THE GERMAN ATTEMPT IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 189, 30 April 1918, Page 5

THE GERMAN ATTEMPT IN FLANDERS

OUTLOOK BRIGHTER FOR THE DEFENDERS BRITISH LINE ON YPRES READJUSTED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, April 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy captured Voormezeelo yesterday evening, but our counter-attack early in the night drove him out. The enomy reattached later in the same locality. There was local fighting all night on both sides of the Ypres-Oomines Canal. Wo made a raid south of Gavrello and on the Lens-Hill 70 seotors, and repulsed an attempted raid north of Bailleu.l. There is active reciprocal artillery fire on the battlefront."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. (Rec. April 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 28. Sir Douglas llaig reports: "A hostile attack is developing this afternoon in the neighbourhood of Locre. Otherwise thore have been only local engagements. The enemy heavily bombarded our positions on the Ypros sector. Only two flights were made yesterday owing to tho fog. We brought down two of the enemy's maohines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.—Beuter. LINE READJUSTED ON THE YPRES SECTOR (Rec. April 30, 0.10 a.m.) London, April 29. Mr. Percival Phillips confirms the report that the British line has been readjusted on the. Ypres sector.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A GERMAN THRUST TO THE NORTH ' (Rec. April 29, 7.30 p.m.) London, April 28, It is fairly certain that the enemy, thwarted at Amiens and Arras, has now decided to hurl his fullest weight to the northwards, striking towards the Channel through Flanders. .By devfloping his capture of Kemmel he will endeavour to pinch off the three remaining hills, Scherponberg, Mont Rouge, and Mont Noir, dominating the high ground southward of Poperinghe. The enemy was feeling his way towards Scherpenborg on Friday afternoon until sanguinarily repulsed by the French; He will attack more furiously, hoping to capture the high ground, so making tho Ypres 6alient and the country round Poperinghe untenable. One of the enemy's most desperate efforts was against the French who were holding the village of Locre, below Soherpenberg. Distinguished visitors, including kings and princes, formally watched the British shelling Wytschaote. The enemy s storm troops three times attaoked Locre on Friday, but wero flung back with •heavy casualties. Aftor a fourth attempt with fresh reserves they entered the ruins of the village. The French, after falling back, delivered a counter-attack early o:a Saturday, recapturing tho viliage. Tho Germans lave made little progress since the capture of Kemmel on Thursday, which has broken the fighting quality of some of their most renowned regiments, which must be taken out to He reorganised.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION ' ENEMY'S PROGRESS LESS RAPID. London, April 28. Military critics find satisfaction in the fact that tho Germans are not progressing rapidly past Kemmel. The enemy will find increasing difficulties if he endeavours to continue the thrust directly to tho west, as he will encounter the next height in the chain of hills, Mont des Gats, where there is a Trappist monasteij. It is more likely that he will endeavour to advance to the northeast, which movelnent would make Ypres untenable, but our resistance, like a buffer, is becoming stronger as it is pressed back. Tho Australians and New Zealanders know every inch of this country. Practically tho whole of the Australian and ; New Zealand forces raided and fought for many mouths past along the line which is now in the enemy's hands between Armentieres and Ypres — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. " FOCH'S STRATEGY UNSHAKEN " PRESENT PHASE OF OFFENSIVE ' MAY LAST FOR THREE WEEKS. (Rec. April 29, 11.15 p.m.) Paris, April 29. The "High Military Authority," interviewed, said: "The present phase of the battle is expected to continue for three weeks. General Foch's strategy is unshaken, his plan being to thoroughly wear down the Germans before he launches hia main counter-offensivo."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. LULL IN THE MAJOR OPERATIONS AUSTRALIANS DOING GOOD WORK AT METTERN. (Rec. April 29, 11.4 p.m.) London, April 29. Mr. Perry Robinson writes: "No operations on a large scale have occurred during the past forty-eight hours; though there has been continuous fighting in the Kemmel area, of which the chief centres are Mettern, Locre, and Voormezeelo. Bach has changed hands more than once. Generally speaking, results are in favour of us. The Australians aro fighting splendidly around Mettern, and everybody is loud in their praise, while they aro modest themselves. Thoy have worked their way into the very outskirts of the place, which was too _ strongly held and full of machine-guns for direct attack. The Australian parties have been scouring the neighbourhood, and, cleverly workiug, have perceptibly pushed back the Germans along this sector of the front. Since the enemy occupied Locre the French have driven them out again and again. Apparently the Germans still partly hold it. Fighting is going on with'similar oscillation at Voormezeelo, and also at the wood to the southward, where the Scotch troops with a heavy attack flung tho enemy back. We have taken a considerable number of prisoners. S'omo of these are notably despondent concerning the offensive, and the enemy's morale is evidently bad. This varies with different units, and depends on the amount of hammering suffered before capture. Very hard struggles in the Kemmel area are still expocted. New German divisions continuo to arrive and a prodigious number of guns are now massed on both sides. Roads and villages to the rear are continuously shelled. Tho Germans have shelled (ill the successive heights behind Kemmel and tho townlots beyond, i nd drenched Ypres ruins with gas. It is dreadful to see now places gradually drawn into the sphere of desolation, peaceful lands torn to bite, and villages pounded to dust. Meawhilo there is fierce and almost continuous fighting about Givenchy. —"The Times." VON LUPENDORFF'S BLOOD INVESTMENT OF ONE AND A-HALF MILLIONS "CAPITAL BEING RAPIDLY CONSUMED." (Eec. April 29, 5.5 p.m.) > London, April 28. Von Ludendorff, having undertaken to crush the British and reaoh tho Channel with losses not exceeding one and a half million casualties, has alreadj consumed a measurable proportion of bis estimate, with still twonty-fivo miles to go to reach Dunkirk. Nevertheless it would he idle to deny that there is not the smallest sign of tho Qermane yet slackening or resourccn of men as limited. Boys of 17 are bfling muetored.—"The limes.

SITUATION RE-ESTABLISHED IN THE SOUTH. Paris, April 28. A semi-official report etates that the French have noiv extended, their front to the northward as far as Villers Bretonneux.. The report says tho situation has been re-established in tho south, whilo it is hourly improving in tho north. "Le Journal" declares it is questionable whether tho retention nf ill© ruins of Ypres is desirable, as it does not affect tho security of Dunkirk and Calais, the defenco of which has gained depth, and has found points of support on the Yser, at Poperinghe, and the Mont Cassel-Hazebrouc'fc barrier sufficiently strong to stop the German rush.—Router. FRENCH CRITICS ON THE OUTLOOK. Paris, April 28. M. Marcel Hutin, writing in the "Echo de Paris," says that Von Ludendorff is manoeuvring to draw tho Allies' reserves to points ho selects. General Foch is unlikely to be caught in that way. Flanders is secondary in relation to the battle as a whole. Ludendortf is concentrating his masses olsewhero while trying to attract our reserves towards Flandors. Other critics dwell 011 the importaneo of the recapture of Loero, which commands several roads. The situation at one time was such that it becamo a question of having recourse to inundation to impede tho enemy's advance. At present this is unnecessary. Tho Germans have not found tho way as easy as thoy expected after tho capture of Kemmel.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT (Bee. April 2!), 5.5 p.m.) London, April 28, '1.30 p.m. A_ French communique states: "There was violent artillery activity during the night north of tho Avro and between Lassigny and Noyon. "We made two successful raids north of the Chemin des Dames, and repulsed attempts north-west of Reims."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Rec. April 30, 0.10 a.m.) London, April 2!). A French communique states: "There have been furious bombardments at Villers Bretonneux, on tho Luce, and west of Noyon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS London, April 28, 1.30 p.m. A German official message in the evening stated: "Tho English have abandoned further parts of Flanders. Wo have readied a lino south-west of Langernarck, Verlorenhoek, Hooger, and Zillebelre."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter, GERMAN LOSSES CAUSE POPULAR REVULSION IN THE FATHERLAND. Amsterdam, April 28. TIIO latest advices from Germany indicate that the ghastly losses in the Western offensive aro arousing feeling against militarism. Tho "Tyd's". correspondent in Germany, referring to tho position in Holland, says it will depend on tho course of events how far the reaction against the increased powers of militarism will make itself felt. As tho extent of tho huge sacrifices in the West becomes known, it evokes everywhero fresh disquiet. When the energetic participation of the Americans falsifies the Government's prophecy that the submarines will prevent tho transport of tho Americans, the disappointment will as9umo a sharper form.—Beuter. THREE MILLION MEN SACRIFICED SINCE 1914. (Eoo. April 29, 11.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 2!). Unofficial advices from Berlin state that since the beginning of the war three million German soldiers have either boon killed or died of wounds or sickness.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CAN GERMANY KEEP IT UP 1 . . Copenhagen, April 29. Captain von S'alzmann, writing in tho "Vossische Zeitung," says that rumours aro current that the German losses are so colossal that Germany will be unable to continue the offensive. Tho rumour was even spread by members of the Reichstag.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISCUSSION IN THE REICHSTAG. r. , tt • , , , , . Copenhagen, April 29. General Wrisberg stated in tho Reichstag that up to March 31 tho number of Germans missing and taken prisoner was C(>4,lOA, of whom 2-36,676 wero priRollers in Fianco,, 119,000 in England, and 157,000 in Russia and Rumania. General Wrisberg was unable to state tho losses in tho present offensive. Horr Stueeklon, a Socialist member, declared that tho Socialist 6oldiers wero placed in the most dangerous posts, and wero not allowed to read Socialist newspapers. Horr Groebor, a member of tho Centre Party, expressed dissatisfaction at the treatment of tlio Alsace-Lorraine soldiers. General Wrisberg admitted that strictness with the latter was necessary bocauso 60 many were traitorous—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. AN EXHORTATION BY THE KAISER. ,p, Amsterdam, April 27. the Kaiser, addressing the troops in Flanders, said: "Our victories should convince our enemies that wo cannot be subdued by arms or blockades Our enemies are digging their own graves."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable <\s<sn