STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 180, 19 April 1918, Page 5

STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

TERRIFIC GUNFIRE BATTLE RAGING WITH INCREDIBLE INTENSITY ■d t . London, April 17. Reuters correspondent at lleadquarleu, writing this evening, slates: "During my wliolo experience of tho' war I iie\er heard such terrific and unintermittent gunfire ;i8 that since yesterday afternoon, and which is 6till proceeding The battle is raging with incrediblo intensity. Among many attacks yesterdav, one ot the greatest was on tho Zillebek'o sector. Ihe enemy's massed waves were mown down like hay. They wcro ordered to retire, whereupon our gunners got them on the flank with open sights. The slaughter was appalling."—Hooter.

THE BLOW AT HAZEBROUCK

London, April 17, 4.15 p.m. «T Press correspondent writes: 'Generals von Arnim and Von Quast are continuing their attempt,? to luvnnnei' a way to liazebrouck. Their troops have suffered heavy casualties, and have made little headway. A largo area of the battlefield near Bailleul is constantly pounded with high velocity gas shells, tho deadly vapours drifting across the cultivated fiolds. Bernhardi's divisions near Bramoutre attacked heavily at 3 o'clock on Tuesday aftornoon, British guns tearing great rents in his ranks. Von Stettin's i'orte throughout the afternoon continued to attack round Meteren and Merris, the British guns pounding into them with a monotonous regularity, relieved only by an occasional burst of drum-fire when particularly thick masses exposed themselves in the open._ The costly attack was driven back in the evening. The fields were thick with dead in the Zillcbeke sector, to which the fighting has spread. Storm troops tried to advance towards Tpres, but wero mostly shot down at short range. _ The centre was literally pounded to pieces. The onemy was ordered to retire, and both flanks caught the full force of the British artillery and machine-guns, dwindling as they scrambled back in disorder." —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

ANYTHING BUT GOOD FOR THE ENEMY

ffiec. April 19, 0.5 a.m.) • London, April 17. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing oil the-.evening of April 17, says:—"Opinion has beon general amongst the troops that the past twentyfour hours has; been anything but good for tho onemy, despite his successes at Bailleul, Ravetsberg, and the Messines Ridge. The last-named gain has beon largely neutralised by the price paid for it. Our withdrawal east of Ypres was accomplished with masterly skill, and the net result has bnen a greatly stiffened power of resistance, whilst forcing the enemy to lengthen his communications across an unfavourable terrain. Tho bitter intensity of the fighting whicli has ben in progress since yesterday morning lulled during the foronoon, and the hurricane of thß artillery duel subsided into spasmodic outbursts, with intervals of comparative calm. "We took prisoner a goodly number during the last two days. There are signs that another attack is coming between Bailleul and AVytschaete. Doubtless (lie enemy is determined, after the heavy sacrifices paid to get AVytschaele, to make nnolher onslaught again, to remove us from the village. Yesterday and last night there was a sharp conflict at Boyelles, south of Arras, but the front is quiet 10-dav. Our positions are being fully held. Fierce shelling at Villers Bretonneiu led .to expectations that an infantry assault was imminent, but it has not yet ma terialiscd."—R eu ter.

PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE

(Rec. April 19, 1.15 a.m.) ,r T, „,. Lond ° n ' Avril 18. Mi'. Perry Eobinson writes: "Hard incessant limiting ' continues in tho area, between Jleteren and Wytschaete. Both have changed hands moro than once, but. tho Germans have retained their hold on Wytschaeta Wood and Spanbroek Molen. At tho present moment jio man can*say precisely whore our positions are anil whero are tho' enemy's. Wo have fallen back in the aroa, giving tho enemy most of tho ground ho lost in last summer's Minders fight, including Basschendaole Ilidgo, which tho Australians and Is'ew Zealandeds captured in 1017. A strong German advance towards Jv.emmel and Mont dos Neath threatened our wholo system of communications in the Ypres salient. A German drive with fresh divisions might enable the enemv to seoure points from which ho would bo ablo to place a. continuous barrage across (ho roads. We knew that the retirement was in progress, but it was obviously indiscreet to report it. It was nuulo without onemy pressure. Our outpost line on the left checked tho Germans as they felt their way forward in the morning, it was unpieasant (o give up. ground that had been won lit the cost of gallant lives, but it cannot be too often repeated that loe-al topographical gains arc of littlo significance in the gigantic struggle now in progress. Tha Germans have a bliwted shell-hole area behind them, over which they bring their troops and transport. We know from abundant expedience in former advances what that means in this most frightful of all battles, in which the perpetual drumfire shakes the air anil makes speaking impossible. Tho tally of tho slaughter mounts hourly, and German oorpsw are piled in heaps over wide areas in tho battlefield. Thero have been countless episodes of British heroism against overpowering odds. English and Scottish troops, including the Scottish Rifles and Ifighland Light Infantry, held a lino south of ILeteren and west of Bailloul and Strazelle from April 12 till yesterday. All 6orts of miscellaneous units aro assisting in tho firing-lino, doggedly holding the enomy. Tho wholo of tho Heteneni district is covered with Gorman corpscs. Captured documents taken from prisoners state that the present attack was substituted because tho drive at Bethune was a failure. It commenced north of Armentieres with small forces, and ita initial success caused its conversion into a major operation. Strength was diverted from other parts of the line in tho attempt to hammer through. Tho failure of tho main attack cost the Germans dearly, some of their battalions losing 50 per cent, during tho last two days. Tho onemy made an ineffectual attack on Locon and La Ba&see,"—"The Times."