HEAVIEST FIGHTING OF THE PRESENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 188, 29 April 1918, Page 5

HEAVIEST FIGHTING OF THE PRESENT

OFFENSIVE . GERMANS PAY FULL PRICE FOR EVERY YARD GAINED WITHDRAWAL PROM YPRES MAY BE ADVISABLE (Roc. April 2S, 5.5 p.m.) . , • London, April 27. Ueuters British Headquarters' correspondent says:— "Yesterday's fighting was file heaviest m Flanders sinco the present offensive commenced. The enemy developed two great thrusts, the first being a continuation of the- effort against Ivemmel and the. ground westward, and the second being a new attack between La Uytte, which is n kilometro north-east of Scherpcnberg Hill, and tho spot wJiero his lino crosses the Ypres-Coinines Canal. Later, his second attack extended to tho southward, and linked up with tho battle proceeding around JJranconrt, Ihiis forming a continuous struggle on a front of ten miles. The enemy was determined to win at any price, and continued pushing forward fresh formations from his reserves wherever (lio front was threatened. The Germans can certainly show a considerable gain of territory, but Ihey have paid the full pneo for overy yard. It cost them throo attempts in mass to get into Locre, and tour attempts to carty tlio brewery south of Voormezoele. Situation in tho North Seriously Worse. Commenting on the position, Eeuter's correspondent says it is admitted that the situation in thn north has become seriously worso, the result of the paet twn (lays fighting, as the enemy has not merely held Kemmel Hill, tho best observation post on the British front, but spread westwards, whilo ho has crept nearer to 1 pres on both sides of the canal south-east of tho town. Northwards, however, in the neighbourhood of La Clytto and Scherpenborg, the attacks have been held, and the position has not yet been stabilised. Tho severity of the German losses has not yet been compensated by any strategical success. Even if a further withdrawal from Ypres is considered advisable, this will not make an immediate difference to the Channel ports. The Ypres salient was chiefly valuable as a jumping-off ground for the recovery of the Flemish coast. As this objective is not at present realisable, the value of Ypres is now only secondary. It is important to remember that though the Germans have apparently reverted to attacks with limited objectives, their main effort will probably still be made between Arras and Amiens, and against the British on the Sommo and farther so -n ,_• Huge German forces are waiting in the hope that the Allied strength will bo dissipated elsewhere. The object of the enemy is to use up the Allied reserves. He has still failed to separate the Engilsh and French armies, but a more formidable thrust than any hitherto is probably planned in the direction of Amiens and the Somme estuary."—Heuter. • POSITION ANALYSED BY A "HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY " "BALANCE JN WEAR AND TEAR AGAINST THE GERMANS" , THE STRUGGLE A TEST OF ENDURANCE (Eec. April 28, 5.5 p.m.) . London, April 21. A High.Military Authority" states:—"The situation on the Lys sector, between Givenchy and Merville, is highly satisfactory for us. We have regained several important positions, while ttfo enemy lias sustained heavy losses and gained nothing. The balance in wear and tear went against the Germans. J lie enemy has now heavily attacked tho Kemmel front, and niado considorablo progress. The sector chosen for attack involved both French and British troops. ■ ljo lafrst information, (hough incomplete, shows that the enemy has occupied Kemmel Hill, about 2UOO yards on a front of 1200 yards. This is serious, but it is not decisive. The hill is tactically important as an observation point. Our line to the north is all right. It is perfectly passible to hold Ypres, >nt it might not be convenient. Still, we must not regard ICemmel as definitely "On the southern front. Hie filiation at Yillers Brotonnenx is satisfactory. We have regained all we lost, and hold the village. We captured a considorablo number of prisoners. Thn village is important tactically. Both in the northern and the southern attacks the enemy a.truik at the junction of the British and I'rench armies, which is naturally a weak spot, because it is more difficult to arrange supports of artillery and reservos where two commands of different nationalities meet. Speaking generally, tho aim of the enemy to fight tho British Army by itself lias been countered by the transference of Frencli troope nortli--7 i'u n great ofte " siTo ma y still 1» expected between Arras and Amiens. So wr the Germans have gained only tactical successes, and have not achieved a strategical success. The enemy may be expected to continue his plan to break t'P the British throughout the summer, and in thn end it will be a question of who holds the last reserves. Ro far, General Foch has only used a small portion of Ins reserves, which is a good augury for the future. Tho long-drawn-out strugglo will bo a test of endurance. It is therefore imperative to get every man possible to support the batrlei'ront.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GREAT QUESTION ONE OF MAN-POWER REINFORCEMENTS'CRISIS OVERTAKEN AUSTRALIAN FORCES. (Eec. April 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 27. Mr. W. Murdoch, in a special article says:—"Many are asking the anxious question, .'Can the Ypres salient be held?' But stout hearts are facing the grim prospects confidently. The loss of Kemmel threatens, but docs not destroy, our communications with Ypres. Its loss is less noteworthy than tho fact that the fury oJ' another week of groat battle has brought a 6tep nearer the grave moment when exhaustion on either side will begin. It is manifest that the prospects of the Germans rending the British and French asunder are unlikely. The great question is one of man-power aud quick movement of reserves, reliefs being worked as far as humanly possible. Marked capacity is shown by British commanders in sparing men and relieving before tho breakingpoint is reached. The British divisions are fighting magnificently. On the other sido tho Germans' fighting spirit is high. "At last tho reinforcements crisis has irrevocably overtaken the Australian force. Our casualties are not really high compared with other battles, bu.t\we have lost more than 10,000 lately. Let the news sound in Australia that the crisis of their forces has arrived. Strange stories are cabled that recruiting in Australia has been affected by a statement that England is keeping an army of a million men in Britain. These arc lies. England has been drained, and Scotland's trusty sons have long since gone en masso to tho battlefields. Our owu depots and bases have boen tooth-combed of 'fighting men."—United Service. LOSSES. IN GUNS' FULLY REPLACED ' ALL DEMANDS FOR MUNITIONS BEING MET. London, April 26. In the llousc of Commons, Mr. Winston Churchill (Minister of Munitions), in moving the Munitions Vole, said that since March 21 wo had lost nearly a thousand guns, and between - four and fivo thousand machine-guns, which was between one and three weeks' total manufacture of munitions. Tho German claims were grotesque. Therb had beon a period of great strain, but by the end of last week all the losses had been made good, and in some instances supplies were greater than before. Actually there were more serviceable guns than at the beginning of the battle! We had been able to replaco every lost tank with one of a newer and better pattern. The expenditure of small arms ammunition during open warfare was enormous, but the capacity of our factories was even greater. Without touching reservo stocks, the wastage of rifles had been replaced easily. The expenditure of shells had been very heavy, but less than tho Amount calculated and provided for. Our original calculations provided for twice the expenditure used during the fomine offensives in 191 G. We were undoubtedly able to meet all demands if the fighting continued at the supreme ruin of intensity until the winter, provided the munition workers gave loyal support. We would probably have made thirty per cent, more shells if tho imports had not shrunk owing to the diminution in (onnage. Wo had beon obliged to slow down production in considerable areas, but the supplies were larger than ever before. Women, of whom nearly 7.T1,000 were engaged, turned out nine-tenths of the supply of shells. The eost had been reduced and tho quality improved incredibly. We worn now making in three months as many aeroplanes as ivero made during the whole of 1916.—Au5.-N.si. Cable Assn. ON THE FRENCH FRONT GERMANS ENTER ADVANCED LINES, ETJT ARE EJECTED. • ! London, April 2G, 1.35 a.m. A Irench communique slatos-.—"There is great reciprocal artillery fire in Iho region of Hangard and on both banks of (:ho Avre, but no infantry action. The Germans in the Woovre. after a furious bombardment, attacked the sector of fteenivillp and gained a footins in our advanced lines, but were promptly ejected and the lines were reelnml. We took urisouers. '['here is an artillery diiel on the right bank of the Meuso and in the Vosges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Xssn.-Eeu-fer. Paris, Anril 26, 4.25 p.m. A French communique slates:—"A violent artillery struggle is in progress south of the Sommo. • During the night we. carried out numerous raids, notably in the. region of Lass'igny, and between I his Mil to and tiie Aisne, and towards Bezonvaux and les Uparges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Heutcr. (Eec. April 2D, 0,10 a.m.) London, April 28. 0.45 a.m. ' A Frencli communique swtes: "Thero has been no .inlantn- action to-day. Artillery work continued lively south n! , tho Romme. und on both sides of tlio Avre. There has been a violent bombardment in the region of Lilians and on the Bezonvaux and Les Eparges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. THE FIGHT FOR VILLERS BRETONNEUX. (Rec. April 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 27. A French official rnmninninue (Amil 27, 2.10 a.m.) states:--"Wo rounter-iittack-ed nl Villerf Rretonnen.x. to the south,of the. Tiiico this morning, and recaptured much ground lost yesterday. Despite the desperate resistance 'of the enemy, who was strongly reinforced, wo captured the monument south of Villers, ami penetrated the Uangard villase. The battle lasted all day, and continues. Tl. was exceptionally violent. Thn Germans attempted lo wrest, our gains Iron) us nl: all costs. Despite their heavy losses from our fire on eacb attempt, their bnltalions attacked seven times in the northern Ttangard Wood, without caiisinn the French to budge. The strueijle was equally furious at Haugard village, which twice changed hands. We captured and retained the orchard south of Luce."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. BULGARIANS ON THE WEST FRONT. ■' (Eec. April 28, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 27. Tho presence of Bulgarian troops on the West fronl is confirmed.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS London, April 25. A German official report states:—"A French couuter-nttack against the height of Vleugelhoek failed heavily. We attacked the British and French nenr and south of Villers Bretouncnx. The infantry, supported by tanks, broke through the enemy niiichinc-gun nests. . We. captured Hangard, and advanced our lines on the heights north-west of Cnstol. The enemy's reserves violently counter-at-tacked all day, but failed, sanguinarily. Bitter fighting lasted all night. We captured two thousand'prisoners and four guns."—Aiis.-N.ii. Cable Assn.-R outer.

(Roc. April 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 27, 1.25 a.m. wireless German official report states:—"Wo captured Mont Kemmel, threw tho English out of positions at Wytschaete and Dranoutre, nnd advanced as far as Kemmol Brook, capturing St. I'lloi, lirancoulre, and tho hoiglit north-westward of Vlougolhock. We took over (iSOO prisoners, principally French. The enemy recaptured Villers-Brelonnoux. Further enemy counter-attacks eastward of tho village and at Hangard failed. Tho prisoners in this battle area now number 2100/' * A German evening official report states , .—"Enemy couter-attacks at Mont Kemmol and south of Villers-Brctonneux failed heavily."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Eeuter. (Bee. April 28, Jl.lO p.m.) London, April 27, 11.25 p.m. A wireless German-official'report 6taf.es: "We '-racliod iha southern border of Voormezeele.. Anglo-French attacks to recapture llont Kemmel broko down lieavily. Oft-repeated strong French attacks against Hangard Wood and northward of the Luce- Brook failed."— Ans.-Kii. Cablo Assn.-fieuter. AUSTETANS IN THE WEST. ' ' (Kee. April 2S, 5.'5. p.m.) Amsterdam, April 2fi. The "North German Gazette" denies that large masses of Austrian troops have been sent to tho West front.—Router. THE GERMAN CASUALTIES 2,750,000 CLAIMED TO HAVE RETURNED TO THE FRONT. (lice. April 28, .1.5 p.m.) — Amsterdam, April 26. In tho Reichstag, General ,Schull7,o stated that hitherto 2,750,000 wounded have been ablo to return to the front, and (529,000 have been discharged as unfit for service, including 70,000 cripples.—Renter, .