STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 7

STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

THE WITHDRAWAL FROM PASSCHENDAELE

KO SHELTER LEFT FOR ENEMY

London, April 18. Mr. Pcrcival Phillips writes.:— "l'lie withdrawal from I'asschendaele has not discouraged our soldiers, who know the trench positions will lose their former value owing to the return to open war-, fare. .The ■ abandoned slope is a desert more difficult to occupy than the Somnin wastes. We destroyed the roads, and left no shelters. ' I'he Germans' must cone into the wilderness across the skyline, plainly observable by the Runners. The enemy's first advance patrols caino oyer the crest, some hours after the retirement was accomplished, and attemptI cd .to attack in the region of Zillebeko ! Lake. We waited, and grimly withheld I our fire until the first wave was at close I range. Wo scattered it into the craters. ■Tho flanks of the attack.-seeing the destruction of tho centre, tried to retreat, and were nearly annihilated. Stragglers dropped to the ground and crept back to the old lines. In the. night time, wo withdrew all tho (tuns, and removed or destroyed the ammunition. We have not left any valuable material, and blew up our comfortable winter line. Unprecedented Slaughter at Mstcren. "BeporU from all parts of tho front state that piles of enemy dead are strewn iu the fialtk and villages, but the Rlaiiuh-. ter at Meteren was unprecedented. The bodies were piled up on tho roadside, lining the hedges.. What was formerly a- stretch of farmland is now a shambles. Prisoners taken at La Bassee admit the failure of the German plans, which included the capture of Arras on March 23 t and Bethnne on t April 10. Try as they will, the Germans are unable to loosen our grip on Givenchy. There was he-ivy fighting near St. Vonay on Tuesday. Tho British and Germans delivered nttnrks simultaneously, and the impact broke the Germans. An enemy field, battery, slipping; nut pt night at Pacaut Wood, fired point-blank at our men, who charged and killed nr.tnnk nrimnor ill the gunners and destroyed tho guns." Most Spectacular "Show" of-tho War. The United Press correspondent says that the battle now in" progress -is the most spectacular show of the war. Prom a- hilltop near Bailleul it can-be watched like a pantomime from a balcony sent. For miles, upon miles, from around the Passchpncla'ele Salient, whence the British had bssn voluntarily withdrawn, to far south-east of' Bailluel. the fiirhtintr is visible to the, naked-eye, while,with fieldglasses tlin infantry can be seen on the move. The view is unique. The former battles at Verdun. Champngne, .Arras, Jtpssines, and Cnmbrai were fonirht in hill country, ainl were practically unseen, even by the generals. They can see to-day the men going into action ncross fertile. Flemish farms. It is an unbroken panorama, and leaves an unreal impression, suggesting' an open-air spectacle commemnrnling an important centennial—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

French Artillery Superiority Maintained.

Eeutcr's correspondent at Trench Headquarters, writing on April 16, says:— "Although there have been no important battles between Hansard and Noyon for several days, there have been reciprocal activities. Enemy concentrations north of tlio Somme indicaieMhat the Germans have not abandoned flic hope of a break through to Amiens. Tlio French have maintained their artillery superiority. Tho enemy front lines and communications are continuously bombarded, paralysing attempts to fortify positions, and breaking up convoys and impeding the establishment of hostile batteries. Meanwhile wo are organising our positions in readiness for tho Bocho • onslaught."— Keuter. OUR BAnLEFMMOBESECURE . (Roc. April. 20, 0.25 a.m.), '* London, April 19. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: "The whole of our battlefront is more secure than 'for several days past.' We may be justmcd in believing that cho enemy is now heid in his present positions, although Ins may yet concentrate more men and guns on tlijs iforthern sector. . There wero severe actions to-day. l ; 'rom Flanders toWytschaete, to .the Forest of Nicppe, the battle goes as far south as Givenchy. Strong forces are'■ persistently-attempt-ing to break through with a view to tailing Kemmel Hill, and have been ordered to reach lliis. commanding point regardless of sacrifices. Other very heavy attacks were made beyond Jfeteren, westward of Bailleul, and the ridges to viio north. The Belgians, in a gallant roun-ter-attack, took prisoners representing six German divisions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Germans Pressing Hard Towards Givenchy, Renter's British Headcyiarters .correspondent, writing <n April 18, says:"Tho Germans, this morning developed an attack-on n long front between Givenchy and .lJobecrj, pressing hard towards Givenchy.. They are apparently drawing in fresh reserves. In tho course of the great battle more than'thirty, enemy divisions have so far appeared, nfid it is certain that the German command is exploiting every success'.bv the most prodigal expenditure of man power, and not counting the cost. In the great German attack yesterday our troops fought with Homeric 'valour against tremendous numerical odds,Enomy's Gains Not Commensurate With His Losses. "Our troops are fighting in the same irresistible manner in the battle between Givenchy and the Forest of Dieppe, which has now been progressing for neari ;ti '^' ,0 Uerimnw'- gains in tho battle oi I'landers arc limited to tho smallest and terribly costly advance at cei tain points. If tho enemv measures tlio extent of his-gains by the'price paid, ho certainly must be looking gloomily at tlio bold contours from Cassell to Messines, which he is practically bound to attempt to master.. Tlio Attack on the Belgians* "The attempt to break through'the Belgian frwit, south of the Forest of .lioutliulst, was probably inspired by the discovery of our withdrawal in the Fasseliendaelo. region, consequent on the assumption that there would bo some disorganisation ut lliis part of iho line, ■tlio attack was repeated to-day. The enemy doubtless, wiia mortified at being deteated by thu Belgians, who were about Halt. Ins own numbers. A Sheer Contest of Man Power, "Tho past week's struggle lias' been more purely a battlo of infantrymen Ulan might bo anticipated in such a war of movement. Apparently the tanks, armoured Kirs, and cavalry have not been in action ou either side. Wo are now down to a sheer, contest of man power-swaying in ceaseless attack and repulse—with a vital issue . earned in tho anxious problem whether our powers i e 1 " ( , , l u ''! nc . 0 ,v >" wear down tlio repeated bull rushes of vastly superior numbers before a decision is reached."—Keuter. Enemy . Attacks Stopped by Shollffre. mil' 10 I'ress correspondent says: two attacks in quick succession to tlia north-west of Wulvergliem, near tho sccno oi tho attempt to roach Kemmel. wero stopped by our'shellfiro, as -was a charge to tho northward of Ncuvc F.glise, towards Lraiiouirj. Tho enemy's losses in all tlieso. eli'orts wore heavy. Van Quasi s guns, which have fresTHy arrived on tlio scene, wero pounding to-day tho villages in the back areas. The' area about La Bassee Canal was gas-shelled all night. The lines of communication norl Invar J of tile Lys were under constant indirect firo lrom machine-guns, the British guns likewise were busy with an intense harassing lire. Tho Germans are shelling Ypres intermittently. A British patrol entered Baliieul on Tuesday night, i,nd J'ouml no Germans until they reached tho »qunre in tho centro of the town. A sharp light ensued, six Germans being killed whilo the remainder (led into tho side streots. The British returned safely."-Aus.-JS'.Z. Cablo Assn.