SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S SPECIAL ORDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 176, 15 April 1918, Page 5

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S SPECIAL ORDER

EVERY POSITION MUST BE HELD THERE MUST BE NO RETIREMENT ; By Telegraph-Press AeaocUvtion-Coprright. (Rec. April 14, 5.5 p.m.) -» , London, April 12. Sir Douglas Hnig has issued the following special order of the day to the troops in France:— • "Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks on a fifty-mile front. His objects are to separate us from the French, take the Channel ports, and destroy the British Army. Despite the throwing already of 106 divisions into the battle and enduring the most reckless sacrifice' of life, he has yet made little progress towards his goals. We owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail ( me to express the admiration I feel for the splendid lesistance offered by all ranks under the most trying circumstances. Many amongst us are now tired. To those I would say, Victory will belong to the side holding out the longest. The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our support. No other course is open to us but to fight it out, Every position must be held,to.the last man. There must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the ond. The safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind depend alike on the conduct of each one of us at this, critical moment,"—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. MERVILLE CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY BRITISH PRESSED BACK TO NEW POSITIONS NEAR NEUVE EGLISE. "" London, April 12, 2.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig roports: "Severe ami continuous fighting took place last night in the neighbourhod of Mervillo and Neuf Borquin. The euemy, continuing the pressure, made progress.in both localities, end captured Mervillo at nigjjt. '■ lie succeeded, after heavy fighting in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert, in pressing us back to new positions in tho neighbourhood of Neuve Bglise. ■ Tho situation on the remainder of tha northern battlei'ront is not substantially changed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. A COUNTER-ATTACK REGAINS SOME GROUND. ... . * London, April 12, 9.50 p.m. Sir Douglas Jlaig leports: "A counter-attack regained portion of our positions into which the enemy had penetrated north of Festubort. Tho onomy's attacks on tho Loisne-Lawe front and to tho northwards were repulsed. Fighting continues on tho whole front north' of tho La Basseo Canal as far as Holloheko. Strong local attacks on our positions in the neighbourhood of Neuvillb Vitasso were repulsed. Tho enemy, after prolonged fighting further north, entered a post near Tilloy les Moffiaines, but was immediately driven out, and tho post wns Te-established. There is increased hostilo artillery firo astrido the Sowine."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. * ENEMY PRESSURE CONTINUED. (Rec. April 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 12, 11.55 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy has maintained strong pressure all day south of Bailleul, making constant attacks with groat force, which are still continuing. We have been slowly pushed back in continuous fighting to positions in the neighbourhood of the Bailleul railway, whero wo are heavily engaging tho enemy. There is sharp fighting also rorthwards of the La Basseo Canal. The enemy made slight progress between the Lawo and the Clarence Rivers. Elsewhero our positions are maintained. Over 110.German divisions so far have beon engaged since March 21, of which over forty have been thrown into the battlo twice or thrice."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED BRITISH LINE NEAR FESTUBERT ADVANCED. (Rec. April Ji, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 13, 2 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Heavy fighting developed last night in the neighbourhood of Neuve Fglise and Wulverghcn, and is still continuing. Tate last flight we advanced our line slightly in the neighbourhood of Festubert. The enemy launched a strong attack, preceded by a heavy bombardment, eastward of Looon, and succeeded in entering our lines at certain points, but .was driven out by a counter-attack. We beat off a second attack later at night, and also repulsed an attack eastward of Mervill b. Tho situation on the remaindor of the northern battlefront is unchanged. Sharp locat fighting occurred yesterday south of tho Sommo, in tho neighbourhood of Hangard. Anglo-Frenchcounter-attacks regained positions into which tho' oneiny had penetrated. The enemy's artillery is more active north of tho Somme."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo'Assn.-Koutor. ENEMY ATTACKS INEFFECTIVE. " 'Rec. April. 14, 11 p.m.) London, April 13, 11.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "As tho result of last night's fighting in the neighbourhood of Neuve Lglise, the enemy succeeded, after a prolonged struggle, in foroing his way into tho village. Counter-attacks this morning drove him out, and wo successfully repulsed a lator attack, also a number ot other attacks at different points along tho battloi'ront northward'of the La Bassee Canal. Threo separate attacks <n our line south-west, west, and north of Merville were in each case repulsed after heavy fighting. Wo successfully drove back an attempted attack south of Meteren, and also beat off four attacks oil our positions south-east of Bailleul. Heavy casualties woro inflicted on the enemy. This afternoon a hostile attack in strength has developed between Meteren -nd the Bacque River and south-west of Meteren and Wulverghcm. Severe fighting is proceeding on tho whole of this front. On other parts of the British front tho situation is -un-changed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteuter. GERmANS TRYING TO PUSH TO THE COAST. London, April 12. The capture of Merville represents an advance of thirteen miles sinco Wednesday morning, and shows that the enemy is continuing the heaviest pressure ou the direct centre of the original front of attack south of Arnientieres. Military critics state that this movement of the Germans' right wing cannot bo longer regarded as a diversion. There are indications of a big effort to push compact columns to the coast. Sir Douglas thug's dispatch gives the locatiou of the enemy's advanced bodies within seven miles of Hazebronck, a railway centre, ■which the Germans havo for months sholled at a range of 28 miles.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. LATEST REPORTS MORE FAVOURABLE BRITISH HOLDING WELL. (Eec. April 14, midnight.) London, April 14. The latest reports are more favourable. There is a alight lull in the offonaive. Tha British are holding well.-Aus.-E.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH AIRMEN ACTIVE NUMBER OF ENEMY POSITIONS BOMBED. (Eec. April 11, 5.5 p.m.) „. London, April 12, 11.55 p.m. bir Douglas Jtaig reports: "When tho mist cleared our aeroplanes showed groat activity on the whole front. Thev made- several long-distanco reconnaissances, taking -,hotographs and engaging in much fighting. Wo brought down U and drovo down U encmv maohines. Four of our machines, reported missing yesterday, havo returned. Wo dropped over eight tons of bombs last night on Bapaumo, the villages southward of tho Romme, and on military objectives at Ostond and Zeebruggo. Wo successfully bombed tlio Sablons railway station at Motz to-day, dropping 21 heavy bombs. All burst on tho railway sidiiigs."-Aus.. N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eoutcr. GREAT DESTRUCTION OP ENEMY AEROPLANES. (Eec. April 14, H p.m.) London, April 13, 11.35 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Atmospheric conditions are favourable for a great concentration of our aeroplanes on tho battlefront. Large numbers of lowflyers havo been employed in bombing and using machine-guns on noads packed with enemy troops. Thirty-six tons of bombs wore dropped and over 110,000 rounds of ammunition fired. Other formations, flying at a greater height, engaged tho enemy's aeroplanes, which are extermely active in this sector. Forty. hostile aeroplanes were brought down and twenty driven down, oui of control, in addition to two brought down by anti-aircraft guns. Three hostile balloons wore destroyed. Twelve of onr machines arc missing. There was incessant bombing all night, over twenty-two tons of bombs being dropped on different targets, including Don and Donai, important railway junctions between Mezieres and Reims, and roads leading to the battlefrout in the neighbourhood of Estaires."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ATTACK ORIGINALLY INTENDED AS A DIVERSION. Pan's, April 12. Semi-official: "The German attack on the British in Flanders was originally intended as a diversion, but owing to its initial success it has been changed ; nto an attack and pushed through to the full with fresh divisions. The threatened objective is especially tho mining district of Bethune. It is impossible to foresee the issue, but it should be contemplated with confidence, for tho British possess a second very powerful position which they'have not yet reached and on which their resistance would bo considerably facilitated."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BOMBARDMENT-ON CORBIE FRONT RENEWED. London, April 12. Correspondents emphasise the sicnificance of tho renewed bombardment on the Corbie front, and also tho increasing power tf tie mutual cannonade on the French front, where the artillery in the next shock will j.lay its full part— Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. "ENGLAND STRIPPING FOR THE GREAT BATTLE." New York, April 12. Tho Archbishop of York, in a speech, said; . "England is stripping for the great battle." He had no doubt that victory would be achieved. France stands undaunted and unconquerable. The decision to conscript the Irish shows that Britain is prepared for anv sacrifice and any risk to ensure success. "I wjU fr-11 England that the spirit of America is aroused, and will stand bv her till the end."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . . COMMUNICATIONS OF NORTHERN ARMY IMPERILLED. (Eec. April 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 13. The "Dailv News' 1 considers that the positions on Messines Eidgo havo been turned, and £ho whole of the northern army is in the air and its communications in the gravest peril—United Service. A DEFINITE CRISIS REACHED. London, April 12. A high authority states that Messines has been captured, deferring to the lass of Merville, ho says: "We have again reached a definite crisis."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COHESION OB' BRITISH TROOPS NOT DESTROYED GENERAL FOCH AWAITING HIS OPPORTUNITY. (Eec. April 14, 11.10 p.m.) Paris, April 13, 2.15 p.m. Semi-official: "The situation is not incapable of being re-established. The cohesion ; of the British troops is in nowise destroyed, and the Allied Supremo Command now know what measures to take in order to obviate all possibility of rupture. The course of the battle should not arouse a lack of confidence, for in such, gigantic conflicts local fluctuations hardly count, only the last blows being really important. General Foch, by sparing his men as long as possible, is awaiting his opportunity."—Eeuter. "IF THE ENEMY IS HELD HE IS BEATEN." (Eec. April 14, 11.10 p.m.) London, "April 1.3. The "Daily Telograph's" Paris correspondent says: 'Tho British General Staff believe the German offensivo cannot last beyond the fifth day. If the enemy is held he is beaten."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GENERAL FOCH DIRECTING THE STRATEGY OF THE BATTLE (Eec. April 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 12. In tho House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, replying to a question regarding General Foch, said the Versailles Council so far was working out plans and the details concerned, and was 6till going on. General Foch, who was chairman of tho council, had been necessarily taken for other work, and was appointed, with tho full approval not merely of the Governments, but tho generals concerned, to direct the strategy of both armies.- Ho was exercising tho'powers of Generalissimo, and directing the strategy of tho present battle—Renter. TRAINS CROWDED WITH BRITISH TROOPS THOUSANDS 01? SOUTH WAKES MINERS JOIN THE ARMY. (Eec. April 14, 11.10 p.m.) * London, April 13. Many crowded troop trains are proceeding towards the coast. There is much cheering on route. Thousands of South Wales miners are voluntarily joining the Army—Aus.-N.Z. able Assn. C '