thon tho Lancashire lads.attacked again, and'drovo the enemy back to his original' positions. Tlie German prisoners were vorv. crestfallen, particularly as a captured document showed that tho German Army orders read out before the battle stated that tho Fifty-fifth Division was very weak and tired, and that the capturo of Givenohy would be no trouble." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. t The Attack en the Portuguese. Mr. Perry Robinson writes: —"The second-phase of.the German offensive seems more threatening in the north than in the south, where, owing to the stubborn stand by our flanke, the enomy only succeeded in advancing on a

narrow salient as far as tho Lys and north-west of Lnventie to a maximum of four miles. Thoy overran an advanced line north of Armentiores and near AVarneton, forcing their way up the south end of the Messines Ridge, and reached Messines, where they were driven back. Fierce fighting continues to the south, where they penetrated Ploegsteert and reached Nieppe. The maximum advance was three miles. A bit of the ground is of tactical importance, as it endangers the possession of Armentieres. Prisoners affirm that the second great blow was intended to end tho war, and destroy the British Army. Portuguese Gallantry. "The-immediate brunt of the fighting fell 011 the Portuguese centre, who, though in considerable strength, were quite unable to maintain the position under tho massed attacks. According to statements, the Germans await the meteorological expert's prediction of misty mornings before attacking. Yesterday's mist euabled the attackers to approach unseen, out the wire, and even surround and attack advanced posts with flammerwerfer before being detected. Under tho tremendous weight off the impact, the Portuguese first line was forced back. ' Small units continued to fight desperately, but were hopelessly surrounded. The second and third lines were similarly rushed. Battalions of the Portuguese clung to the positions at La Couture till a large proportion was killed. The Portuguese artillery was excellent; and they lost considerably in men and guns. Though the majority of iho guns Were smashed by enemy fire, many continued firing at close range till the masses were close upon them. Tho majority of the gunners wero disabled, a remnant escaping after rendering tho guns useless. British artillery officers loudly praise the way they stuck to it. Although tho Portuguese positions were well advanced, in the battle zone, tho breach in the centre threw; enormous strain on the Fifty-fifth British Division on tho extreme right,, holding the Givenchy positions. Tho Lancashire men threw back the left flanking on that sifle, and then began a brilliant defence of Givenchy. Three times tho Germans forced an entry, but wore thrown out by most dashing counter-attacks. Tho Lancashires took 700 prisoners. Wo retained Givenchy and a majority of the original line. The Attack on Laventlo, "Tho Germans reached Laventio at 11 o'clock, compelling tho troops of the Fifty-fifth Division on tho left to swing round and front north, whero they hold the enemy. The lino runs west of Laventio to Estaires, tho Lys, Sailly, and Bac St. Maur. Yesterday tho Germans penetrated Estaires and La Gorgue. Our counter-attacks "throw them out. Further up, close to the Lys, the enemy reached Croix du Bac, but, were driven back and penned on the east side of the little stream by troops thrusting southwards from Steenwerck.. From hero to below Armentieres the lines are held intact. Captured • maps'show that the enemy aimed at the capture of Bethune. Captured aviators say that tho operations are only the beginning of a great offensive on a forty kilometres (twenty-five mile) front. Information from the north is scanty. The enemy reached the village of Messines, but were thrown back and down tho eastern slopes of tho ridge. Fierce fighting continues in this sector. Tho heaviness of tho bombardment hero makes sleep impossible. It did not cease all night, and was continued all day."—"The Times." THE FIGHT FOR MESSINES RIDGE BRITISH CLINGING TENACIOUSLY TO THE CREST. (Rec. April 12, 8.20 p.m.) London, April 11, 6.20 p.m. A violent battle is extending, northwards. The irifantry attacks cover a front of twenty milesi overlapping the Yser Canal. The country trembles with the terrific din of the furious bombardment. The enemy's shells are reaching Saintomes and Cassol, whilst Hazebruck, Bailleul, and other most important road centres are being reduced to heaps of ruins. Our most serious, lose is the prepared battle zone on the Messines Ridge, but the itish forces, greatly reduced by the movements southward, cliii" tenaciously to tho crest.; Tho Germans are developing their attack towards Bethuno. — United Service. STORY OF THE ATTACK (Rec. April 12, 11.55 D.mJ ' London, April, 11. Mr. Percival Phillips states: —"In holding Messinos Ridge wo liavo been able for a year past to hound thn enemy's traffic off the roads at daylight as far as Menin. Two German on AVednesday morning made a desperate thrust for the ridg». AVoheld a line between Ploegstoprt and Hollebekc with ample strength, including famous Scottish and English battalions. After a bombardment moluding shells from many trench'mortars, the attackers advanced along the flats towards Ploegsteert. tho movement very. gradually spreading northward. The attack developed on Hollebeke and Gheluvelt in tho afternoon. Sn/a'sl parties of machine-gunners crept southward from Ploegsteert, entering Nieppe and endeavouring to make n junction with tho force which on Tuesday pushed southward round Armentieres. We cleared. Nieppo without diiDculty."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Fighting Without Respite. Mr/ Philip Gibbs writes:—"Yestcroay afternoon and to-day the enemy exerted all. his strength in men and guns betwen the Lys River and AVytachaete. Our troops, fighting without respite, held him 011 our main delon r Blvo positions, while thrusting him back from important ground by repeated counter-attacks. Onco again wo wero outnumbered, and only tho courage and stubborn will of battalions weakened by casualties prevented the enemy from making rapid progress. Instead, ho was flung back at Wytschaeia and Messines with most bloody losses. We, have given ground along tho Lys Uanal, south of Armentierea. The Germans put up temporary bridges; which we shelled to pieces. Wo have ilso given up Armentierea, with' its gay little restaurants and teashops. Tho enemy yesterday • readied , AVytsohaeto and Messines, where v tho British camo up at a great pace, and droyo tno enemy off the'crest of the' ridgo, and dealt him a deadly blow. Tho German dead now lie thick on tho ground the English, Irish, and New Zealanders won last Juno. "• The Germans came on wave after wave, and at the end of days of agony had not gained a yard of the crest, but wero beaten back on the reverse side of the slope. After their reverso at Givenchy tho enemy attacked tho Lys Canal north and south of Estaires. It was sometimes shallow enough for the troops to wade, but tho Scotch machine-guns caught the enemy in the ditch, and heaped it with their bodies. Some of the Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Soots, after desperate fighting against overwhelming odds, were forced to abandon Houplines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN ADVANCE DEFINITELY HELD ' i (Rec. April 12, 10.20 p.m.) London, April 12, 1 a.m. Mr, Perry Robinson, who has just returned from tho Messines Ridge area, thinks that the German advahco has been definitely, held. There is fierce fighting on tho southern sector. -The enemy, progressing westward below Estaires, crossed the Lawe, and is now fighting Lestrem and Merville. As,the line in the vicinitv of Givenohy is solid, and we still hold Estaires aiid the line of river, to Steenwerck, the enemy's penetration at this point must..he c.n a very small front and of no strength. The situation is peculiar and confused. Yesterday's attack on the northern was made by three divisions on a jive-mile, front at Ploegsteert, near Hollebuke. Aided by a thick mist, the enemy penetrated Ploegsteert Wood by seven o'clock, and thence the aittack spread northwards. ■ Capturing Messines and Wytschaete, and advancing at midday northwards <of. the White Chateau and the famous Dam Strasse, which further points were 'reached before night, the enemy was swept back from Wytschaete, the highest parts of the ridge and the western portion of Ploegsteert Wood, and in tho morning we firmly held a line east of Wytschaeto and tho backbone of the ridge. The enemy used twelve divisions in their attack 011 the, Portuguese centre'.- The magnificent fight of the-Fifty-fifth Division at Givenchy saved rather a serious disaster. The Germans attacked the Fiftyfifth Division iii repeated masses. Our rifles and machine-guns did dreadful execution as the Portuguese retreated, Tho -Germans' sought to fling great numbers into .the breach, but our cyclists' battalion and other troops galjantly stemmed the, tide against' tremendous .odds till the line was re-formed behind."—"The Times." • GROUND SACRED TO THE COLONIALS ■ London, April 11. The German attack upon the front extending northward of yesterday's fighting includes the -Messines-AVytschaete sector, where tho Australians spent the winter in strengthening the defences. They put in a prodigious amount of work, and were convinced that they had made the sector one of the tidiest on the front. ' Frequent raids by tlw Australians kept the enemy on tenterhooks. The Australians: were certain that if the Germans were foolish enough to attempt an attack from their low positions they would give the attackers a terrible reception: But the'conditions changed during the past three weeks, and the Australians evacuated the_ sector to_ take, with the New Zealanders, a more active share in the immediate fighting, where the pressure was greatest. • Doubtless the Germans were' compelled to pay heavily for the recapture of the high ground at Messines, which is almost sacred ground to the New Zealanders and Australians.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. , THE THREAT AGAINST THE LYS. London, April 11. It is estimated that tho Germans in the Armentieres battle used at least eight divisions against two British and one Portuguese. The Germans throughout Tuesday night mado desperato efforts to seize the river crossings at Estaires and Bac St. Maur. The storm troops were all thrown back at- dawn, though they forced a passage at some points during AVednesday. They also crossed tho Lawe at Lestrem, where later they wero thrown back. AVe still hold the crest of Messines Ridge, though we lost part of the eastern slope. If Armentieres must be evacuated, the Germans will only secure a mass of ruins. A muqli greater danger is tho threat against the Lys River—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ODDS OF BATTLE ■ ALLIES PROBABLY SUPERIOR IN NUMBERS. London, April 11 Regarding the numbers 011 the AVest front, the^actual facts arc that there are a fow more German divisions than the Allies havo; but the Allies' divisions are larger, and they probably havo a superiority in men. The Germans concentrated an enormous superiority, fully 140,000 men, 011 tho front of tho First Army, and tho forces in front of the Third Army are apparently approximately equal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ON THE FRENCH FRONT ENEMY'S ATTACKS REPULSED. London, April 11, 3.55 p.m. A French communique states 1 "Our artillery dispersed an enemy detachment in the region of Orvillcr before it reached our lines. _ Enemy attacks on advanced posts east of Souain, m the Champagne, and in tho Forest of Apromont failed. Two enemy aeroplanes were brought down by machinegun firo." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable ■ Assn.-Ileuter. '

(Rec.. April 12, 7.5 p.m.) London, April 11, 11,10 p.m. A French official communique states:—"A violent artillery duel is in progress at certain points north of Montdidier and in the region of Lassigny. Wo repulsed last night rind/this morning two somewhat heavy attacks on tlie sector of Noyon. There is an intermittent cannonade on-.both banks of the Meuse. "During March twenty-eight, of the onomy's aeroplanes wero brought down by our anti-aircraft defences."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. FRONT RELATIVELY QUIET (Rec. April 12, -.J. 0.20 p.m.) London, April 12. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters states that relative quiet prevails from Hangard to Noyon. The French carried out 'a'small' infantry attack at Grivesnes Chateau, locally improving the position. The guns are active on both sides all alone the front. The Germans have done a little trench-digging. The enemy's airmen are moro activo, but are showing little inclination to take the offensive, chiefly patrolling their own, side of the front in powerful groups of a dozen or more machines with the object of preventing our flights.—Renter. 'V '. GFRMAN OFFICIAL REPORT ~ (Rec. April 12, 8.20' p.m.) . . , . London, April 11,11.10 p.m. A wireless German official report states:— I "Betwon Armentieres and Festubert we stormed Boisgrenicr and Neuve Chnppelle, and crossed the Lys at Bac St. Maur. We captured Hollebeke. Yesterday wo stormed Messjnes Height, and pushed forward as far as Ploegsteert 'Wood, reaching : tho Ploegsteert-Armentieres Road. .We reached the Law© and tho region nurtlieast of Bethune. The number of prisoners now totals over ton thousand, including a Portuguese General."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rtmter.