BRITISH PLUCK WINNING OUT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 5

BRITISH PLUCK WINNING OUT

SIGNS THAT SUPREME CRISIS IS OVER GENERAL SITUATION MAINTAINED By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. ..„,,. . . \ ' ■ London, April 14, 6 a.m. a. Mi- !i morni . n S s news w regarded as reassuring. The British are holding Brilliantly against the concentrated wei.-rht and fury of the onslaughts. The ■position north-west of Armentieres ia still critical, but timely reinforcements are hourly strengthening the lines. Our tenacious stand-at Neuve Egliso and the beating off of repeated attacks towards Baillenl, and in other directions ere important factors ia the situation. German shells set fire to many houses in BaUleul, and a strong breeze fanned the flames. .Saturday's battles again illustrate tno extreme celerity with which successive masses of German troops wero throw a forward. We bold an amphitheatre of high ground from Wytschaete to Mont Kemrpel,and Nenve Eglise; also the hills at Metre and Berthen, behind Bailleul. The enemy is still confined almost exclusively to the low-lyins coun-try.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. A SEMI-OFFICIAL BULLETIN • „ .' .'' • Paris, April 14, 1.20 p.m. Semi-official.—"The battle in Flanders continues violently, but to-day shows ■«, ve }T definite slowing down of tie enemy's advance, which henceforth it should he possible to hold back, as the Allied reinforcements are ready to be wrought up and put into the battleline. The German advance southward of Moreren outflanks Bailleiil, which, however, the Allies still hold. The Germans continue to attack en the whole of tlfo French front, with a view to keeping our reserves from tho principal battle area; but in that object they have failed, for the .French troops occupying the sections concerned are sufficient to repel all enemy efforts. The great mass of our reserves is intact, and at the disposal o.f the General Command.' —Eeuter. . COMMENTS OF CORRESPONDENTS; SITUATION STEADILY IMPROVING. t, , , ' London. April 14. t<. »,"« corespondent at Headquarters, at 11 o'clock on Saturday night, Stated: Ihe general position at the moment 6eem3 to justify tho hope that the Germans will achievo no more towards a decision in Flanders than they havo done in Picardy and Artois. They have overrun a lot of territory, and scored fc series of tactical achievements, but the strategic- position remains unaltered :iahe Allied armies are continuing to face the enemy with an unbrokon line Tho ; situation at tho week-end was pteadily improving. Although the Germans delivered several heavy attacks to-day at various points all were repulsed Our 15 tT?i? °r E .e lis e mft / f °™> them to relax their effort in the direction ;Of Bailleul. There is a tendency towards a lull in the'offensive, which probftbly means the Germans are very tired."' (Rec. April 15, 7.15 p.m.) „ , , > , ' • London, April 14, 9.35 p.m. Iteuters correspondent at British Headquarters states: "A bitter east'wind is Mowing, and visibility is very low. The situation generally is unchanged Uhe enemy contjnues to employ fresh troops, whilo we are steadily increasing' our forces. Consequently tho battle is more stationary although, as intenso as ever. The Germans' continuous heavy attacks during the past two days wero (undoubtedly based on the calculation that the British were worn out and that Mother smashing blow would finish us, but with fresh reinforcoments helpiii" the defenders flung back the attacking masses with terrible losses. Frequently lis advance was checked by the barrier of piled-up corpses. Our rearguard nghting has been most skilful, and valiant beyond praiso whilo the machinegunners, holding a series of little posts, poured bullets into the enemy until their ammunition was exhausted. The main body hae slowly fallen back upon prepared, positions. Each backward step has been made perfectly methodically, while exacting the full price from tho enemy. Never have our troops fought with such superb courage and tenacity as they are now displaying. They have cot their backs to the wall indeed, and Sir Douglas Haig's order has ' vastly ilieartened them. The onemy is fighting desperately, with the mechanical bravery of iron discipline. I judge that the most critical period of the battle on April 12 was tho stage when, had tho enemy pressed his advantago , , the consequences would have been serious. His failure to improve his opportunity presumably was because he could not. Since then there has been a steady improvement in ihe general position. The latest news is very encouraging—a/lmost cheering. Our lino is holding firm, and tho formidable thrust has at present been arrested. The enemy's position tactically is not good, and conditions might develop which would render it distinctly bad."-Eeuter. BATTLEFIELD STEADILY BECING ESTABLISHED. m. tt , London, April 14, 9.50 p.m. COMMENTS IN THE FRENCH PRESS. Ih'tHE- 1,1 the 'v Ol '°i e Pa l iß '" M - Marcel Hn ' in Wm Flanders are making themselves more and more felt in tho bitter β-htinr Our tenacious Allies have rendered nugatory the enemy's attempts to "break through between Hazebrouck and Ypres. The British are successfully disputing the. ground until the arrival of French reinforcements. It may be taken Z CaKssn Dunkirk and Calais is blocked to the enemy."-Aus-N.z! ■ i l - 1, M ?, urici : Barres, ini the same journal, warns the public against unduly judging the situation, which is essentially local. The French intervention is ready tat is, not yet manifested. When it is the news will be much bette General Foch possesses absolute confidence in the armies and the people who have entrusted their destinies to him.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. !, "FIRST PHASE APPARENTLY OVER." (Bee. April 15, 7.30 p.m.) . > Th , l ;,J nite i <l • Pre ? s eorreepondent, in a dispatch dated April 14,'iuo' pn'i Ba^: u A S • tro 2? s -A 1 apparently held, with Bailleul. Hazcbrouek, Lillers! and Bethune still ir.Sir Douglas Haig'e possession. The fighting has become patchy at various points. The first phase of the great attaclc is Seemingly over. Fighting will not cease for eome time yet, but another critical period has been put behind the Allies, who await further onslaughts undismayed."-Aus-N Z Cable Assn. FRESH GREAT ATTACK MOMENTARILY EXPECTED. (Rbc. April 15, 7.15 p.m.) ,r t iTi , ~ London, AprilM, evening. Mr. Lovat Fraeer momentarily expects the launching of a frc.sh great attack between Arras and Luce. Ho repudiates the rash stories which have keen told of the enemys.losses,. These, he estimates, are not grenlly heavier than ours. '—United Service. t)UR METIER-PLAY IT OUT AND MAINTAIN OUR FRONT. (Eec. April 15, 7.15 p.m.) ~ T T - . ... „„ „ London, April 14. • Mr i J /, L - J^'Z'^i 11 ™ O. temer . says: "In (ho sternest crisis our conturjons of the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-first, and Ninth Divisions havo shown us howto stick it in the old British way that always led from long resistance lo fiml victory. After reviewing the position, he declares that Hie struggle cannot be other than prolonged, wide, changing, a n d terrible, calling forth our utmost faculties. "Merely by playing out this campaign without suffering a catastrophe and maintaining an unbroken front the Allies make absolutely sura of ultimate -notary." Mr. Garvin adds: "Two hundred thousand British troops have pressed the Channel since March 21. -United Sen-ice.

FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE (Kec. April 15, 11.20 p.m.) London, April 15, 11.15 a.m. Mr. Hamilton Fyfo stales that tho French reinforcements have arrived.— United Service. , AMERICAN TROOPS BEING RUSHED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC (Rec. April 15, 9 p.m.) New York, April U. _ Mr. Josephus Daniels (Secretary for the Navy), in a speech, stated that ships were carrying soldiea-s bo France faster every week. "Wβ have requisitioned every available American ehip and secured sotno from Britain," lio said. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THRUST HAS : SPENT ITSELF (lice. April 15, 11.20 p.m.) London, April 15. Mr. Perry Robinson, writing on April 11, says: 'The second great German thrust has, 1 think, spent itself along the whole line. The enemy is beating against our continuously stiffening resistance, and thoir attacks lack tho original momentum, while several of our c«unter-attacks have definitely driven back the Germans. Progress since Thursday has been comparatively trifling. Tho centre of the attack was beyond Merville, and tho enemy is now making litt'e headway along the edges of tho forest of Nieppe to Roseck. Hard .dghting continues. The enemy's j/ains are insignificant, while his losses are \nstly greater than ours. That the second definitely failed to break the British defences is, I think, as certain as t&o failure of the first 'attempt, ,, —"The Times." SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS London, April 1-1, 1.55 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After h eav 7 fighting throughout the evening, we repulsed attacks from Meteren to Wulverghem. We also repulsed a fourth attack at Neiive .Uglise. ~\Ve beat off a det srm ' net l attack last evening near Festubert. On this portion of the battlefront and north-west as far as Locqn, numorous enemy groupa were effectively engaged at short rango by infantry and artillery fire. In spite of numerous 6trong attacks on all parts of the Lys battlefield, our line remains intact. The enemy's losses wcro most severe throughout yesterday. The fighting reopened last evening at Neuve Egliso, and tho enemy recommenced his attacks in the noighbourJiood of Bailleul this morning, and his efforts continue." London, April 14, 9.50 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After many hours of obstinate fighting during the night and this.morning about Neuve Eglise, we remained in possession of tho village. The German attacks wore pressed with great'determination, and the enemy's losses throughout were heavy. The enemy to-day renewed liis attempts against the village, and the fighting continues. Wβ repulsed attacks this morning in tho neighbourhood of Bailleiil and Merris. Our artillery dispersed infantry attempting to attack north-west of Mervillo in the forenoon. Tho hostile artillery was more active in the neighbourhood of Albert. Our lowfliers reconnoitred the batllefront, and duopped twelve hundred bombs on enemy troops on tho roads leading to the front. A. few air fights occurred, with indecisive results."—Aus'.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT \ « ■ London, April 14, 4.35 p.m. A French official communique states: "Fairly lively artillery actions occurred between Montdidier and Noyon. Our reconnoitring parties here brought, back prisoners. We penetrated the enemy lin St. Mihiel, in tjie Woeuvre, and at bermosnil and Bures sectors in Lorraine, and took prisoners. German coups-de-main north of Hill .104, in the region of St. Mihiel ,in the Woeuvre, and at Bonhomme Hill, were repulsed."—Aue.-N.si. Cablo Aesn.-Router. (Rec. April 15, 11.20 p.m.) London, ipril 15. A French communique states: "There ha,ve been reciprocal bombardments on several parts of the front, but no infantry actions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. TERRIFIC ATTACK ON AMERICAN FRONT (Rec. April 15, 10.30 p.m.) New York, April 14. The United Press correspondent on the American front states that the Germans on Saturday made a terrific artillery gag shell attack, followed by two fierce {.ssaults on the American positions in Apremont Forest, north-west of Toul. The Americans repulsed all tho attacks. The German casualties wero over 300.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT

(Rec April 15, 7.15 p.m.) London, April 14. A German official report states: "Wo fought successful engagements between Nieuwekerke and Vieux Berquiu." . "On the battlefield of Lys we gained ground, and penetrated the enemy's position south-west of Wnlverghem. Wo stormed and captured Niouwekorko after a desperate struggle with.tho English counter-attacking troops. We took possession of a height westward of Nieuwekerko. Fighting took place with va'riablo results near Bnilloul. .Wo captured Morris and Vioux Borquin. Tho' onomy forces, pushing forward towards tho battlefield, sustained' heavy losses. An attack by several French battalions against Hainvillors sanguinarily collapsed, and we took many prisoners. Wo carried out a successful thrust against the Americans north of St. Mihiel, inflicting heavy losses, and brought back prisoners. Wβ have shot down thirty-seven of the enemy's aeroplanes during the fast few days."—Aus.-N.Z. , Cablo Assn.-Eoutor. NAVAL CO-OPERATION? London, April 14. The naval correspondent of "Tho Times" says that nothing is more likely than the appearance of thet German Fleet to assist in the proposed smashing of tho British Army. , Attempts to uso thq fleet to cover a landing in Britain are improbable, but the landing of troops at Nieu.port and Dunkirk to assist in turning the left flank of tho British Army is just conceivable under most favourable circumstances. But a project offering fower obstacles and greater discomfort to the Allies would be a push to break down the gnard of tho Dover Straits, not using transport of troops, bntf merely light, fast, and well-armed craft, to rush the defences and permit the passage of swanns of submarines and mine-layers to attempt to cut communications between Britain and France, tho fleet meanwhile endeavouring to keep off Admiral Beatty. Such an attempt would fulfil the most ardent wiehes of the British ant] American Fleets.—"The Times." NAVAL ACTION OFF FLANDERS COAST London, April H. A German official message states: "British monitors and aeroplanes, on tho night of April 12, attacked the coast of Flanders and bombarded Ostend and bombed Zeebrugge. Our batteries repulsed tho attacks. An enemy torpedo boa)) approached Ostend. and was shot at and set on fire. She was abandoned, and we captured her with her full equipment." Tho Admiralty says, in reference to tho above: "A small motor-boat is miss-ing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter.